First time to terminate a contract
I thought I'd share a little story with you all about a recent experience that marked my very first time having to terminate a contract with a client.
So, here's the backdrop: I jumped on board with my second client, all excited about the opportunity to explore the ins and outs of meta advertising. My role was to handle the influencer marketing side of things at the agency. I was excited because I believed this was a great opportunity to start learning about meta-advertising.
The initial months were a mix of okay and stressful. The client had high expectations. I mean, she genuinely believed the project would take off within a few weeks. And when things didn't go her way, she easily got frustrated. Now, I can deal with frustration, but rudeness was her go-to response when things didn't go her way.
To make matters even more “fun,” I found myself juggling a whopping 11 projects across 8 different brands and delivering top-quality service to each brand was a serious challenge. I was clocking in longer hours than I care to admit.
Fast forward to a weeks ago – my grandfather passed away. I reached out to the client, explaining my situation and promising that I'd do my best to keep the work going. At the very least I expected some support and understanding but she bombarded me with messages during a time when I was already emotionally stretched to my limits.
I felt like I had no time to grieve because I was thinking about work. But no matter how much I tried, I just did not have the brain power to finish any task.
The breaking point came when she scheduled an emergency team call on Monday. The entire team was present, and she had each team member speak up about what we could have done better and our suggestions for moving forward. With the others, she was super engaging, offering feedback and bouncing around ideas.
Then came my turn. As I shared my perspective, the room fell silent. Her response? “It's been a hell of a learning, and I don’t think we will be offering influencer marketing moving forward.”
In essence, right in front of my peers, she essentially implied that I was going to be terminated. I felt deeply disrespected and humiliated, which was the last straw. (And this happened on the same day of the funeral. Lol)
The very next day, I turned in my notice to terminate the contract, effective immediately.
It wasn't an easy choice, but it was about self-respect and ensuring I didn't compromise my own mental and emotional well-being for a client who didn't appreciate my efforts.
Sometimes, you've got to put yourself first. Thanks for letting me share this with you all. It's a good reminder that your worth is not determined by the expectations of others, and self-respect should never be sacrificed for the sake of a job.