A real-life beaver problem (and what it has to do with your business)

🦫 Who’s Clogging Your Culvert?

Hello from the woods of Indiana, where animal encounters are part of the deal. In past years, it’s been bats and flying squirrels. This year? Beavers. 🦫🦫

Yep, we have a beaver problem.

They’ve taken up residence in our pond and become completely obsessed with the culvert that drains it when the water gets too high.

Apparently, this concrete tube is the perfect place to build a dam (at least, according to the beavers). Every time we clear it out, they chew down more trees and start clogging it again. And every time they clog it, the water rises and threatens to wash out the road next to it.

To avoid even more damage, we’re putting long-term solutions in place to either encourage them to move along or at least live peacefully without destroying our flow.

So… what does this have to do with your business?

Sometimes in business, there’s a client like that beaver.

They mean well. They’re not malicious. But they keep blowing up your boundaries, derailing your plans, or pulling you into work that’s not aligned with your role. They’re not trying to cause harm—they’re just focused on their own goals (kind of like that beaver wanting to keep the pond full).

Here’s what that might look like:

• A client who sends late-night texts
• Someone who constantly scope-creeps a project
• A person who requires more emotional energy than their fee accounts for

It only takes one to throw off your entire flow.

Here’s the thing:

Disruptions aren’t always big and dramatic at first. But if left unchecked, they can cause major stress, burnout, or resentment. And if you’re so busy “clearing the clog” every time it happens, you never get the space to step back and fix the real problem.

So, ask yourself:

Who’s clogging your culvert?
Do you need to:

• Reinforce boundaries?
• Redesign your offer or client onboarding process?
• Encourage someone to move on to a more aligned coach or service provider?

The health of your business—and your sanity—depends on protecting your flow.