October 16, 2026 TODAY'S TOPIC: ARE YOUR SALES REALLY GROWING? Hey Bosses! 👋🏽💕 Today we're talking about understanding the numbers behind your business. 📰 THE BUSINESS NEWS Yesterday, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that September retail and food services sales increased 0.8%. However, sales excluding gasoline stations increased just 0.2%. The National Retail Federation also released its holiday forecast, projecting a 4.2% increase in November–December retail spending compared with 2025. These reports remind us why understanding consumer spending matters. 🎓 THE BOSS LESSON Three business numbers you should understand: 1. Revenue: The total money generated from sales. 2. Sales volume: The number of products or services sold. 3. Profit: The money remaining after business expenses. Here's a quick example: You sell 100 products for $20 each. Your revenue is $2,000. The next month, you sell 90 products for $24 each. Your revenue increases to $2,160. Your revenue grew, but you actually sold fewer products. That's why it's important to look beyond the total amount of money coming in. 📝 TODAY'S BOSS ACTION CHALLENGE THE 15-MINUTE BUSINESS DEMAND CHECK Step 1: Identify your most popular product or service. Step 2: Review how many sales or bookings you've received recently. Step 3: Examine your selling price and expenses. Step 4: Identify one change you can test to improve your business performance. If you haven't started your business yet, use estimated numbers and practice the exercise. 💬 YOUR TURN! Which business number do you currently understand best? A. Revenue B. Sales volume C. Profit margin D. I'm still learning all three! Drop your answer in the comments and tell us what you would like to learn next. Bosses, financial understanding is part of business leadership. 🎯 Stop sitting on the goal. Start working the plan.™ — Janeah Davis Founder | Boss Conversations Academy Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, October 15, 2026: https://www.census.gov/retail/sales.html