My first client walked away

[u/ColdPlankton9273]

I've been consulting for about a little over a year. I've been gathering clients very slowly. My first client was actually a decent retainer and somewhat interesting.

On the other hand that client's company was very toxic and there was definitely one executive that didn't understand why they needed me. I've been working with them for about a year, and I had a couple run-ins with that executive who tried to talk down to me. It was great to have the freedom to tell them to never talk to me that way. This was about 2 months ago.

Today the client let me know that they're not going to continue next month. Honestly, they are super toxic internally, the main guy doesn't really want to listen and is somewhat adversarial, so it's whatever. I saw this coming and it actually means I don't have to deal with them but then I don't get paid.

Despite being pretty much okay with it, it still feels kind of crappy. Kind of like I got fired or something.

I guess that's normal?

[u/sub-t]

If they're your only client, swallow your pride and get paid. 

If you're slammed, drop the shit clients

[u/ColdPlankton9273 → u/sub-t]

Not the only client. Only the most annoying one. And kind of in the middle on the pay scale. I guess I could ask why and whatever, but I don't want to. I guess that's a nice part about consulting. I don't have to work with people I don't like

[u/TGrady902 → u/ColdPlankton9273]

Don't ask why. Just say "sounds good! I'll be here if you ever need to reengage."

If they think they're pulling one over on you, this will absolutely rustle their feathers lol.

[u/hmmMeeting → u/ColdPlankton9273]

Yeah if you really wanted the feedback data, I guess you could do exit interviews and such

[u/ColdPlankton9273 → u/hmmMeeting]

For this case I don't really care. I get it's " not professional" but I really don't. 15 years in corporate provided me enough toxic feedback for the rest of my life

[u/Capital_Tip3181 → u/ColdPlankton9273]

that's honestly one of the better parts of consulting. You can lose a client and still know you're better off without them, especially when you've already had to deal with someone talking down to you. Losing the income sucks, but not having that headache anymore has to count for something.

[u/wizard-craft166 → u/sub-t]

This is the real calculus, the math just doesn't lie when rent is due.

[u/agk23]

What kind of consulting? In some, a year is an incredibly long engagement. Others, not a good sign that you’ve had turnover already.

[u/ColdPlankton9273 → u/agk23]

It's more of an investigative capacity in the fraud space alongside with building some AI capabilities. I think I brought them to a good place as far as their capabilities. And the person in charge said they would love to act as a referral for me. So it doesn't seem like it ended on bad terms

[u/worst_user_name_ever]

Use whatever time you were billing towards the client and go get a new client. A healthier one.

[u/ColdPlankton9273 → u/worst_user_name_ever]

That's a great way to look at it. I like it!

[u/imdatingurdadben → u/worst_user_name_ever]

Agree with this plan

[u/Playful-Habit-1985]

IMHO, you should feel proud of yourself that you get that shitty 'I got let go before I expected' feeling. It is a healthy reminder to yourself that you are taking responsibility and care about the services that you provide and the client being serviced (leaving the clients' human toxins out of the equation, of course 🙂). Best of luck!

[u/ColdPlankton9273 → u/Playful-Habit-1985]

Thanks. I appreciate the perspective

[u/jimvasco]

Perfectly normal to feel that way.

[u/imdatingurdadben]

That’s how it goes. We’re kind of the prostitute/mistress of the professional world. The money is on the nightstand. Close the door on your way out.

[u/ColdPlankton9273 → u/imdatingurdadben]

Eek. Lol

[u/Odd-Abroad-270 → u/imdatingurdadben]

That's how my friend describes it. The aim is to be a highly paid prostitute or a pimp.

[u/imdatingurdadben → u/Odd-Abroad-270]

Exactly

[u/TGrady902]

A toxic client ended the relationship? Sounds like a dream scenario! I love when my clients decide they don't need my retainer services anymore. Means I either did my job well and they can handle what they hired me for on their own now or they're a poorly run company and can't get their shit together. Either way I win because I get to move on to something new.

[u/discoverstrategyco]

That feeling is completely normal. Even when an engagement is unhealthy, its ending can still feel personal because you invested time and judgment in the work.

The useful takeaway may be that you saw the warning signs, protected your boundary, and have space now for a healthier client. If the relationship ended professionally and they are still open to referring you, that is evidence you did not fail.

[u/ColdPlankton9273 → u/discoverstrategyco]

I appreciate that. And this really was the first time I ever felt this comfortable to push back hard and set a boundary

[u/ColdPlankton9273 → u/[deleted]]

Fully agree. I wasn't planning on firing them. I guess they fired me. I have several clients, but not a big portfolio by any means. And yeah I see what you're saying and they don't have a lot of experience managing clients yet. I'm sure it's a very run-of-the-mill experience.

[u/ExperimentalBaker]

Consultants can sometimes be the victims of collateral damage in a toxic client environment. And, there’s also the old adage, “if anything goes wrong, blame the consultant“ and you just have to know that this about them and not you and just keep on delivering quality work, stay out of it and count your blessing you don’t work there full time and the engagement does have an end date.

[u/ColdPlankton9273 → u/ExperimentalBaker]

That's exactly what happened. One of the execs didn't deliver so they sent me a message berating me. I responded saying they can't talk to me like this and then showed them with data that their team is the one holding everything back not me