Hi,
I’ve learned a lot over my career working with clients, but one lesson stands out above the rest:
There are three certainties in life — death, taxes, and the day you inherit an account that’s a total train wreck.
Maybe your colleague quit. Maybe the portfolio got reshuffled. Maybe you’ve just been handed the poisoned chalice nobody else wanted.
Whatever the reason, the result is the same: a client on edge, trust in tatters, and you left holding the bag.
You’ve got a choice: moan about the mess, complain to anyone who’ll listen, even ask the universe “why me?”—or tackle the challenge head-on and grab the opportunity waiting for you.
That’s exactly what we’re talking about today.
So let’s dive in.
POV: When your new client says “let’s forget the past” but you’ve seen the handover notes,
This Week’s Process: The Clean Slate Protocol
Most people see a messy account as a nightmare. I see it as a chance to make your mark. When expectations are low, even small wins feel big. And the truth is, you do your best problem-solving when the pressure’s on.
Think about it — has there ever been a hole you couldn’t dig yourself out of?
System Scorecard
Career Impact (9/10)
👉 Turning a mess into momentum proves you can lead under pressure. It’s the kind of skill bosses notice and remember.Client Trust (8.5/10)
👉 Clients respect someone who owns the present and points to the future. That reset builds credibility faster than promises ever will.Ease of Use (8/10)
👉 Five simple “clean-up” steps you can use straight away. No fancy tools required, just discipline and a willingness to wipe the slate clean.
How it Works:
Step 1. Clear Clutter
Those labels — “difficult,” “unresponsive,” “painful”? They reflect someone else’s relationship, not yours. Bag them up and throw them out. Start conversations with curiosity, not conclusions.
Step 2. Air the Room
Reset stakeholder relationships. Think of it like opening a window to clear a stuffy room. Position your intro calls as “fresh start” conversations: “I’m here to understand where things are now and where you’d like them to be. Let’s start from today.” That subtle shift shows you’re solution-focused, not here to gossip about the past.
Step 3. Remove Stains
Find out what’s leaving a mark — the issues making clients frustrated, disappointed, or angry. Don’t dwell on how the stain got there, just on how you can remove it. This moves the conversation forward instead of stuck in the past.
Step 4. Tidy Daily
Trust isn’t restored by a single deep clean. It’s the daily habits: sending the follow-up when you said you would, calling at the exact time you promised, delivering the small fixes consistently. Reliability is what makes the room feel liveable again.
Step 5. Polish Often
Once the space is clean, keep it that way. Anchor your conversations in what’s next. Share quick wins, highlight progress, and start seeding a bigger roadmap. The more you show momentum, the faster the past fades into the rear view.
Quick Checklist
(A.K.A. gut-check if you’re really wiping the slate clean)
✓ Have I ditched the labels and started fresh?
✓ Did I set the tone with “new chapter” conversations?
✓ Do I actually know what success looks like for them right now?
✓ Am I showing up with small wins, not big promises?
✓ Have I kept the focus on where we’re going, not where we’ve been?
It doesn’t take genius to manage easy, but it does take nerve to manage messy.
Get Started with the Clean Slate
You don’t need to wait for a disaster handover to put this into practice. Pick one of these to tackle this week:
👉 Option 1: Write down three things you’ll do differently next time you inherit an account.
👉 Option 2: Revisit your most recent handover. Wipe one assumption clean and reset it now.
👉 Option 3: Draft a 3–5 bullet “Clean Slate checklist” for future handovers.
Your move. Pick one and get rolling.
POV: When the handover notes say “Good luck”
Go to the Next Level
The Clean Slate Protocol is a quick clean-up kit. But some handovers aren’t just messy — they’re emotional minefields..
But sometimes a messy handover isn’t just about process. In the podcast episode “Not Your Mess, But Your Problem,” I dig into:
How to handle frustrated, emotional stakeholders without making things worse.
Why you should never throw your predecessor under the bus (and what to say instead).
The 90-day recovery roadmap that takes you from stabilising to growing.
You’ll find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to tune in.
… Your Bonus Round
Look Like a Million Bucks (on a $99 Budget)
I STILL have a $99 tuxedo I bought 20 years ago (barely worn) and it looks like a million bucks because I tailored the hell out of it. This article has some great tips for sprucing up a bargain suit — like swapping out the buttons. Never thought of that, but what an easy win!
👉 Read it here
Burnout, Quits & Revenge: Work in 2025
I’m late to the party on this one, but wow. Burnout is up 73%, nearly a million more people quit than expected, and “revenge quitting” is now a trend. This report unpacks the forces reshaping work — from Gen Z managers to the rise of side hustles — and what it means for your career right now.
👉 Dive into the report
Make Music Without Talent (Suno AI)
Love music but have zero talent? Same. Suno lets you create AI-powered songs with scary-good vocals and loads of control. I played around and made three tracks:
Procrastinatrix — Lana Del Rey–inspired anthem for the lazy.
9 to Why? — a country banger about thankless jobs and ungrateful clients.
It’s My Turn — the anthem for anyone passed over for promotion one too many times.
It was way too much fun — I even made a playlist: Fed Up and Fired Up.
Remember, every messy account is a success story waiting to be written. Go write yours — and until next time, stay Account Minded.
Best,
P.S. If you’re ready to go deeper, The KAM Club is where I share the good stuff — step-by-step tutorials, proven templates, practical playbooks, book recommendations, and yes… even private coaching with me when you need it. Learn more here.