I Broke Up With My Clients

Hey Beyonder!

You know those conversations you keep postponing because you're convinced they'll blow up in your face? Yeah, I finally had mine this week.

The Conversations I've Been Avoiding

Here's the thing about running an agency – sometimes you have to make calls that keep you up at night.

Last week, I had to let go of a few clients.

Not because they were difficult. Not because we didn't like them. But because there was simply no progress happening. The team wasn't growing from the projects. The clients weren't getting the results they expected. And when nothing's moving forward, staying stuck isn't kindness – it's just delaying the inevitable.

As a leader, I knew I had to steer these conversations. But man, I kept pushing them off. Week after week, I'd tell myself "maybe next week" or "let's give it one more shot."

You know what's funny? I had built this entire disaster movie in my head about how these conversations would go. Angry clients. Burnt bridges. Maybe even some harsh words thrown around.

So I finally pulled the trigger last week. Had those tough calls.

And guess what happened?

Absolutely nothing I'd imagined.

Every single client was... receptive. Understanding. Some even thanked me for being honest. They got it. They felt the same way but didn't know how to bring it up either.

Turns out, I was the one holding onto something that both parties knew wasn't working. I did the wrong judgment here – not about ending the relationship, but about how people would react.

The Lesson That Hit Different

Here's what this taught me: Most of the time, the fear of the conversation is worse than the conversation itself.

We create these scenarios in our heads where everything goes wrong. But people are more reasonable than we give them credit for. Especially when you approach them with honesty and respect.

If something's not working, the kindest thing you can do is acknowledge it. For everyone involved.

The weight that lifted off my shoulders after those calls? I should've done this months ago.

New Energy in the Office

While I was having those tough conversations, something really cool was happening at the TownScholar office.

We brought in two new teammates last week – Janagan and Shruthi. Found both of them on LinkedIn (shoutout to LinkedIn for once actually being useful beyond just scrolling through motivational posts!).

Walking into the office now feels different. There's this buzz, you know? More people working, more conversations happening, more energy bouncing around the space.

I realized something – when you have more people aligned towards one common goal, the whole vibe changes. It's not just about having more hands on deck. It's about the collective energy that comes from a group of people building something together.

We're going to spend a lot of time training them. Not just teaching them skills, but helping them become better versions of themselves. Because that's what good teams do – they grow together, not just work together.

What's Next for TownScholar

Here's where we're headed: creating content that actually creates solid impact in people's lives. Not just content for the sake of content. Not just chasing views or engagement metrics.

We're also building products. Things that add real value to our audience.

I know that sounds vague, but that's because we're in the figuring-it-out phase. And honestly? That's the exciting part. When you have a clear vision but you're still discovering the path to get there.

A Quick Thought

This whole week got me thinking about something: Growth isn't always comfortable. Actually, it's rarely comfortable.

Letting go of clients felt wrong, even though I knew it was right. Bringing in new people means more responsibility, more training, more potential for things to not work out.

But you know what's even more uncomfortable? Staying stuck because you're too afraid to make the hard calls.

Sometimes being a leader means doing the thing that scares you. Sometimes it means having the conversations you've been avoiding. Sometimes it means taking a bet on new people and giving them the space to surprise you.

And sometimes – just sometimes – the thing you were most afraid of turns out to be exactly what needed to happen.

Over to You

Have you ever postponed a difficult conversation, only to realize it went way better than you expected? Or maybe you're sitting on one right now that you know you need to have?

Hit reply and tell me about it. I read every email, and honestly, your stories help me feel less alone in this whole "figuring it out as we go" journey.

See you next Wednesday!

Cheers,

Epaphra

P.S. If you're looking to join a team that's building something real in the content space, keep an eye on this newsletter. We're growing, and we might just need someone like you soon!