Seems like I opened up a can of worms with my previous post. The response has been overwhelming — mostly positive, with lots of appreciation for the raw honesty. A few clients have reached out asking if they were the “problem clients,” and others want to know what finally pushed me to take the plunge into entrepreneurship.
Why would I leave a land of milk and honey to struggle in Durban?
I got divorced in October 2011. I lived and worked in Joburg while my kids lived and went to school in Durban.
The visitation agreement was every second weekend, so I used to drive down fortnightly to see my kids — leave on a Friday afternoon and return Sunday evening. I did that consistently until 2015. I saw some horrendous things on the road during those trips.
While I loved my job and the people I worked with, each time I came down, I noticed my kids had grown a little more. I made sure I was there for all the important moments — birthdays, school events, sports days — but it was still tough being 600 km away. Deep down, I knew I needed to be based in Durban before my daughter moved up to big school.
One year, my kids invited me down for a long weekend over Diwali. But at the last minute, the school cancelled the holiday, so they had to attend classes that Friday. With nothing to do while they were at school, I drove to Umhlanga beach to have a coffee. The view was breathtaking. I made a quiet wish:
“How nice would it be to work from here every day?”
The following Monday, I was back at work in Joburg. That morning, the company announced its fifth round of retrenchments. My position wasn’t affected — but something clicked. I took out my phone and showed my boss a photo of my kids. He looked at me and said, “I always thought you were a bachelor. I didn’t know you had kids.”
Then he said something I’ll never forget:
“Leave now. It’s the beginning of the month, and others have to wait until month-end.”
Just like that, I packed up.
And I landed in Durban to the breathtaking view and just in time — before my daughter moved on to big school.
returned to breathtaking views
And if you’re wondering why we got divorced, I usually say: incompatibility.
The rest — the drama, the tension, the breakdown — that’s just smoke.
The real issue was simple: we were not compatible.
A friend helped me see it clearly once. She asked,
“Do you like ice cream and chocolate sauce?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like spaghetti and mince?”
“Also yes.”
“Okay, but would you eat spaghetti with chocolate sauce? Or mince with ice cream?”
I laughed and said no.
She smiled and said,
“Exactly. Both are great — just not together.”
That’s how it was. Two good people, just not good together.
When Clients Pay in Coffee: What Freelancing in Durban Taught Me About Desperation and Dignity
networking events bring on the business
One of the main reasons I started training was to educate my clients. In the beginning, many of them misunderstood how websites actually worked. They often prioritized other aspects of their business over their website and marketing efforts.
Most of my clients are CEOs and decision-makers. So, I began showing them how to use analytics to monitor website performance, how to optimize the user experience and customer journey, how to get the most from Google Ads, and how to improve visibility through SEO — in short, how to be found on Google.
become a social media manager
From there, my training naturally evolved into digital marketing and social media.
A key reason I focused on educating decision-makers was to help them make more informed choices, set clearer goals, and have the right expectations. I taught them how to read reports and assess real results — and to set objectives that made sense for their business.
I also noticed a common trend: many agencies would do the work, but keep clients in the dark. So, every time a company hired a new agency, they had to start from scratch — explaining their strategy all over again.
By building internal knowledge and bringing certain tasks in-house, companies could not only take more control but also save significantly on agency fees.
I love my clients — many have become dear friends over the years. Some have left, and in most cases, the main reason was communication breakdowns or mismatched expectations. So, that’s exactly why I started training and educating them.
Below, I’ve listed a few of the “horror clients” I’ve encountered over the years:
My very first client showed up 45 minutes late. That’s when I noticed a trend — timekeeping isn’t always a priority for some. Coming from Joburg, I was raised on punctuality; I’m usually at least 30 minutes early. But when you’re desperate, you unknowingly give off that energy — and people can sense it. That desperation attracts the wrong kind of client.
At the time, the going rate was around R5,000 for a basic brochure site — about R1,000 per page. But in Durban, some clients didn’t even want to pay R1,000 for the whole project. They’d drop a R500 deposit and disappear, never paying the balance. And I’m not the kind of guy who disconnects someone’s service.
Then there are those who insist the full project be done without any deposit.
Or clients who want to do it themselves — they assume the role of advisor and micro-manage every step. I’ve learned in those cases to step back, follow their instructions, and when the project flops, somehow, I’m the one to blame.
Another type? The client who provides no proper brief, yet expects a masterpiece.
Then there’s the one who demands exclusivity — after we start working together, they expect I won’t work with anyone in their industry again.
Training clients have had their moments too. I once met a woman at a networking event — PR for a top Durban law firm, full of energy and enthusiasm. She wanted LinkedIn training. She confirmed, but didn’t pay. I was already in Joburg training corporates, but booked an extra flight down to Durban just to train her. On arrival? Postponed. Then again. And again.
That’s when I realized she’s one of those people who abandon carts — not just online, but in real life (window shoppers). I lost money on flights and turned down a Joburg client who wanted to extend their session. That’s why I now insist on upfront payment for all training.
Then there are the classics:
“I’ll just get my niece, my kid, or my receptionist to do it. They’re good with social media.”
That usually ends how you’d expect.
Then there’s Antonio. He wanted Facebook ads training. Said he’d pay. Eventually, we met at Spur. He bought the coffee and the breakfast — and that was the full payment. Not a bad deal… for him.
Funny stories, yes — but also big lessons.
When you’re desperate to pay the bills, you go into fight-or-flight mode. You make poor decisions. That’s why you always need a cash reserve.
Over the years, I’ve learned the 80/20 rule is real:
20% of your clients bring in 80% of your income.
And business, like dating, comes with red flags. You just need to learn to spot them sooner.
digital marketing workshops
If there are bad clients, then there are definitely good, great, and dream clients too. Over the years, I’ve found that clients who are more established in business (five years or more) tend to be more mature — and I prefer working with them.
I’ve been privileged to work with some real superstars.
When I first moved to Durban, I attended a business expo as an exhibitor. I made a lot of new client connections there, and some of those people are still friends today. I also connected with ad agencies and larger web agencies who outsourced work to me. Through those partnerships, I ended up working on major brands — including blue-chip companies and household names.
digital marketing training
One story stands out. I joined the local chamber, and at one of the meetings, I met a lady — let’s call her Elaine. She needed a quote for her small community center in Point Road. I decided to sponsor the website for her. Now, as many of you know, I live by faith. So the day I handed over the website to Elaine, I stepped into my car and received a message from another client — let’s call him Brian — whom I met at that same business expo. He was so thrilled with his website that he referred ten of his own clients to me. I ended up closing quite a few of those ten.
Another great place where I landed high-quality clients was at paid seminars. I closed at least five big projects just by sitting next to someone who happened to need my services. Those high-ticket events attract serious clients — the kind with real budgets and clear goals.
Business is a lot like dating — you’ve got to choose each other wisely, or it can turn into a painful experience for both sides. That said, sometimes you’ve also got to find that sweet spot where your client’s needs and your value truly meet.
Keep an eye out for Part 3 — it’s coming soon.
And if you missed Part 1, click here to catch up.
your network is your nett worth
