‘I chose honesty’: Web designer admits he accidentally led the client down the wrong path, ends up saving them money and making $5,000 more

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Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Aug 20, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

We always hear about business antics that are shady and deceitful. Rarely do we hear a business practice that encourages swallowing your pride and telling the truth. That is why when we came across this story, we had to share! This web designer totally upsold this client on a very complicated backend to sell their merchandize online. It was going to be intricate and expensive. However, halfway through the project, the designer realized that is not what the client needed at all. He quickly called a meeting and confessed the truth. He told them that he thinks he accidentally led them down the wrong path and he apologizes and he thinks another direction, that is less detailed and cheaper, is way better for them. They not only applauded his honesty, they told him to go ahead with the new design. He saved them money and time and they made sure to hire him for future projects and refer him to other companies that would eventually also become his client. Just goes to show that the truth always prevails!

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  • E 000 CHERRYDECK CHERRY DECK
    via Unsplash+ (and Cherrydeck)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • "How Admitting I Was Wrong Landed Me a $5000 Project"

    Two years ago, I pitched a client on building their e- commerce app with a complex backend system.
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • I was confident, detailed, and completely wrong about what they actually needed. Three weeks in, it was clear we were building the wrong thing.
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • Their sales were seasonal, their inventory was simple, and my 'sophisticated solution' was overkill.
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • The moment of truth: Tell them everything was going great, or admit I'd overcomplicated things?
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • I chose honesty. Called a meeting and said: 'I think I led us down the wrong path.
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • Here's what I recommend instead, and here's how we can pivot without losing your investment.'*
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • The result: We built a simpler, better solution in half the time.
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • They saved money and launched earlier.
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • They trusted me with three more projects totaling $5000.
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • They still refer clients to me today.
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • The trust-building moment wasn't my expertise - it was my willingness to admit when that expertise was pointed in the wrong direction.
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • Sometimes the fastest way to build trust is to show you care more about their success than about being right.
    via Frequent_Archer_4775
  • Anyone else had a 'failure' that actually strengthened a client relationship?
    via Frequent_Archer_4775

  • It's one thing to lie about being sick when taking a “sick day," everyone agrees those days are for you, so do whatever you want and just tell the boss you're sick. It is an entirely different thing to steer a client into spending more money under a guise, so if you catch yourself doing that, whether it's be accident or not, you should choose honesty and start steering your clients and your morals back in the right direction! 

  • Cheezburger Image 10544301312
    via Unsplash+ (and Mina Rad)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • PhreakyPhillip 20+ years ago I had a job interview with a small (10 employee) company that sold only 3 different products.
    via PhreakyPhillip
  • They wanted a customer & order database that could process credit cards and other typical tasks. After the interview I told my recruiter I didn't know how to write code...he
    via PhreakyPhillip
  • said don't tell them that, just get the job and see what happens. I emailed the guys I interviewed with and told them the truth but I was confident I could learn to write code and deliver what
    via PhreakyPhillip
  • they wanted. They hired me for my honesty and I ended up giving them everything they wanted plus much more.
    via PhreakyPhillip

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