The Statement of Cash Flows: Your Business's Financial GPS

Most business owners can read profit and loss statements, but the Statement of Cash Flows remains a mystery—and that's costing them dearly. While focused on profits and assets, they're missing the one report that could rescue their business or help build an unbreakable cash fortress. This financial GPS shows exactly where your money comes from and goes, revealing cash patterns and exposing problems before they become crises. Learn the simple ChatGPT method that transforms this intimidating report into actionable insights for better cash management.

The Profit Paradox: Why Profitable Companies Go Broke

Many profitable companies go bankrupt because they confuse profit with cash flow. Using the Toys R Us example, which posted $751 million in profit before bankruptcy, this article reveals how businesses can show strong profits while hemorrhaging cash. Through detailed examples showing how $92,000 in profit can translate to only $8,000 in actual cash, readers learn the critical difference between accounting profits and cash flow management - and why mastering both is essential for business survival and growth.

How to Turn $8,000 Into $192,000

"Two businesses. Same $100K profit. One ends with $8K more cash, the other with $192K. The difference? Cash flow mastery. Here's exactly how to be the $192K business."

Partnership Dynamics: When Good Partners Go Bad

When business partnerships turn toxic, they can destroy everything you've built faster than any external threat. Steve's contracting company has tripled in capacity and grown from $1.6 million to nearly $5 million in sales, but his 51% partner has become increasingly paranoid and controlling. What started as a promising partnership is now characterized by constant emotional volatility, veto-without-vision decision-making, and a destructive control spiral that's driving good employees away. The hidden costs are enormous: team performance suffers, decision-making slows to a crawl, and growth potential diminishes as energy gets diverted to managing partnership dysfunction instead of building the business. The real lesson? Most partnership problems could be prevented with proper planning and documentation upfront. Great partnerships require great boundaries, clear decision-making authority, and systems that let you work through conflicts without destroying the business you've built together.

Our inner critic and the power of self-talk

Transform your business success by conquering the negative inner voice that sabotages your confidence. Most people experience 12,000-60,000 thoughts daily, with 85% being negative and repetitive. This constant negativity undermines decision-making, creates imposter syndrome, and weakens leadership abilities. Learn practical reframing techniques to challenge negative self-talk, replace limiting beliefs with empowering alternatives, and visualize success to break the cycle of self-doubt that holds you back professionally and personally.

WIP-lash

A cabinet business owner discovered his financial statements were dangerously misleading—showing only $30,000 in profit when he actually had $180,000 after accounting for unbilled work. This "WIP-lash" problem, where Work in Progress isn't properly reflected in financial statements, paralyzes business owners and leads to catastrophic decision-making. The solution requires professional accrual-basis bookkeeping that matches revenue with expenses in the same period, providing the foundation for confident business decisions.

Martin HollandJune 23, 2025Martin HollandComment

Profit Through Discipline: Why Most Business Owners Leave Money on the Table

Small business owners often know their revenue to the penny but have no clear picture of their actual profitability per job. Through a real coaching session with a concrete contractor, business coach Martin Holland reveals how ruthless measurement and proper job costing separate wealthy business owners from those who perpetually struggle. Learn the simple system that can transform your bottom line.