How One Phone Call Changed My Perspective on Client Relationships
Your team is your biggest asset—treat them that way
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Introduction
I was at my mentor’s office the other day, catching up over a quiet 1-on-1.
We were mid-conversation when he got a call from a client.
Now, 9 out of 10 times, he’ll either cancel or reschedule such calls during our meetings.
But this time, he politely asked if he could take the call — something felt different.
What happened next taught me one of the most powerful lessons I’ve ever learned about leadership and culture.
He fired the client on that call.
Yes, you read that right.
Not an employee.
A client.
And not just any client — one who had visited his office just the previous week.
Why did my mentor fire a high-paying client?
(And why you Might need to as well)
Apparently, during that visit, the client had spoken rudely and disrespectfully to one of the team members.
And here’s the kicker — the team member hadn’t even made a mistake.
But my mentor said something that stuck with me:
“Even if the mistake was on our side, I still would’ve fired the client. Because no one gets to speak to my team that way.”
Here’s what I took away from that moment
Revenue is not worth toxic energy. Some clients might pay you well — but if they damage your culture, morale, or values, that cost is far greater.
Great leaders protect their team. Loyalty isn’t just expected from employees — it must come from the top down.
Entitlement has no place in a healthy work environment. Just because someone pays doesn’t give them the right to be disrespectful.
The real cost you don’t see on a balance sheet
Most businesses look at “revenue lost” when they fire a client.
But few look at:
- The morale lost when your team feels unsupported
- The culture is ruined when toxic clients are tolerated
- The energy drain of working with people who don't respect boundaries
My mentor built a culture where respect is non-negotiable — and I saw firsthand how powerful that is.
Food for thought
You don’t need every client.
You need the right ones — the kind who respect you, your team, and your values.
Have the courage to walk away from revenue if it comes at the cost of your team’s dignity.
Because the real growth comes when your team knows you’ve got their back.
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Prompt used to create the image for the note
P.S.: Image made on Meta AI using the prompt, “Imagine an office cabin where a man in their fifties talking on a phone call, sitting across the table with a man in their thirties”