MAD About Your Business

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Finding Your Reason for Being: How the Japanese Concept of Ikigai Powers Sustainable Entrepreneurship

In the relentless pursuit of profit, many entrepreneurs eventually hit a wall. They build a successful business only to find themselves burned out, questioning the ultimate purpose of their work, or feeling like their venture is just a highly demanding job. Sustained success requires more than a great idea; it requires a great reason to keep showing up.

For me, naming our business MAD(Making A Difference) reminds me to get out of bed. For you, it could be your family, your partner, your parents, who or what revs your engine. Ultimately, you want to be living/working in, what I call, your sweet spot.

This vital concept is captured by the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai (pronounced ee-kee-guy), often translated as "a reason for being" or "a reason to wake up in the morning." Ikigai offers a powerful, holistic framework for entrepreneurs to achieve sustained fulfillment, clarity, and build a truly resilient, passion-driven business designed for the long haul.

It is more than just personal happiness; it is a lens through which you can analyze your business model to ensure it is not only profitable but also authentic, impactful, and fundamentally energizing. Hold on tight. Here we go!

Deconstructing Ikigai: The Four Pillars

Ikigai is most often visualized as a Venn diagram composed of four intersecting circles. True entrepreneurial fulfillment—the point of Ikigai—lies at the precise center where all four elements overlap:

What you love. (The Passion)
What you are good at. (The Mastery)
What the world needs. (The Mission and Market Demand)
What you can be paid for. (The Vocation and Financial Viability)

A business that satisfies only three or fewer of these elements is fundamentally unstable. It might be financially rewarding but deeply unsatisfying, or it might be a fulfilling passion project that consistently loses money.

The Business Application of the Four Pillars

For a business owner, each pillar of Ikigai acts as a critical strategic checkpoint. Here is how to apply this ancient philosophy to modern business practice:

1. What You Love (The Foundation of Passion)

This pillar is the emotional bedrock of your business. It’s what keeps you motivated during the inevitable periods of doubt, struggle, and long hours. What makes you run through a wall?

Application: Ensures your motivation is intrinsic. It prevents the kind of burnout that comes from chasing only external rewards (like money or status).
Action for Business Owners: Revisit your origin story. Why did you start? What part of your daily routine truly brings you joy—is it the initial client consultation, the creative process, or the moment you see a client succeed? Structure your week to dedicate more time to those tasks, and delegate the tasks that you inherently dislike.

2. What You Are Good At (The Mastery and Quality)

This pillar defines your unique value proposition (UVP). It focuses on the skills, knowledge, and talent you possess that allow you to deliver an exceptional product or service. Remember, it’s about being ‘good’. Maybe you’re not ‘great’ yet, but that’s ok.

Application: Ensures you are competitive. If you are not good at what you sell, you will quickly lose customers to competitors who are masters of their craft. This is the quality control point.
Action for Business Owners: Double down on your core competencies. Identify the tasks you perform significantly better than your competition. If you are good at strategy but hate administrative details, you have identified areas to invest in further training (mastery) or strategic delegation (outsource the tasks you are not good at, like bookkeeping!).

3. What The World Needs (The Market Demand and Impact)

This is the external validation that ensures your product or service is relevant. It connects your passion to a real, felt need in the marketplace.

Application: Ensures sustained demand and market relevance. Your business must solve a genuine problem, ease a pain point, or provide tangible benefits to a defined group of people.
Action for Business Owners: Focus on your mission and impact. How does your business make your client’s life better? Conduct market research that focuses heavily on customer pain points, not just sales figures. If you can clearly articulate how your service makes the world (or your industry) a better place, you have a powerful marketing tool.

4. What You Can Be Paid For (The Profit Engine)

This is the financial viability checkpoint. A business driven purely by passion and purpose but lacking profit is a hobby, not a sustainable enterprise.

Application: Ensures longevity. Profit is the fuel required to continue pursuing your purpose and mission.
Action for Business Owners: Ensure that your pricing reflects the exceptional value you deliver and covers all operating costs. Passion should lead your decision-making, but profitability must guarantee your survival.

The Center Intersection: The Zone of Sustainable Entrepreneurship

The power of Ikigai for the business owner lies in understanding the sweet spot—that magical center where the four circles overlap.

The Danger Zones: Businesses often operate in the intersections that are not the center:

Love + Good At + Paid For = Satisfaction, but a sense of uselessness (You’re skilled and paid, but not solving a problem the world urgently needs).
Love + Good At + Needs = Delight, but no wealth (A passionate but perpetually broke venture).
Good At + Needs + Paid For = Excitement, but a feeling of emptiness (Profitable and valuable work, but you lack genuine passion for it).

The entrepreneur who finds Ikigai builds a resilient business that naturally attracts the right clients and talent. By integrating all four pillars into your quarterly strategy, you gain a compass for making tough decisions—if a new product or client doesn’t align with your Love or your Mission, you know definitively it is a distraction, regardless of the potential short-term income.

Conclusion: Your Compass for Business Refinement

Ikigai is not a destination you reach and suddenly become enlightened; it is a tool for continuous, honest business evaluation. It reminds the entrepreneur that success is not merely a number in the bank account, but a daily integration of purpose, passion, and profitability.

By using this powerful framework, you move beyond the daily hustle to build a business that provides immense value to the world, leverages your unique strengths, ensures your financial stability, and most importantly, gives you an authentic, unwavering reason to wake up and dare to lead every single day. Wanna talk about it? Text Ikigai to 262.885.8185. It’s FREE!

Sunday, November 23, 2025

From Invisible to In-Demand: Simple Strategies to Get Noticed on the Internet

In the relentless pursuit of profit, many entrepreneurs eventually hit a wall. They build a successful business only to find themselves burned out, questioning the ultimate purpose of their work, or feeling like their venture is just a highly demanding job. Sustained success requires more than a great idea; it requires a great reason to keep showing up.
For me, naming our business MAD(Making A Difference) reminds me to get out of bed. For you, it could be your family, your partner, your parents, who or what revs your engine. Ultimately, you want to be living/working in, what I can, your sweet spot.
This vital concept is captured by the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai (pronounced ee-kee-guy), often translated as "a reason for being" or "a reason to wake up in the morning." Ikigai offers a powerful, holistic framework for entrepreneurs to achieve sustained fulfillment, clarity, and build a truly resilient, passion-driven business designed for the long haul.
It is more than just personal happiness; it is a lens through which you can analyze your business model to ensure it is not only profitable but also authentic, impactful, and fundamentally energizing. Hold on tight. Here we go!
Deconstructing Ikigai: The Four Pillars
Ikigai is most often visualized as a Venn diagram composed of four intersecting circles. True entrepreneurial fulfillment—the point of Ikigai—lies at the precise center where all four elements overlap:
What you love. (The Passion)
What you are good at. (The Mastery)
What the world needs. (The Mission and Market Demand)
What you can be paid for. (The Vocation and Financial Viability)
A business that satisfies only three or fewer of these elements is fundamentally unstable. It might be financially rewarding but deeply unsatisfying, or it might be a fulfilling passion project that consistently loses money.

The Business Application of the Four Pillars
For a business owner, each pillar of Ikigai acts as a critical strategic checkpoint. Here is how to apply this ancient philosophy to modern business practice:
1. What You Love (The Foundation of Passion)
This pillar is the emotional bedrock of your business. It’s what keeps you motivated during the inevitable periods of doubt, struggle, and long hours. What makes you run through a wall?
Application: Ensures your motivation is intrinsic. It prevents the kind of burnout that comes from chasing only external rewards (like money or status).
Action for Business Owners: Revisit your origin story. Why did you start? What part of your daily routine truly brings you joy—is it the initial client consultation, the creative process, or the moment you see a client succeed? Structure your week to dedicate more time to those tasks, and delegate the tasks that you inherently dislike.
2. What You Are Good At (The Mastery and Quality)
This pillar defines your unique value proposition (UVP). It focuses on the skills, knowledge, and talent you possess that allow you to deliver an exceptional product or service. Remember, it’s about being ‘good’. Maybe you’re not ‘great’ yet, but that’s ok.
Application: Ensures you are competitive. If you are not good at what you sell, you will quickly lose customers to competitors who are masters of their craft. This is the quality control point.
Action for Business Owners: Double down on your core competencies. Identify the tasks you perform significantly better than your competition. If you are good at strategy but hate administrative details, you have identified areas to invest in further training (mastery) or strategic delegation (outsource the tasks you are not good at, like bookkeeping!).
3. What The World Needs (The Market Demand and Impact)
This is the external validation that ensures your product or service is relevant. It connects your passion to a real, felt need in the marketplace.
Application: Ensures sustained demand and market relevance. Your business must solve a genuine problem, ease a pain point, or provide tangible benefits to a defined group of people.
Action for Business Owners: Focus on your mission and impact. How does your business make your client’s life better? Conduct market research that focuses heavily on customer pain points, not just sales figures. If you can clearly articulate how your service makes the world (or your industry) a better place, you have a powerful marketing tool.

4. What You Can Be Paid For (The Profit Engine)
This is the financial viability checkpoint. A business driven purely by passion and purpose but lacking profit is a hobby, not a sustainable enterprise.
Application: Ensures longevity. Profit is the fuel required to continue pursuing your purpose and mission.
Action for Business Owners: Ensure that your pricing reflects the exceptional value you deliver and covers all operating costs. Passion should lead your decision-making, but profitability must guarantee your survival.
The Center Intersection: The Zone of Sustainable Entrepreneurship
The power of Ikigai for the business owner lies in understanding the sweet spot—that magical center where the four circles overlap.
The Danger Zones: Businesses often operate in the intersections that are not the center:
Love + Good At + Paid For = Satisfaction, but a sense of uselessness (You’re skilled and paid, but not solving a problem the world urgently needs).
Love + Good At + Needs = Delight, but no wealth (A passionate but perpetually broke venture).
Good At + Needs + Paid For = Excitement, but a feeling of emptiness (Profitable and valuable work, but you lack genuine passion for it).
The entrepreneur who finds Ikigai builds a resilient business that naturally attracts the right clients and talent. By integrating all four pillars into your quarterly strategy, you gain a compass for making tough decisions—if a new product or client doesn’t align with your Love or your Mission, you know definitively it is a distraction, regardless of the potential short-term income.
Conclusion: Your Compass for Business Refinement
Ikigai is not a destination you reach and suddenly become enlightened; it is a tool for continuous, honest business evaluation. It reminds the entrepreneur that success is not merely a number in the bank account, but a daily integration of purpose, passion, and profitability.
By using this powerful framework, you move beyond the daily hustle to build a business that provides immense value to the world, leverages your unique strengths, ensures your financial stability, and most importantly, gives you an authentic, unwavering reason to wake up and dare to lead every single day. Wanna talk about it? Text Ikigai to 262.885.8185. It’s FREE!

Sunday, November 2, 2025

Look Big, Spend Small: The Google Workspace Advantage for Small Businesses

For a small business to compete in today's digital world, you need to project professionalism, security, and efficiency—qualities often associated with large corporations. However, achieving this polished look doesn't require a massive IT budget. The solution lies in leveraging Google Workspace (formerly G Suite).

Do you get the annoying ads from Google to ‘try’ Google Workspace? Me too! I was very skeptical. I figured, how fancy do I need my Gmail? Well, Google Workspace is more than just email; it's an integrated suite of cloud-based tools that provides the essential infrastructure needed to run a modern, professional business. I’ve used it for several months and it never stops to surprise me with what’s included. Just last week I created a QR code for my business card….FOR FREE! Yes, I realize there are websites out there, but they always make me nervous. Besides, you can get all of these cool features in one location.

If you open your mind, you may get a nugget or two.. Here are some key advantages of using Google Workspace, highlighting the features that make a small business instantly look bigger:

1. Professionalism Starts with Email

Nothing signals "startup" or "side hustle" more quickly than a generic email address (e.g., [yourname]@[gmail.com]). Yes, I realize that Gmail is more widely accepted. However, you need to take any advantage to stand out from the crowd/

Custom Domain Email: With Google Workspace, you get a professional email address using your company’s domain (e.g., paul@[yourbusiness.com]). This is a non-negotiable step for establishing immediate credibility and trust with clients and vendors.
Massive Storage: Google's robust cloud storage (Drive) ensures you never have to worry about running out of email space or losing important files.

2. Seamless Collaboration and Document Control

Workspace eliminates the confusion of shared network drives, old file versions, and expensive software licensing. The world of Google documents has been slowly replacing my MS Office subscription.

Unified Ecosystem: Tools like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are connected in real-time. Multiple team members (or just you and your bookkeeper!) can work on the same financial forecast or client proposal simultaneously, eliminating version control errors.
Security and Centralization: All files are stored securely in the cloud via Google Drive. If your laptop crashes or is stolen, your business data remains safe and instantly accessible from any device. This level of backup and security is standard practice for large firms.
Branded Templates: Create professional templates for invoices, reports, and proposals using Docs and Sheets. When every document looks clean, consistent, and branded, your operation immediately appears more established.

3. Meetings and Communication Efficiency

Professional businesses need reliable, high-quality communication tools.

Google Meet: Conduct high-definition video calls with clients using a link tied to your professional email address. You project competence when your virtual meeting runs flawlessly. Zoom who?
Google Calendar Integration: Schedules are unified, making it simple to share availability, book client appointments, and set up reminders for yourself. Professional scheduling prevents missed deadlines and double-bookings. Love it!

4. Mobility and Scalability

Workspace is designed to support growth without major overhauls.

Access Anywhere: Since all tools are cloud-based, you and your team can work securely from the office, home, or a client site using any phone, tablet, or laptop. This flexibility makes you look modern and highly responsive.
Easy Scaling: When you hire your first employee or assistant, adding them to your Workspace account takes minutes and costs a fixed, predictable monthly fee. They immediately gain access to the branded email, shared drives, and communication tools, making onboarding swift and professional.

5. All of the Cool Stuff

Hey, I’ve admitted this before, I have started to use AI. When used properly, it’s extremely helpful to a business owner.
If you don’t have a face for Youtube, use the Google Vids app to create professionally produced videos.
No need to host your website anywhere else, just use the ‘Goog’.
Did I mention the QR code creation and URL shortener?
You don’t need a full blown CRM when you start your business, Google Contacts is adequate.
If you want to discuss this further, just text Goog to 262.885.8185. No charge to pick my brain for a few minutes.

The Bottom Line

Google Workspace provides a foundational, affordable infrastructure that handles the complex needs of a modern business—security, collaboration, and professional communication—allowing small business owners to focus their limited time and money on what truly matters: serving their clients and driving growth. Investing in this platform is the fastest way to gain the efficiency of a large corporation without the significant overhead.

In case you missed it earlier, if you want to discuss this further, just text Goog to 262.885.8185. No charge to pick my brain for a few minutes.

Thursday, October 23, 2025

Just Say No! The tactful art of 'firing' a client

We fight so hard to secure a client. Why would we ‘fire’ one? Well, let’s explore that. In the exciting world of small business, growth is the ultimate goal. But what if that growth is secretly costing you money, time, and, most importantly, your sanity?

The uncomfortable truth for every ambitious entrepreneur is that not all revenue is good revenue. What?! Some clients demand disproportionate amounts of time, drain your team’s morale, and ultimately leave you with negligible profit. You become trapped in a cycle of constant work that barely moves your business forward. I bet you already thought of one….or five!

This article introduces a critical shift in strategic thinking: mastering the art of saying "no." We will describe the Cost to Serve (CTS) and provide a practical, three-step framework for identifying, setting criteria for, and gracefully transitioning out of low-profit relationships to free up capacity for high-value growth.

1. Calculating the True Cost to Serve (CTS)

The first step in achieving financial clarity is moving beyond the sales invoice and calculating the true cost of fulfilling that client’s needs. This is the Cost to Serve (CTS), and it includes much more than just the direct labor and materials.

What is the True Cost to Serve?

The CTS is the total internal cost a client demands. It includes:

Direct Labor: Billable hours spent on the core service.
Administrative Overhead: The non-billable time spent managing the client (answering non-urgent emails, chasing documents, re-explaining invoices, dealing with scope creep). Can you relate?
Intangible Costs (The Stress Factor): The cost of reduced team morale, missed deadlines for other clients, and the mental bandwidth the relationship occupies for you, the owner.

Actionable Analysis:

Use your existing data—time tracking and bookkeeping records—to conduct a simple analysis of your bottom 20% of clients:

Assign Value to Non-Billable Time: Estimate the total non-billable hours spent on communication, administrative cleanup, and rework for a client over the last quarter. Assign your standard hourly rate to that time.
Calculate Effective Profit Margin: Subtract the total CTS (including the estimated non-billable time cost) from the revenue generated by that client.
The Profitability Quadrant: Place every client into one of four quadrants:

High Profit, Low Effort: Keep and reward these clients. Love ‘em!
High Profit, High Effort: Manageable, but ensure high profits justify the effort.
Low Profit, Low Effort: Manageable, but you might need to slightly increase their fees. You should feel good about this.
The Danger Zone (High Effort, Low Profit): These clients are toxic. They demand the most, pay the least, and are the primary targets for transition.

The goal is to identify clients in the Danger Zone who are consuming capacity that could be filled by ideal, high-profit clients.

2. Setting Clear Criteria for the Exit

Removing emotion from the process is vital. You cannot "fire" a client based on a bad mood; you must base it on clear, objective business criteria. Set these standards before the situation becomes intolerable.

Clear Criteria to Set for Client Review:

The Profit Threshold: If a client relationship consistently falls below your company’s minimum acceptable Gross Profit Margin for two consecutive quarters, they are immediately reviewed.
Excessive Time Drain: The client regularly requires more than a set limit of unbillable administrative time for tasks like chasing missing documents or handling payment disputes.
Value Misalignment: The client repeatedly ignores advice, questions your expertise, or views your service as a commodity rather than a solution. This is a sign the relationship will always be frustrating and low-profit.
Repeated Payment Violations: The client consistently pays invoices late (e.g., pays 15 days or more past the due date twice in six months), disrupting your own cash flow.
The Morale Cost: If the client's demands cause noticeable stress, anxiety, or turnover within your team, the intangible cost outweighs any revenue they provide.

The 90-Day Warning Strategy:

Before immediately ending a relationship, consider giving the client a chance to adjust. State clearly that the cost of serving them has increased and that you will need to adjust their fee by X% or they must agree to stricter service boundaries (e.g., "We will now only respond to emails during business hours"). If they refuse the change, your decision is no longer emotional—it's a clear business necessity.

3. Gracefully Exiting Low-Value Relationships

You should never burn a bridge. Exiting a low-profit relationship must be done professionally and courteously to maintain your reputation and ensure you don't alienate potential future referral sources.

The Graceful Transition Process:

Communicate in Writing (The "Soft" Letter): Write a concise, polite letter or email. Never blame the client. Frame the decision as a strategic one on your part.

Example Phrasing: "We are restructuring our client focus to concentrate exclusively on businesses in the [Specific Industry/Size]. Because of this change, we will be unable to continue providing service after [Final Date]."

Provide a Solution (The Soft Landing): This is the most crucial step. Offer to transition them to a qualified referral who might be a better fit for their specific needs or size. This transforms an awkward breakup into a helpful introduction.
Set a Firm End Date: Clearly define the final day of service and detail your final deliverable (e.g., "The final Profit & Loss Statement will be delivered on October 31st").
Prepare Records for Transfer: Ensure all their financial records are organized, reconciled up to the end date, and immediately transferable to their new provider. This showcases your professionalism until the very last minute.
Focus on the Future: Once the transition is complete, immediately use that newfound capacity to market and serve your ideal, high-profit clients.

Saying "no" to the wrong clients is the most effective way to say "yes" to better clients, higher margins, and a superior quality of life. If it feels like you at least need to explore this, but want a little free guidance, please text ‘Just Say No’ to 262.885.8185. Thanks for visiting!

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

The Entrepreneur's Library: The Top 10 Essential Books for Business Owners

Who has time to read?! I understand your dilemma. In the demanding world of business ownership, time is your most valuable resource. Yet, dedicating time to continuous learning is what ultimately separates those who hustle endlessly from those who build scalable, successful enterprises. While there is no substitute for hard-won experience, the lessons distilled within a great business book can save you years of trial and error.

While I have not yet read all these yet, I have read many of them. I looked at each one in the same way as I view eating an elephant…. one bite a time. I find that starting with 10 pages a day is a great place to start. I have included some of my own notes and included some general notes from others. These books are practical blueprints for solving common entrepreneurial pain points, covering a wide range of topics.

Enjoy!

Mindset & Vision: Escaping the 'Technician' Trap

1. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

(Michael E. Gerber)

The Core Idea: Gerber argues that most small businesses are founded by "technicians" (people skilled at a trade, like baking or plumbing) who mistake their technical skill for the ability to run a business. This leads to the owner becoming indispensable and trapped in the job, not working on the business.
Key Takeaway for Owners: Your primary job is to build a system that can run without you. Focus on systems, documentation, and processes (like SOPs) to ensure consistent, scalable results, allowing you to graduate from "technician" to "entrepreneur." This is a VERY common challenge with business owners.

2. Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

(Simon Sinek)

The Core Idea: Sinek introduces the "Golden Circle"—Why, How, What. He argues that inspirational leaders and companies communicate from the inside out (starting with Why they do what they do, not What they sell).
Key Takeaway for Owners: Articulate your company's purpose, cause, or belief. When customers and employees buy into your Why, your brand loyalty intensifies, making pricing less relevant and marketing more authentic.

Strategy & Efficiency: Building a Machine That Works

3. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

(Jim Collins)

The Core Idea: Based on exhaustive research, Collins identifies the key characteristics that allowed companies to shift from being merely "good" to achieving sustained, spectacular financial performance. Concepts include Level 5 Leadership, the Hedgehog Concept, and the Culture of Discipline.
Key Takeaway for Owners: Identify the Hedgehog Concept—the intersection of what you are deeply passionate about, what you can be the best in the world at, and what drives your economic engine. Simplify your strategy around this core idea. HUGE!

4. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

(James Clear)

The Core Idea: Success isn't about massive, overnight changes; it's about the cumulative effect of marginal gains—improving by just 1% every day(sound familiar?). Clear offers a practical, four-step model for building better systems and habits.
Key Takeaway for Owners: Focus on improving the systems that lead to results (e.g., your sales follow-up process, your financial tracking routine), rather than just focusing on the results themselves. Small, consistent improvements create colossal long-term change.

5. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

(Tim Ferriss)

The Core Idea: Ferriss advocates for radical efficiency, outsourcing, automation, and applying the Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) to identify and eliminate time-wasting activities.
Key Takeaway for Owners: Routinely audit your activities and identify the 20% of effort that produces 80% of your results. Systematically eliminate or delegate the remaining 80% of tasks, freeing up your time for high-impact growth activities. Can you relate?

Marketing & Sales: Connecting and Converting

6. They Ask, You Answer: A Revolutionary Approach to Inbound Sales, Content Marketing, and Today's Digital Consumer

(Marcus Sheridan)

The Core Idea: The fastest way to build trust and generate sales is to be the best teacher in the world at what you do. Answer every single question your potential customers have, especially the difficult ones related to pricing, competition, and problems with your product.
Key Takeaway for Owners: Create content (blog posts, videos, articles) that answers the five key topics your customers ask about: Cost, Problems, Comparisons, Reviews, and Best Of lists. This transparency builds credibility and positions you as the definitive authority.

7. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen

(Donald Miller)

The Core Idea: Miller provides a 7-part framework (the "StoryBrand 7-Part Framework") for clarifying your message. The fundamental shift is to position the customer as the hero and your business as the guide.
Key Takeaway for Owners: Stop talking about yourself! Frame your products and services as the solution that helps your hero (the customer) overcome their external and internal problems. A confused mind never buys.

8. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion

(Robert Cialdini)

The Core Idea: This classic book breaks down the six universal principles of persuasion that drive human behavior. Understanding these principles allows you to ethically craft effective marketing and sales messaging.
Key Takeaway for Owners: Leverage the Six Principles (Reciprocity, Commitment/Consistency, Social Proof, Authority, Liking, and Scarcity) in your marketing. For instance, Social Proof (testimonials/reviews) and Scarcity (limited time offers) are simple tactics that immediately increase conversion rates. I just started this one, but it will catch your attention right away.

Finance & Leadership: Mastering the Business Controls

9. Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine

(Mike Michalowicz)

The Core Idea: Challenges the traditional accounting formula (Sales - Expenses = Profit) and proposes a new one: Sales - Profit = Expenses. By taking profit out first and allocating funds to specific bank accounts, business owners ensure profitability and control cash flow.
Key Takeaway for Owners: Immediately implement the "Profit First" system by setting up separate bank accounts for Profit, Owner’s Pay, Taxes, and Operating Expenses. This forces frugality and guarantees profitability, regardless of sales volume. LOVE THIS BOOK! I learned so much about the money mindset. I would move this to the top of the list for everyone, newbie or not.

10. Dare to Lead

(Brené Brown)

The Core Idea: Brown uses decades of research to show that true leadership is built on vulnerability, courage, empathy, and integrity. Daring leaders aren't afraid of difficult conversations; they lean into them.
Key Takeaway for Owners: Focus on building a culture where trust is paramount. Courage is a prerequisite for leadership; you must be willing to risk failure, have hard conversations, and embrace vulnerability to foster innovation and deep loyalty within your team.

Your Next Steps: From Reading to Revenue

Choosing one or two books from this list and applying the core lessons consistently will have a far greater impact than reading them all without action.

Let’s revisit the elephant, shall we? Please focus on small, consistent improvements. Start with the book that addresses your most immediate business pain point, schedule time each week to read, and immediately apply one key takeaway. That is how you turn a bookshelf into a blueprint for unprecedented business growth. As always, reach out if you want to brainstorm. It’s FREE. Email me anytime at paul@madbookkeepingservices.com.