Marshmallows don’t make money. They make s’mores.
If you’re acting like a marshmallow with your business and finances — avoiding hard decisions, overpromising, and undercharging — your team pays for it. I’ve said this for years: The moment you’re responsible for putting food on someone else’s table, you have an obligation to make better business decisions. As a solopreneur, your mistakes mostly affect you. As a business owner with a growing team? Your decisions have consequences. Real ones. Because someone is: • Counting on that invoice getting paid • Planning their month around your agreement • Trusting you to operate like a professional And when you don’t? You’re not “figuring it out." You’re not “just growing.” You’re the A**hole. Let’s look in the mirror for a second… Are you guilty of: • Paying late • Requesting work you can’t afford • Cancelling or rescheduling constantly • Changing scope mid-project • Asking your team to “believe in the mission” • Avoiding collecting from clients who owe you • Continuing to serve non-paying clients • Prioritizing other expenses over your team That’s not scrappy. That’s irresponsible. Leadership isn’t just vison. It’s stewardship. And if you can’t manage your money — and understand how your behavior affects the weather of your business — you don’t get to manage people. If this hit a nerve, good. That’s usually where the real problem is.