Episode 89

Episode #69 - The Hard Truth About Failing a Client You Care About

In this episode of The Queen of Automation, I got raw and honest about something that doesn’t get talked about enough, what happens when you screw up. After three solid years with a client I truly admired, I dropped the ball. We missed things, and they decided to move on. It stung hard, not just because they were paying clients, but because they’d become friends. Watching the brand we’d built together start to fall apart under bad automation and worse AI content was painful.

So I opened up about what to do when that happens, when you’re the problem. It’s easy to say “move on” or “put your big girl pants on,” but that doesn’t touch the part where your confidence takes a hit. I kept working, stayed professional, even helped them with tech stuff afterward just to make things right. And then, out of nowhere, they reached out saying it’s been terrible working with their new team. That moment gave me the chance to respond with honesty, not sales, to own the mistake, say I was sorry, and leave the door open.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever dropped the ball and felt that pit in their stomach afterward. I share how I handled it, what I learned, and why owning your mistakes is one of the strongest things you can do as a leader. Because being great at business isn’t about being perfect, it’s about how you handle it when you’re not.

At the end of the day, operations are only good when they work, and sometimes, they don’t work because of you. When that happens, own it, fix it, grow from it, and keep going.


About the Podcast

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The Queen of Automation
Technology is only good when it works.

About your hosts

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Meghan Donnelly

She’s the owner and founder of The Digital Unicorns, a small digital operations agency that helps multi-6-figure businesses streamline and optimize their digital experience with automated systems and tools. She’s also the brains and the chaos behind The Queen of Automation. Meghan has over 15 years in the digital operations industry, with a ton of experience and geeky expertise to share. As a business owner with ADHD, automation changed her life, and she loves sharing techy tips and tricks with other entrepreneurs.
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Andrea Salazar

Meet Andrea, our Social & Customer Engagement Ninja. She handles all our social and community management, collaborating with other brands to help boost our brand’s online presence. Her goal is to make our customers happy through smart communication and engagement strategies. When not at work, you’ll find her enjoying life as a mom of two, juggling career wins with family fun.