Client Horror Stories

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Tales from those on the front lines of dealing with clients. Tales of difficult clients, complex situations, relationship management - and how massive client management problems were solved, and what they learned. Largely those running agencies, but all across different professional services.

  1. That time when Billy Idol's manager fires you onstage… (with Mike Montague)

    5D AGO

    That time when Billy Idol's manager fires you onstage… (with Mike Montague)

    Are you afraid of what lies ahead—of the challenges that might test your confidence and resilience? Mike Montague, Founder of Avenue9, shares a client horror story that toughened his skin and proved that if he could survive this, he could survive anything.   Back in 2005, Mike worked at a retro radio station in Kansas City. The station was sponsoring a Billy Idol concert, and before the show, Billy and his manager approached him with an exciting offer: to DJ the event. Thrilled by the opportunity, Mike prepared a fun, upbeat setlist perfectly tailored to the crowd—mostly soccer moms and casual music fans.   But just 15 minutes into his set, Billy's manager stormed on stage and shouted, "I thought we said rock music—like the Rolling Stones?" Mike froze, realizing he had misunderstood what kind of "rock" they meant. Still, he tried to recover, queuing up a few edgier tracks.   Before he could regain control of the moment, the manager cut the lights, stopped the music, and fired him—onstage, in front of everyone.   It was humiliating—but it became one of the defining moments of Mike's career. Tune in to hear how he bounced back, what he learned about resilience, and how that unforgettable night shaped his fearless approach to challenges today.     Morgan Friedman Mike's Website Mike's LinkedIn

    51 min
  2. That time when a client admits to stealing from his own company… (with Tim Brownson)

    FEB 12

    That time when a client admits to stealing from his own company… (with Tim Brownson)

    Tim Brownson, Coach & Author, moved to the U.S. in 2006 to start fresh and build his coaching career from the ground up. As a newcomer, finding clients was tough—so when a potential client from an elite Ontario neighborhood reached out, he saw it as a golden opportunity.   Though it wasn't his usual practice to visit clients at home, Tim agreed to meet. Their first session went well and lasted two hours. When it came time to discuss payment, the client suggested they talk about it during the next session. Wanting to maintain trust, Tim agreed.   During their second meeting, things took a turn. The client proudly showed Tim an Excel sheet revealing that he'd been using business funds for personal expenses—and wasn't paying his employees. Appalled by the lack of ethics, Tim ended the session immediately and walked out. Only later did he realize he'd never been paid for his time.   ⁠Morgan Friedman⁠Tim's Website⁠Tim's LinkedIn⁠

    18 min
  3. That time when a former partner tries to cash in after leaving… (with Ed Hajim)

    FEB 5

    That time when a former partner tries to cash in after leaving… (with Ed Hajim)

    Today's guest, Ed Hajim—Author, Philanthropist, and Mentor—joins us to share a collection of Client Horror Stories from his remarkable career. Trust us, these are stories you'll want to hear.   During his time as Managing Partner of a mid-sized investment bank, Ed helped grow the firm's revenue from $20 million to over half a billion, eventually selling the company twice—the first time to Xerox. But success didn't come without conflict.   One of the partners accused Ed of "doing everything wrong" and predicted he'd run the company into the ground. Because they felt this, they decided to leave and sell their stock back to the firm. About 12 months later Xerox offered to buy the firm at about triple its private valuation.   When the departed partner learned of the possible transaction he sued. Xerox refused to close the deal until the lawsuit was settled, so the firm paid the ex-partner off just to move forward.   And that's only one of Ed's incredible stories. Tune in to hear more about his rollercoaster experiences in finance—and the lessons he learned about leadership, conflict, and resilience along the way.   Morgan FriedmanEd's WebsiteEd's LinkedInEd's Instagram

    42 min
  4. That time when your boss is so scary that everyone's afraid of losing their jobs… (with Cordell Robinson)

    JAN 29

    That time when your boss is so scary that everyone's afraid of losing their jobs… (with Cordell Robinson)

    Have you ever felt that knot in your stomach before work, knowing you'll have to face a terrifying boss? This Client Horror Story captures that exact feeling.   Cordell Robinson, CEO of Brownstone Consulting FirmWorking, recalls a time he worked on-site with a client whose team lived in fear of one particular person—their compliance manager. Known for being impossibly demanding and hypercritical, this individual made employees feel like even the smallest mistake could cost them their jobs.   Despite the tension, Cordell managed to build a working relationship based on patience and strategy. He learned to pause before responding, carefully organize his thoughts, and communicate with clarity and respect—turning anxiety into professionalism.   If you've ever had to deal with an intimidating boss or client, this episode will show you how calm composure and clear communication can turn fear into confidence.   Morgan FriedmanCordell's WebsiteCordell's LinkedInCordell's Instagram

    30 min
  5. That time when your business partner offers inappropriate massages to your students… (with Eric Gee)

    JAN 22

    That time when your business partner offers inappropriate massages to your students… (with Eric Gee)

    Today, we're joined by Eric Gee, Author, Life & Writing Coach, who shares a story that's almost too hard to believe.   In his younger years, Eric and a close friend launched an education company focused on teaching and mentoring students. Everything ran smoothly—until one day, his business partner crossed a line. When a female student mentioned having a sore neck, the partner offered her a massage. While he saw it as harmless, given his background in massage therapy, Eric knew immediately that it was deeply inappropriate.   Eric took swift action—apologizing to the student, addressing the situation with his partner, and trying to move forward. But months later, his partner admitted to another troubling incident that caused a student to leave the program altogether. That was the breaking point. Eric knew it was time to reevaluate their partnership and rebuild with stronger boundaries and integrity.   Tune in to learn how Eric turned this painful chapter into a defining lesson about leadership, accountability, and protecting the trust of those you serve.   Morgan FriedmanEric's WebsiteEric's LinkedInEric's InstagramEric's Facebook

    54 min
  6. That time when you warn a client of the repercussions of the migration but they refuse to listen… (with Brad White)

    JAN 15

    That time when you warn a client of the repercussions of the migration but they refuse to listen… (with Brad White)

    Today's episode features Brad White, CEO of VARC Solutions, who shares one of his biggest frustrations in business—working with clients who simply refuse to listen.   Brad's company specializes in bookkeeping, and one of their core tools is QuickBooks—a platform trusted by both small and large businesses alike. Over time, QuickBooks has evolved significantly, especially with the rise of cloud technology. However, not all clients understand that QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online (the cloud version) are completely different systems.   Despite Brad's efforts to explain these differences and the challenges of migrating, some clients stubbornly ignore the warnings and then blame the company for a "failed" migration.   Tune in to hear how Brad handled this recurring dilemma—and the lessons he learned about communication, patience, and guiding clients through technological change.   Morgan FriedmanBrad's WebsiteBrad's LinkedInBrad's InstagramBrad's TwitterBrad's FacebookBrad's Podcast on YouTube

    53 min
  7. That time when being too trusting costs you your first rental… (with Spencer Sutton)

    JAN 8

    That time when being too trusting costs you your first rental… (with Spencer Sutton)

    If you're interested in real estate—and the stories that come with it—this Client Horror Story is for you. Spencer Sutton, VP of Marketing at Evernest, takes us back to his early days as a young real estate investor.   At the time, Spencer was flipping houses but dreamed of building long-term wealth through rental properties. The problem? He had no idea how to be a landlord or set boundaries with tenants. Still, he pressed on and purchased his very first rental home—located 45 minutes from where he lived.   For nearly five exhausting weeks, Spencer showed the property to potential renters. Finally, an older woman seemed like the perfect tenant, offering to pay two to three months' rent upfront. Excited and eager, Spencer handed her the keys—skipping the screening process entirely.   That decision came back to haunt him. After the initial months, rent payments became late, then stopped altogether. Communication broke down, the police had to be called, and Spencer was left with a property in shambles.   This episode is a raw look at humble beginnings and the hard lessons that come with them. Tune in to hear how Spencer navigated the setbacks, what he learned the hard way, and how you can apply those lessons to your own real estate journey.   Morgan Friedman Spencer's Website Spencer's LinkedIn

    49 min
  8. That time when a real estate owner hid deals under his wife's name… (with Angela Thomas)

    12/24/2025

    That time when a real estate owner hid deals under his wife's name… (with Angela Thomas)

    Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Angela Thomas, Scaling Expert & Founder of Angel Success Consulting, who has built a thriving business through dedication and grit.   Angela specializes in training and developing businesses, and she was invited to conduct a training session for a real estate business owner. The first session was a success—payment went through smoothly, and the client was pleased with the results. Encouraged, the business owner requested another round of training, this time for his new sales agents, and agreed to a commission-based partnership with Angela.   During the program, Angela helped set up the company's structure and guided the sales team step by step. But soon, she sensed something was wrong—the agents seemed withdrawn and uneasy. She invited them out for coffee, and when they admitted they couldn't afford it, Angela graciously treated them.   Over coffee, the agents revealed a shocking truth: the business owner had taken away their deals, dismissed their proposals as inadequate, and secretly opened a new real estate company under his wife's name—closing deals there to avoid paying commissions to Angela and the team.   After processing the revelation, Angela encouraged the agents to take action. They filed a case against the owner, who ultimately lost his real estate license.   Tune in to hear how Angela turned this betrayal into a powerful learning experience and what it taught her about protecting her work and standing up for fairness.     Morgan Friedman Angela's Website Angela's LinkedIn Angela's Instagram Angela's Facebook

    49 min
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About

Tales from those on the front lines of dealing with clients. Tales of difficult clients, complex situations, relationship management - and how massive client management problems were solved, and what they learned. Largely those running agencies, but all across different professional services.

Information

  • Creator
    Beloved by Clients
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Beloved by Clients
  • Show Website
    Client Horror Stories