The day a client fired me politely

We were four months into the retainer.

Big client. Big logo. Big ego boost. One of those names that makes people nod slowly when you say it.

Like, “Oh… them? Damn.”

That’s what I wanted. Validation. Status. Proof that my work mattered. And yet… I remember opening my laptop one morning, staring at the feedback document.

Clean. Polite. Full of suggestions. But you could smell the boredom.

Everything was “good.”, was “on track.” but felt… hollow.

We were delivering exactly what they asked. But not what they needed. Then came the voice note.

“Hey man, we’re thinking of going in another direction. I feel like you’re just doing what we ask — not what we need.”

No passive-aggressive email. No dotted-line drama. Just a calm mic drop.

Oof.

And the worst part? They were right. We were playing it safe. Shipping decks. Hitting deadlines. Smiling through Slack.

But no spine.

I had fallen into the service provider trap. You know the one where you think being “nice” is being valuable.

Where you avoid conflict like it's a tab you don’t want to open. Where you say, “Sure, we can do that,” even when your gut is screaming, “That’s a terrible idea, Ravi.”

I forgot something crucial:

Clients don’t hire you to follow.
They hire you to lead.

Not to build what’s on their mind, but to shape what’s in their blindspot. They pay for judgment. Not jazz hands. That voice note hurt. But it woke me up.

From that day on, I made a rule: If I’m on your team, I’m going to tell you what I actually think.

Even if it’s awkward. Even if it gets me fired. Even if I’m the only one in the Zoom call frowning while everyone else claps.

Because I’ve seen what happens when you don’t. Brands drift. Teams burn out. Agencies get ghosted.

And worst of all?

You stop feeling proud of your work. Here’s the truth no one tells you about brand strategy:

It’s not just about what looks good.
It’s about what feels true.

What cuts through. What works because it’s bold — not despite it. And bold doesn’t happen by accident.

It happens when you speak up. When you show up with:

• A point of view

• A plan

• A purpose

Not just polish. So if you’re a strategist, a designer, a builder and you’ve been nodding a little too much lately?

Playing it safe. Playing it cool. I’ll leave you with a question:

Are you doing what’s expected? Or what’s needed?

Because there’s a difference. And only one gets you rehired. The Brand Engine pre-sale closes tonight. It’s not for everyone.

But if you're tired of hiding behind pretty decks... If you’re ready to lead the room — not just light it up... If you want to be known for thinking, not just designing... Then this is your shortcut.

Because clarity isn’t just a skill. It’s a strategy. And this course teaches you how to own it.

Get a peek inside before the internet moves on: The Brand Engine

If you're nodding along, you might need this more than you think.

See ya!

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