When to Part Ways With a Public Relations Client

So, this can actually apply to any business, not just a public relations agency or ghostwriting agency like mine. In the past I have had to deal with all kinds of personalities when doing public relations work or writing or marketing work for people. Obviously, you cannot love everyone, that is unrealistic. However, once in a blue moon you are bound to run into an abusive client, and if you have already experienced it then you know what I mean. Like I said, this can apply to any industry, not just a public relations agency. My father has experienced it many many times over the years in the tire industry, with one notable exception: he gives them the tires, they give him the money and it’s basically over. In a service oriented business it is different, it is more about relationships; how you relate to people and how they relate to you.

I have been working in the public relations and marketing industry for about a decade and during that time have worked with and for many different kinds of people, and as I said above every so often I have worked for someone who is abusive. In the past I stuck it out because I thought that was what you were supposed to do. Wrong. Now, at the ripe old age of 35 I hear my late grandfather’s words in my ears when he said to me, “Me and my partner made a lot of money in the lighting business, and we never worked with anyone we didn’t want to work with. If they were nasty or a pain in the a** we told them to take a hike.”  Bottom line: no one can ever buy you for a buck. Work hard, yes! Be humble, yes! But never allow anyone to bark at you, talk down to you or bully you. Tell them to take their money and have a nice day. I ain’t worth it.

I used to be good friends with comedian Dave Chappelle and one day back in 1999 we had lunch together in LA, and then we were having a heart to heart talk about business, of which at the time I knew nothing. He was complaining that although he was fairly successful and fairly comfortable financially he said he did not have “F*** You money.”  Hmmm, interesting. I didn’t have ANY money at that time, so this went right over my head .  But the concept of f*** you money stuck with me, and when do you have it?

If you can pay your bills, and you are living then you have it. We should all reserve the right to say f*** you; both rich and middle class alike.

Never let anyone own your dignity, at any price or in any business, public relations agency owners included.

xo