#107: From Burnout to Boundaries: Building a Consulting Practice for the Long Haul

Returning guest Fatima Jawaid Marty, founder of FJM Consulting, joins Ashlan and Tory to talk about what’s shifted over the past year, both personally, professionally, and in the broader nonprofit/policy landscape. They get real about how the current political climate and funding uncertainty are affecting mission-driven work, then pivot into practical ways consultants can prevent burnout, set boundaries, and “vibe check” clients before signing contracts.Listen if you’re doing nonprofit, policy, advocacy, or equity-adjacent work right now and you’re trying to stay sustainable without turning into a crispy little burnout crouton.Some of our favorite takeaways from this episode include: The work isn’t separate from the political moment. Even when funding cuts or DEI backlash don’t hit you directly, the fear/uncertainty still seeps into daily operations and decision-making.Nonprofits are tightening budgets, so consulting sales cycles can slow down. Fatima notes it’s harder to get in front of decision makers and new work can take longer to close, even when need is high.Sustainability is a practice, not a one-time reset. Burnout prevention isn’t just “take a break.” It’s ongoing internal work to challenge grind-culture conditioning and perfectionism.A clear client capacity number is powerful. Fatima’s current sweet spot: 3 active engagements (typically 2 deep/long-term + 1 smaller side project/training).Boundaries are systems + mindset. Time-blocking by client, setting email response expectations, building buffer time, and protecting Fridays for business development help keep the work humane.Co-creation is messy because teams are different (and that’s normal). When a facilitation activity doesn’t land, Fatima treats it as data: there’s usually an unspoken barrier underneath that needs addressing.Not all money is good money. The group reinforces that taking misaligned work can cost more in energy, time, and missed opportunities than it’s worth.Guest & Host Information:Guest, Fatima Jawaid Marty, Owner/Founder of FJM ConsultingCo-Host, Ashlan Glazier-Anderson, Owner of AshbeanPDX MarketingCo-Host, Victoria (Tory) Proppe, Owner of Imagine Marketing StrategiesConnect with Fatima:Visit her website: https://fjmstrategy.comOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatima-jawaid-marty Connect with us:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TaketheLeap-Today Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taketheleap_today The Course: The Take the Leap course contains everything you need to know to successfully launch your business now. Sign up today to join the course and get support from Ashlan & Tory who will guide you through your journey as a new entrepreneur.Sign up here: https://www.taketheleap-today.com/the-course Like our content? Be sure to subscribe and review! Want to keep in touch? Find us on:YoutubeInstagram