3 Reasons to Fire Toxic Clients - Part II

No more Toxic Clients!

Many times relationships start out OK, but then sour. Sometimes it’s easiest to just keep trudging along. If a profitable client is hard to work with it can be tough to say good bye to their revenues. But let me share why I think it’s good riddance:

1. They drain you emotionally. People who are mean, disrespectful, full of negative energy, etc. just eat away at our own personal happiness. Even if you like the work, or like the money, don’t overlook the drain of positive energy from your own heart and soul.
2. They are NOT generating as much revenue as you think. You may assume it’s clear, you worked 10 hours and got paid for 10 hours. But because of the emotional drain, you generally spend a lot of un-billable time doing things like: complaining about them, questioning your own skills, protecting yourself with excessive paper trails and backups, defending invoices, etc. All of this is taking you away from revenue earning projects.
3. They can ruin your confidence.  A toxic client can question your actions and tear down your self-esteem. You can start to question the quality of your work, your pricing, your behaviors. An entrepreneur, freelancer or business owner cannot spend time at this pity party.
4. You’ll be more productive without them. This is real reason to let them go. Spend the time finding better clients to work with. Clients and customers who respect you.

 Emily's post ended here with a personal note.  I wanted to weigh in here and encourage all business, small and large to look into their client base and make the difficult decision to identify and fire your toxic clients.

A bit about our guest blogger: Emily Brackett is president of Visible Logic, Inc. Established in 2001, Visible Logic is a graphic design firm that works across all media—including web sites, logos, print materials, annual reports and book design. Based in Portland, Maine, Visible Logic builds complete
branding systems and designs individual projects for clients across the U.S. You may reach Emily or learn more at: www.visiblelogic.com

Client Retention Program

As most of my readers are aware, I have developed a  program called The Good The Bad and The Ugly Client Retention Program.  Focused on service firms that are in need of a client management program that is NOT computer-based, GBU creates a process to convert the bad clients to good, manage the good with first-class service and fire the ugly.

The reams of information on good client relationships, managing those relationships, and keeping those good clients fills a giga-bite-plus of internet space. Popular CRM software cannot classify the organic nature of client management.  This huge gap leads to mis-communication, bad feelings AND loss of revenue.

Client relationships are built between human beings. A Client Retention Program is a execution plan.  Plain, simple and straightforward, it allows a firm to deploy precious  resources to the good, convert the bad and fire the ugly.

Time to ask your service firm the following questions:

How do you manage your clients?  What relationships do you actively maintain and why?  What revenue is stuck behind a difficult relationship?

Feel free to comment on your current state of clients: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!

Book Recommendation

Am reading a great book I picked up at a book fair for $7.00.  Brought it home and have been working my way through it voraciously.  I am terribly impressed by how these authors put into words that which is so challenging to us humans that we muck it constantly: communication with our clients.

The complexity of communications has ended up with muffling, bashing, confusing our clients and peers alike.  Communication is so complex that it's like walking a tightrope every time we open out mouths. Then we spend hours blaming ourselves for a job badly done!

Service professionals need to be able to really listen to their clients and help untangle the challenges of the business while offering solutions without minimizing or insulting the dignity of the client. This book creates such a road map of "how to's" so well I've made it my carry-it-everywhere-with-me book.

I have posted access to the book via Amazon link in the box at the left. Enjoy!

Change is good for the heart!

Change is good for the heart and the soul.  After five years, I am retiring the Innerwealth brand and moving forward with Strategies for Growth.

This new company is focused on creating Client Retention Programs for service organizations. Firms such as Consultants and Adviors, PR firms and law firms will benefit from the focus The Good the Bad and The Ugly program brings to their bottom line.  My clients have experienced at uptick in revenues of over 450%.


Stay tuned - more coming.

What's left for fun?

Received this message from a friend of mine. Thought it worth a blog.


Just saw your tweet. Your front yard got tp'd? Seriously? And I didn't grow up here, but honestly, are the kids' parents going to tell them off? Is there any consequence? 

Umm... having been a superb TP'er in my day, I cannot fault American kids for a bit of old-fashioned fun.  It's harmless, a mark of honor among teens (you're worth our time) and just plain fun for those doing it in the middle of night.   It's the thrill of doing something where you CAN get caught, but nobody does.  So what if the front yard looks a bit bedraggled?  All our neighbors came by and laughed and shared with us their own youthful "TP" stories. 

We have taken away all the fun stuff kids used to have outdoors. They now only have the net to surf.  And then we complain bitterly about their sedentary lifestyle. 

I remember egging houses, sneaking into movie theaters, and the best, absolute best, was throwing laundry detergent bombs into the myriad of fountains lining the streets of a planned neighborhood named (of all the Hollywood myths to copy) Mt. Olympus!  It was thrilling to execute, thrilling to not get caught and satisfying to go by the next morning and view each and every fountain foaming huge mountains of suds.  There was a certain "performance art" beauty to it all. We the perpetrators still LOL over the stunt when we get together.

Had a friend who, with a group of young guys in their 19ish year, changed the Hollywood sign to read "Hollyweed"in celebration of the marijuana law of 1976.  The leader of the weed patrol died recently.  His funeral was attended by a cross-section of mourners who knew him throughout his life.  But what was the one thing everyone brought up and told over and over again?  Not his thriving furniture business, not his board membership of several non-profits, but the planning and execution of the 'Hollyweed' stunt. It created a truly joyous LOL moment in an otherwise grim situation. 


So I say - TP away - it's the only fun thing left to do.  And parents, don't call the cops,  just get your kids to clean up the mess.  REALLY,  I mean REALLY!

The Brand Within, By Daymond John, Shark Tank Investor

Sarah Shaw of Entreprenette interviewed billionaire Daymond John on the secrets of his success.  He is known for the creation of the FUBU clothing line and one of the investors on 'Shark Tank.' It is a riveting, powerful 30 minutes of direct, honest answers about starting up companies, investing and continuing the success from company to company.  Sarah Shaw is a member of my mastermind group and one very smart seasoned entrepreneur.  Take a moment to listen to this interview as I think you will find the lessons useful to your enterprise.

http://bit.ly/cH6xK2

Enjoy!