Client Horror Stories

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

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 Friedman⁠
Tim's Website⁠
Tim's LinkedIn⁠

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 Friedman
Ed's Website
Ed's LinkedIn
Ed's Instagram

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 Friedman
Cordell's Website
Cordell's LinkedIn
Cordell's Instagram

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 Friedman
Eric's Website
Eric's LinkedIn
Eric's Instagram
Eric's Facebook