Your Pace is Not a Problem: How to Handle Pushy People
First blog post of the year – let’s start January with clear boundaries, calm focus, and energy that supports your goals.
Some people thrive on pressure, urgency, and aggressive forward motion.
In the right context — closing a deal, negotiating terms, or breaking through logistical bottlenecks — pushiness can be useful.
But if you’re someone who works best with
clarity,
intention,
and autonomy…
that same pushy energy can feel like a direct attack on your peace.
Here’s the insight most people miss:
Pushiness Is a Tool — Not a Personality Virtue
When used consciously, pushiness can:
Move projects forward
Secure opportunities
Cut through excuses
Create momentum
But without emotional intelligence, it becomes:
Boundary-violating
Disrespectful
Energizing for them but draining for everyone else
Misaligned with collaborative workflow
Pushiness is only useful when paired with awareness, otherwise it’s just pressure disguised as productivity.
Why Some People Feel It More Intensely
If you’re someone who:
Works best when you’re invited or asked (not demanded)
Needs internal clarity before acting
Values pacing, alignment, and timing
Produces deep work rather than fast work
Has cyclical energy rather than constant energy
Then pushy behavior triggers:
Overwhelm
Irritation
Pressure to perform
Feeling dismissed or rushed
Nervous-system overload
Your nervous system isn’t “too sensitive.”
Their approach is too aggressive for your workflow.
And that distinction matters, especially for entrepreneurs and creators who are building businesses around intention, community, and sustainable growth.
The Core Insight
Someone else’s urgency is not automatically your responsibility.
Pushy people often operate from:
Anxiety
Lack of planning
Habit
Entitlement
Control issues
You don’t have to absorb that. Their ugency doesn’t have to become your emergency.
How to Respond without Escalation
Here are four simple boundary-setting scripts you can use professionally and consistently:
A. Calmly Redirect
“I hear you. I can review and respond by ___.”
B. reafFirm your timeFrame
“I can’t move faster than the timeline I’ve already shared.”
C. Professionally Gatekeep
“Please send additional requests in writing and I’ll schedule them accordingly.”
D. Responsibility Flip
“If this is urgent on your end, let me know your deadline so I can assess availability.”
These are neutral, clear, and don’t invite debate.
If you remember nothing else…
Pushiness isn’t inherently bad — it just doesn’t align with every working style. And that’s okay.
You can:
Respect someone’s drive
Learn from their decisiveness
Appreciate their hustle
…but you don’t have to work at their pace.
Your clarity, your timing, and your nervous system matter. Setting boundaries is not resistence — it’s leadership.
Start your year with intention. Start it with self respect. Start it by honoring your own pace.
Your peace is not negotiable.
Your pace is not a flaw.
Your boundaries are a business strategy.
