Mike Michalowicz's Blog

The Insight: Spending Money is Necessary, But Uncontrolled Spending Is Not

Money exists to be spent. We all have bills, groceries, and yes, occasional indulgences (#guitarcollection). 

The thing is, you’re probably not overspending on the big, essential things. You’re overspending in sneaky little ways that add up without us noticing. And when money leaves your accounts without a plan, stress follows.

It’s not that you don’t make enough. You might. The problem is a lack of boundaries. One careless transaction turns into a habit, and before you know it, that habit starts dictating how you feel about money. Anxiety. Regret. Sleepless nights.

The Perspective: Master one spending habit, master them all

You don’t have to overhaul your entire financial life at once. You don’t need to start cutting out every latte, subscription, or happy-hour drink you love. In fact, that’s a guaranteed way to quit before you even begin.

Instead, focus on one spending habit. Just one. Master it. And watch as it transforms your approach to money across the board.

Why does this work? Because your brain doesn’t separate money habits into categories. The discipline you build in one area spills over into others. Nail your spending in one small area, and suddenly, controlling impulse buys, subscriptions, and other sneaky leaks feels natural. Momentum starts to build, and with momentum comes confidence.

The Action: Weekly limits and dedicated accounts

Here’s a simple, practical step you can take today:

Pick one spending area to master. Let’s start with something common, like dining out.Set a weekly limit. Decide how much you’re comfortable spending each week and make it an amount that’s reasonable, yet forces you to make intentional choices.Open a dedicated account. This could be a separate checking account or a prepaid debit card. Fund it weekly from your income.Use it only for that expense. Eating out? Only use this card. Coffee, groceries, online shopping? Keep those separate. No mixing.

Here’s why it works: you create a physical, visible boundary. You can see exactly how much is left, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. That simple restriction trains your brain to respect money and make intentional decisions, instead of slipping into autopilot spending.

The beauty of this approach is its simplicity. You’re not restricting yourself from enjoyment. You’re giving yourself permission to spend without guilt or chaos. And once you feel control here, other areas of spending start falling into place naturally.

Final Thought: One habit leads to another 

You might be thinking, “Mike, really? Just one habit?” Yes, really. This isn’t about perfection; it’s about momentum. It’s about proving to yourself that you can control money instead of letting it control you.

Master this one habit, and you’ll notice something amazing: other money decisions start clicking into place. You’ll stop wondering where all your money went. You’ll start making choices based on intention, not impulse. And most importantly, you’ll feel a little more at peace each week.

Confidence will replace your financial stress.

Start small. Pick one spending area, set a limit, and see how your finances and your mindset shift.

Here’s to your financial freedom, one habit at a time.

– Mike

Want more weekly intel sent right to your inbox – before the book even comes out? Get on the list here, or share it with a friend!

And yes, the book launch is right around the corner! Preorder your copy here.

The post Take Control of Your Money appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

I’m going to say the unpopular thing: you can’t separate your business money from your personal money. I mean, technically, you can. Different accounts, different cards, different piles of receipts you swear you’ll organize someday. But the reality is the way you treat money in one area of life is the way you treat it in all areas.

If you’re disorganized at work, chances are your personal finances are just as messy. If you’re great at saving in your business but constantly swiping your card at home without a second thought, that stress eventually bleeds right back into your work. You can’t have financial peace in one world and chaos in the other. They’re connected. Always.

The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your entire financial life to get ahead. You don’t need to sell your car, stop eating out, and start sewing your own clothes (although my EA does, and she’s pretty fantastic). You just need to start with one small move.

And the move is this: cut a single expense. Just one.

Why one expense matters more than you think

I know what you’re thinking because I’ve heard it before. “Mike, cutting expenses sounds like punishment. Now I have to give up Netflix so you can sit in silence staring at your wall. And I am NOT saying goodbye to coffee, which would mean saying goodbye to my will to live.”

That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m not suggesting you strip your life down to bread and water. I’m saying, look for the expenses that are quietly draining you.

The software subscription you forgot to cancel. The random $29 a month tool you signed up for in a moment of “this will change everything!” that you haven’t touched in six months. The membership you’re paying for out of guilt because you keep telling yourself you’ll use it “next week.”

Cut that one.

Because here’s what happens when you do: you don’t just save money, you build confidence. You prove to yourself that you are the one in charge. That tiny act of control sends a big signal to your brain: “Hey, I can do this.”

And then something funny happens. You start noticing other leaks. You start making better decisions automatically. And suddenly you’re not just saving money. You’re changing the entire way you interact with it.

Business + personal = One money habit

Here’s the kicker: the habits are identical.

If you cut a $50 expense in your business, don’t just let it sit there waiting to get absorbed by the next shiny thing. Move that $50 into your profit account. That’s right, turn wasted money into actual profit. Boom.

Now take the same principle home. Cancel a streaming service you never use and move that same $50 into savings or a “sleep-better fund.” Every time you look at that account growing, you’ll feel a little jolt of peace. You’re no longer the passenger. You’re the driver. 

What you do at work bleeds into what you do at home. What you do at home bleeds into what you do at work. If you can prove to yourself in one area that you’re capable of steering your money, you’ll reinforce the same behavior everywhere.

That’s why entrepreneurs who get their personal finances under control suddenly find their business finances start clicking too, and vice versa. The brain doesn’t compartmentalize money habits. It just learns patterns.

A quick example

Let’s say you cut out a $100 monthly expense in your business. Maybe that extra software license you’re not using. You move that $100 straight into your profit account every month. That’s $1,200 at the end of the year, which is real profit, without doing anything except canceling something you don’t use.

Now let’s mirror that at home. You cut out a $100 “I didn’t even realize I was spending this” expense—maybe a subscription box, for instance. Fun? Sure. Necessary? Not really. Cancel it. Move that $100 a month into savings. By the end of the year, that’s another $1,200 sitting there.

Together, that’s $2,400. From cutting two things you don’t even miss. And, more importantly, you’ve trained your brain to choose where your money goes instead of letting it leak away.

But Mike, one expense won’t change my life

No, one expense won’t make you a millionaire. But it will start the shift.

Think of it like going to the gym. You don’t start by running a marathon. You start by walking around the block. The goal isn’t to change everything overnight; it’s to prove to yourself you can start, and then build momentum.

That’s what this is: financial momentum. Every little cut, every little redirect, creates a snowball effect. And pretty soon, you’re not just canceling one expense, you’re making smarter choices everywhere. You’re looking at money through the lens of “Does this serve me?” instead of “Well, I guess that’s just how it is.”

Your challenge

Here’s your assignment (yep, I’m giving homework):

Pull up your business bank statement.
Pull up your personal bank statement.
In each, circle one expense that’s leaking your money.
Cancel it today.
Redirect the money to profit or savings.

That’s it. Not ten expenses. Not a full financial audit. One.

And then, when you’ve done it once, do it again. And again. And again.

Because  – and I know you’ve heard this from me over and over – financial freedom doesn’t come from one massive move. It comes from small, intentional choices made consistently. It comes from building patterns that reinforce each other at work and at home.

One expense at a time. Cancel, redirect, repeat. That’s how you take control. That’s how you stop stressing about money. That’s how you build not just a profitable business, but a peaceful life.

– Mike

Resources:

Want more weekly intel sent right to your inbox – before the book even comes out? Get on the list here, or share it with a friend!And yes, the book launch is right around the corner! Preorder your copy here.Get help implementing Profit First here.Grab a copy of Profit First here.

The post How Eliminating a Single Expense Can Transform Your Financial Future appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

I used to believe that the answer to money problems was always “make more.” If my income went up, my worries would disappear. But the truth is, I made a lot of money, and I still lost everything.

At one point, I was living what looked like a dream. My businesses were successful, my bank account was full, and I thought I was set for life. But behind the scenes, I had an angel investment that was tanking. I was ignoring the warning signs and using money as proof of success instead of a tool for security. When my accountant told me the money was gone, I lost my savings, my confidence, and even my sense of identity. The financial stress led to depression and strained my relationships.

That season of my life taught me the most important financial lesson I’ve ever learned: you don’t eliminate money stress by earning more. You do it by managing what you already have, intentionally and systematically.

The real source of money anxiety

If you’ve ever been awake at night worrying about bills, debt, or unexpected expenses, you know that money anxiety isn’t just about dollars. It’s about uncertainty, insecurity, and often, shame.

When you look at your bank account and see one big lump sum, your brain immediately starts racing: Is this for the bills? Can I spend some of it? Should I save it? What if something comes up? That uncertainty eats away at your peace of mind.

Our brains are wired to crave clarity and predictability. When money feels fuzzy and undefined, the lack of boundaries creates stress. You start second-guessing every purchase and fearing every unknown. 

And here’s the kicker: the more money you earn, the bigger that lump sum gets, and the more confusing it becomes. More income without organization only magnifies the anxiety.

It wasn’t until I started organizing my money into specific, purpose-driven accounts that things shifted. The simple act of dividing and labeling my money gave me clarity. Suddenly, I could see exactly what was for my needs, what was for my future, and what was for my dreams. That clarity alone relieved a massive amount of stress.

Why organization changes everything

Here’s the part most people miss: the way you organize your money is what creates your habits. And your habits are what reshape your mindset.

When your money is jumbled together, your habits are reactive. You wait for the next bill, then scramble to pay it. You wait for the next crisis, then scramble to cover it. That reinforces a mindset of scarcity and fear.

But when you separate your money into clear, intentional buckets, your habits change. You allocate consistently. You spend consciously. You save automatically. And those repeated actions begin to rewire how you think about money.

You stop seeing money as something unpredictable and start seeing it as something you direct with purpose. Over time, that shift builds real confidence and real wealth.

Think about it like this: every time you move money into a designated account, you’re reinforcing the story that you’re in control. Over weeks and months, that story becomes your truth. And once your mindset shifts, wealth is no longer about chasing income. It’s about growing with stability.

Why more income won’t fix the problem

When I hit rock bottom, I thought the solution was another big win. I needed a windfall, a new business, a pile of cash to erase my stress. Right? But when I looked back, I realized I’d already had that before. I’d earned plenty. And yet, because I lacked structure, I lost it all.

The problem wasn’t my income. It was my behavior.

I realized I needed some kind of discipline. I needed an easy system. This is how Profit First was born, which is great, but it didn’t exactly help me get my personal finances in order. 

When it comes to money, you need to make proactive choices instead of emotional ones. And once you have that framework, your mindset shifts from Do I have enough? to I know exactly where this belongs. That’s where financial peace begins.

Your action step

Here’s what I want you to do today:

Choose one area of your finances that brings you stress.Create a dedicated account just for that. Don’t overthink it. Start with the one thing that will give you the most peace of mind.Every time money comes in, move a portion into that account. Even if it’s small, the habit matters more than the amount.

The power isn’t in the size of the transfer. It’s in the clarity it creates and the habits it builds.

The bottom line

You’ll never eliminate financial stress by simply earning more. The secret is clarity. By organizing your money and giving every dollar a job, you stop reacting to money and start directing it. That organization creates habits, those habits shift your mindset, and that mindset builds wealth.

I’ve lived the chaos of losing it all. I’ve lived with the anxiety of uncertainty. And now I can support you. The way out of financial instability is focus and structure, not hustle and hope.

Start with one account. Build the habit. Watch your confidence and your wealth grow.

Here’s to your clarity and peace,
– Mike

The post How to Never Worry About Money Again appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

When you see someone who is financially well off, is your first instinct that she or he got there seamlessly? I sure used to.

I wish I could tell you that my money journey has been nothing but smart decisions, steady growth, and easy wins. The thing is, and stop me if you’ve heard this already – I had it ALL once. And then I lost it.

No kidding.

I had the big house, the cars, the trappings of “success.” On paper, I looked like a guy who had it figured out. But the reality behind closed doors was brutal: I had been an angel investor, and it went south. Like, real south. Then came the mounting debt, unpaid bills hidden in drawers, and a pit in my stomach that wouldn’t go away. Eventually, it all came crashing down.

I lost my money. I lost my confidence. I nearly lost myself.

When the numbers crumble, so do you

Money is never just about dollars. When your finances collapse, your mental health collapses right alongside it.

I remember lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to move. Depression hit me like a freight train. I felt worthless, like I had failed not just in business, but in life. My wife and kids were there for me, but I couldn’t shake the shame. Every time I looked at them, all I saw was the provider I wasn’t.

Money problems seep into everything. Your relationships get strained. Your health takes a hit. You isolate yourself because you don’t want anyone to know how bad it’s gotten. And the cruelest part? You feel like the harder you work, the deeper you sink.

The breaking point

My lowest point occurred at Valentine’s dinner when my daughter, who was little at the time, offered up her piggy bank to keep us all afloat.

That was the day I realized I couldn’t work my way out of this hole by sheer willpower. I needed a new system. Not just for my finances, but for how I thought about money.

The first big shift: Profit First

That’s when I built the Profit First system. It was born from desperation; an idea so simple I thought it might be dumb: take profit first, and run the business on what’s left. It flipped the traditional accounting model on its head, and it saved me.

Profit First gave me my footing back in business. It created boundaries, structure, and accountability where before there had been chaos. For the first time, I wasn’t scrambling to cover expenses; I was building reserves. And with that structure came a little breathing room.

“Ok, Mike – what about your personal finances?”, I’m sure you’re wondering. 

Yeah, about those. I hadn’t really fixed that. It was easier, less personal, somehow, to focus on shoring up my business. That’s what Profit First did –  solved my business finances. But that solved nothing at home.

The deeper problem

Even when my business finances stabilized, my personal habits continued to pull me back toward the edge. I’d overextend, overspend, or simply ignore the warning signs. I wasn’t just making financial mistakes; I was living with financial dysfunction.

This wasn’t about systems alone. It was about habits. About mindset.

I needed to rewire my thinking about money in my day-to-day life. To stop seeing it as something “over there” that I’d eventually get around to, and start treating it as the foundation for my freedom, my family, and my peace of mind.

Building The Money Habit

All of this to say, I decided to write The Money Habit to guide you through making money management a daily practice that feels natural, automatic, and even empowering.

I took the principles that saved my businesses and translated them into personal finance. Just like Profit First makes profit unavoidable in your business, The Money Habit makes financial progress unavoidable in your life.

And here’s the truth: habits beat willpower every time. You don’t need to “try harder.” You need systems that shape your behavior automatically, so you can build wealth without white-knuckling it.

The mindset shifts that saved me

Here are three shifts that changed everything for me:

From shame to curiosity. Instead of hiding from my financial mistakes, I started asking what they could teach me. Each misstep became data, not identity. From hustle to habits. I used to think freedom would come from one big win. It doesn’t. It comes from small, consistent actions; paying down debt piece by piece, saving a little at a time, building habits that compound. From isolation to systems. I stopped carrying the burden in silence. Systems gave me structure, but accountability gave me strength. I started involving my family, my team, and eventually, the readers of my books. 

Why this matters for you

If you’ve ever felt the shame of debt, the anxiety of not knowing how you’ll cover the next bill, or the depression that comes with financial collapse, I get it. I’ve been there. And I can tell you this: there’s a way out.

It doesn’t start with a windfall or a lucky break. It starts with simple, repeatable habits that build momentum, just like Profit First did for my businesses.

That’s the heartbeat of The Money Habit. It’s not about perfection. It’s about creating small wins, making them visible, and stacking them until you realize…you’re free.

The bottom line

I wrote The Money Habit because I know the crushing weight of financial chaos. I know the toll it takes on your mind, your health, and your family. And I also know the freedom that comes when you build systems and habits that actually work.

This book is my playbook for your freedom. My hope is that it helps you avoid the mistakes I made and gives you a way to build not just wealth, but peace.

Money isn’t everything. But when you are struggling with it, you realize how much it touches everything. And when you gain control of it, you realize you can finally live the life you were meant for.

– Mike

The post 3 Personal Finance Lessons That Changed My Life appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

The Insight: Credit card companies want you to fail.

Let’s get real: credit card companies are not your friend.

Sure, credit cards are convenient, they give you buying power, and they might even come with flashy rewards programs. But make no mistake, these companies are in business to make money, and they make the most money when you don’t pay your balance in full.

Interest rates aren’t accidental. Late fees aren’t a mistake. Minimum payments are calculated to maximize the time it takes for you to pay off your debt. In other words, credit card companies structure their terms in a way that encourages you to spend more than you can comfortably afford. They’ve built a system where your success isn’t their goal. Your struggle? That’s their business.

The Perspective: The trap of carrying a balance

Reality: If you don’t pay off your credit card in full each month, interest starts compounding, and it compounds fast. A $1,000 balance at a 20% annual interest rate could cost you nearly $200 a year in interest alone without touching a single new purchase. That’s the power of the trap.

Think about it: you work hard for your money, but if you rely on credit cards without a plan, you end up giving a significant portion of your earnings back to the card issuer. And the cycle can feel endless. One month you pay the minimum, the next month you rack up a few extra charges, and suddenly you’re drowning. Meanwhile, the credit card company is celebrating. Their system is working exactly as intended: they win, you lose.

But here’s the good news: you can control this. It’s not the card’s fault if you fall into the trap; it’s simply designed to exploit human tendencies. Once you understand the game, you can set yourself up to win.

The Action: Take control of your limit

So, what’s the most straightforward way to fight back? Pay your balance in full every single month. No exceptions. Make it a non-negotiable habit.

And here’s a hack many people overlook: call your credit card company and request a lower limit. I’m not talking about a drastic reduction that makes your card useless. I mean a limit that you know you can pay off in full consistently. If your limit is $3,000 and you consistently struggle to pay that off, ask for it to be $1,500 or $1,000. You can’t change the interest rate or the minimum payment rules, but you can control how much risk you expose yourself to.

This small change does two things:

It forces discipline. A lower limit keeps you from overspending and building a balance you can’t manage.
It builds better money habits. Every time you pay your balance in full, you’re training your brain to respect your money and make intentional spending choices.

Here’s the takeaway: Credit cards are a tool. Like any tool, their value depends on how you use them. When you understand that the system is designed to take advantage of you, you stop blaming yourself for “falling behind.” You start taking actionable steps to protect your finances, and that’s where real financial independence begins.

Your next step

Call your credit card company. Set a limit you can control. Pay off your balance in full each month. And watch how your stress decreases while your confidence grows.

The game is rigged, but only if you let it be. Take control, play smart, and win on your terms.

Wishing you a lifetime of financial independence.

– Mike

Want more weekly intel sent right to your inbox – before the book even comes out? Get on the list here, or share it with a friend!

And yes, the book launch is right around the corner! Preorder your copy here.

The post Why Credit Cards Are a Money Trap – And What You Can Do Today appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

Ok. I have a confession. As the year winds down, I always notice a familiar tension creeping in. My head starts spinning with questions: Are revenues slipping? Are expenses creeping up? Did I set enough aside for taxes? And then, almost without realizing it, the same worries show up in my personal life. I’ll start thinking about our family savings goals, the cost of the holidays, or whether an unexpected expense will undo months of progress.

What I’ve learned the hard way (like, very hard way) is that you can’t fully separate business finances from personal finances. Stress in one area spills over into the other. If your business feels shaky, you carry that pressure home. And when money feels unstable at home, it’s hard to show up for your business with clarity and confidence.

This is why I started building systems. First, in my business with Profit First, and later, I realized I needed that structure in my personal life with The Money Habit. Both of these systems taught me the same lesson: security comes from clarity, and clarity comes from structure. You don’t get there by obsessing over spreadsheets or relying on willpower. You get there by creating automatic behaviors that keep you moving in the right direction. In your company, and at home. 

The common thread in both? Automated transfers. When you move money automatically, you take human error (and human temptation) out of the picture. Instead of wrestling with decisions every time a dollar comes in, you’re simply following a system that already protects you.

So, as Q4 comes to a close and a new year begins, I want to share 7 easy steps that will help you create stability in both your business and your personal life. These aren’t abstract ideas. They’re actionable moves that I’ve used myself, and that I’ve seen countless business owners use to finish the year stronger and with more peace of mind. 

1. Reassess your allocations

When’s the last time you revisited your percentages? In business, that means looking at your Profit First allocations. At home, that means reviewing your Money Habit categories. Are they still right for where you are now? Or are you running on outdated assumptions? Even small tweaks can free up cash, protect your profit, and keep stress from piling up.

2. Do a mini cash flow audit – and get those credit cards under control!

Look back at the last 90 days of business and personal finances. Where is the money actually going? You’ll often uncover leaks you didn’t notice: an unused subscription, bloated overhead, or impulse buys that add up. Once you see the patterns clearly, you can make cuts that give you instant breathing room. Make sure you’re up to date with credit card payments. When you fall behind, you end up trapped in overwhelming interest, hiking up those payments in the long run.

3. Move money weekly

Don’t wait until the end of the month. In both systems, smaller, more frequent transfers keep you engaged and create steady results. Each week, move money into profit, tax, owner’s pay, or personal categories. The act itself reinforces the habit, and the habit builds the stability.

4. Add a tax buffer

This one is simple but powerful. In your business and at home, add a 1–2% buffer to your tax allocations. Even if you think you’ve planned perfectly, that little cushion can save you from panic when tax time arrives.

5. Forecast Q1 profit

I know “forecasting” sounds intimidating, but keep it simple. Look at your current percentages and expected revenue, and project the minimum profit or savings you’ll set aside in Q1. This is a safety net and a promise to yourself.

6. Reset your pay

Do not underpay yourself and think, “I’ll make it up later.” Don’t fall into that trap. Review your owner’s pay, and if it’s not aligned with the value you bring, make a reasonable adjustment. Paying yourself fairly is not selfish; it’s how you ensure both your business and your household thrive.

7. Automate transfers

This is the glue that holds it all together. Set up automated transfers for both your business and personal accounts. The less you have to think about it, the more consistent you’ll be. Automation turns good intentions into habits you can trust.

Financial freedom isn’t about chasing some magic number in your bank account. It’s about creating systems that give you peace of mind, whether you’re sitting in your office or at the dinner table with your family.

As you head into the final stretch of the year, use these steps to give yourself that clarity. You’ll enter the new year calmer, stronger, and more in control.

Here’s to finishing this year with a strong path to financial freedom.

– Mike

The post 7 Easy Steps to End The Year With Peace of Mind – And get your money in order appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

I don’t know about you, but as I move into the last stretch of the year, I start to feel a familiar crunch and start over thinking, “Are revenues slipping, expenses rising, and is everything in order?”. 

To alleviate my spiraling, I made a list of  7 easy steps to get business finances in order before Q4 ends. I thought I’d share it with you so you can end this year on a hight note! 

Reassess your profit percentages
When’s the last time you set up your Profit First percentages? Don’t let outdated percentages sabotage your profit. Take a fresh look: based on your current revenue and expenses, are you allocating enough to profit, taxes, and owner’s pay? Even small tweaks can free up cash to invest in growth or weather surprises. Conduct a mini cash flow audit
Before the year ends, run a simple audit. Look at the last 90 days and track where your money really goes. View the flow of money as it is, not as you wish it would be. Identify areas where cash leaks occur, like unused subscriptions, bloated overhead, or overstaffed departments, and cut ruthlessly. Allocate Profit First accounts weekly
Don’t wait until month-end. Transfer percentages from income into separate accounts weekly. That way, profit, taxes, and owner’s pay grow steadily, and you start seeing tangible results immediately. The act of physically moving money to its dedicated accounts trains your brain to respect each dollar’s purpose. Implement a year-end tax buffer
Taxes often sneak up on business owners. Use Profit First to create a dedicated tax account. Even if you think you’re on top of things, adding a 1–2% buffer now can prevent a scramble at tax time and give you peace of mind heading into the new year. Prep a Q1 “Profit Forecast”
Here’s where you may freeze: projecting profit feels like guesswork. Based on your current percentages and expected revenue, calculate the minimum profit you’ll reserve for Q1. That number becomes your safety net, your peace of mind, and your springboard for growth. Review and reset your owner’s pay
Know your worth! Don’t go underpaid while the business bleeds money elsewhere. Prioritize your paycheck. As part of your Q4 prep, decide if your owner’s pay needs adjustment. Increasing it sensibly ensures you’re rewarded for your efforts while the business remains healthy. Automate what you can
The less you touch, the less you risk. Set up automated transfers into your Profit First accounts. Out of sight, out of mind, but always on purpose. Automation turns discipline into habit without adding mental load.

Final thought:
By now you know that Profit First is about more than accounting; it’s better money habits and a mindset shift. It’s the difference between reacting to money problems and designing your business to thrive, no matter the economy. These seven steps aren’t theory; they’re actionable, tangible ways to step into Q4 and the new year with clarity, confidence, and control.

Stop leaving profit to chance. Start allocating it first. Your business and your sanity will thank you.

Here’s to a stellar Q4! Without the spiraling!

-Mike

The post 7 Easy Steps to Make Sure You End Q4 With Profit appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

If paying off debt feels like a slog, here’s a little secret: it doesn’t have to be. You can turn debt repayment into something engaging, even fun, without ever losing sight of your ultimate goal: financial freedom.

That’s what I want to share with you today in The Money Habit Weekly: one insight, one perspective, and one action that can take the stress out of paying off what you owe.

The Insight: Gamify your debt

Debt repayment often feels endless because we think about it as a burden. High balances, interest rates, and looming due dates can be stressful, and stress makes it easy to procrastinate.

The shift? Our brains love games. They love progress, visible achievements, and small victories. So why not turn your debt repayment into a game you can win?

Instead of staring at a number on a screen, create a tangible system where every payment becomes a small, satisfying victory. Suddenly, that mountain of debt starts to feel like a series of achievable steps, and every step you take gives you a little dopamine hit.

The Perspective: Act on what’s right in front of you

We often get overwhelmed because we focus on the whole picture: the total debt, the interest, the timelines. But humans don’t act on abstract numbers. We act on what we can see and touch.

That’s where gamifying debt comes in. Make your progress visible. Make it real. And make it fun. Put your game right in front of you so every payment becomes a small celebration instead of a chore.

Here’s the beauty of this perspective: you’re no longer fighting an invisible enemy. You’re playing a game, and you get to see yourself win one move at a time.

The Action: Two jars, endless motivation

Here’s a simple, practical way to make debt repayment tangible:

Set up two jars. Label one “Debt I Owe” and the other “Debt I Paid.”
Gather small stones or marbles. Each one represents a chunk of debt; $50, $100, whatever makes sense for your situation.
Move a stone with every payment. Each time you pay a portion of your debt, move a stone from the “I Owe” jar to the “I Paid” jar.

Watch the “I Paid” jar fill. Celebrate those small wins. Take pictures. Track it. Share it with someone who will cheer you on.

This simple system works because it transforms debt repayment into a daily, visible, and rewarding game. Instead of dreading each payment, you start looking forward to seeing your progress. And little by little, the mountain starts to shrink.

Why this works

Gamifying your debt taps into human psychology. It turns abstract numbers into tangible progress. It makes the process visible and actionable. And, most importantly, it keeps you motivated when you need it most.

Debt repayment is not just about discipline, but about designing a system that nudges you toward success. When you create small, repeatable victories, you reinforce the habit of consistently paying down debt, which is the foundation for worry-free financial independence.

Your turn

Start small. Pick one debt. Set up your jars. Make it visible. Make it fun. And watch how much easier it becomes to stick with it.

Here’s to your financial freedom!

– Mike

Want more weekly intel sent right to your inbox – before the book even comes out? Get on the list here, or share it with a friend!

And yes, the book launch is right around the corner! Preorder your copy here.

The post Make Debt Repayment Easier With a System That Works appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

If you’re trying to grow your business right now, you already know that it’s not simple.

The economy is unpredictable. Costs are up. Customers are cautious. Supply chains shift, interest rates climb, and hiring the right people feels harder than ever. Every time you think you’ve found steady ground, something changes again.

And when you finally do hit growth, it doesn’t feel easier; it feels more chaotic.

Scaling your business can feel like chaos

You work hard to land more clients, drive more revenue, and get the phones ringing. On the outside, it looks like success. But on the inside? Every small inefficiency suddenly becomes massive. Is that one unclear role on your team? It causes daily friction. The bottleneck you’ve been ignoring? It now grinds the whole machine to a halt.

So how do you scale a business when the economy feels shaky and growth only piles on more chaos?

The lesson from the pumpkin patch

Here’s the shift: growth isn’t about doing more, it’s about focusing on less.

“When you plant your field with dozens of seeds and spread your attention across all of them, every pumpkin will stay small. But when you focus your energy on the strongest pumpkins, they thrive and grow bigger than you ever imagined.” – The Pumpkin Plan

That principle matters more than ever in today’s turbulent economy. If you spread yourself thin; chasing every opportunity, trying every fix, reacting to every problem; you’ll burn out and stall. But when you focus on your best clients, your most valuable offerings, and your biggest constraints, you create strength that survives uncertainty.

That’s how you scale a business in tough times: by doubling down on focus, not frantic activity.

The framework for scaling business: 

Focus isn’t always easy. When everything feels urgent, you need a clear framework that helps you act in the right order. That’s why I developed the C6 Cycle. It’s a six-step system I tested inside 24 struggling businesses. It worked every time, because it forces clarity, exposes the real issues, and locks in fixes that last.

Here’s how it works:

Catalyst
Change won’t happen just because you want it. You need a spark that makes improvement unavoidable. For some businesses, that’s tightening profit first. For others, it’s forcing a true test like stepping away for a few weeks to see what breaks.
Commitment
A spark fizzles without commitment. You can’t be half-in. Make the change non-negotiable. Share it with your team and your family. Make it harder to quit than to keep going.
Cascade
Once the spark is lit and you’re committed, chaos stops looking random. Patterns show up. You see exactly what’s breaking, and in what order.
Concentration
Every system has one choke point that holds everything else back. Don’t try to fix everything. Fix that. Remove the constraint, and the whole business breathes easier.
Cure
Don’t gamble. Test one fix at a time. If it works, keep it. If it doesn’t, kill it fast. Then repeat until stability appears.
Continuity
Real change is when the fix outlives your attention. Build it into routines, metrics, and accountability. Create systems that run without you.

This matters in today’s economy

In stable times, you can sometimes get away with messy growth. The cracks are there, but the momentum covers them up.

But in a turbulent economy, the cracks widen fast. If you don’t have systems, clarity, and focus, the stress will eat you alive.

That’s why focusing on fewer, stronger “pumpkins” matters so much right now. It’s not about chasing everything but about scaling what’s working and cutting what isn’t.

Putting this into practice

Here’s what I want you to do this week:

Identify your catalyst. What’s the spark that will force you to take action now?
Commit to fixing one thing. Burn the boats; don’t give yourself a way out.
Find your biggest constraint. Ask: “If I could fix just one thing in my business, what would have the greatest positive impact?”
Concentrate your effort. Stop chasing side projects, shiny objects, or small fixes. Focus your energy on that one constraint.

This is the Pumpkin Plan in motion. Nurture the best. Cut the rest. Use the C6 Cycle to give your focus structure and staying power.

The bottom line

You can’t control interest rates, inflation, or customer moods. You can’t control when the next curveball hits. But you can control how you scale your business. You can decide to stop chasing everything and start concentrating on the few things that matter most.

Remember, scaling a business isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing less and with more intention.

Here’s to your intention – and success!

-Mike

The post Scaling in a Turbulent Economy appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

You thought growth would make your business easier. More money, more stability, less stress. Instead, it feels like chaos.

Maybe you’ve been here: your phone won’t stop ringing, you’ve got more customers than ever, trucks on the road, sales climbing higher than you dreamed. From the outside, people probably think you’re crushing it. But inside? You’re collapsing on the couch at night, wondering when the next “big break” will finally make things easier. And it never does.

But – growth doesn’t fix your business. Growth magnifies the cracks.

Read that again.

Every inefficiency, every unclear role, every missed step; it all multiplies until you’re drowning in your own success. And if you’re like I was, you start playing business whack-a-mole: a little sales training here, a new tool there, maybe even a team workshop. But nothing sticks, because you’re fixing problems in isolation.

I know this cycle because I lived it over and over. 

Build. 

Grow. 

Stall.

Scramble. 

Like freakin’ Groundhog Day. Until I finally broke the pattern.

And here’s what I discovered: what saves you isn’t working harder or praying for luck. It’s having a repeatable system. A framework that forces clarity, exposes the real issues, and locks in fixes that actually last.

That’s why I built the C6 Cycle.

The C6 Cycle: Six steps to turn chaos into control

I tested this framework through Prosper Group, my business rescue lab, inside 24 struggling businesses. It worked every single time. And it’ll work for you too—if you follow it.

Here’s how:

Catalyst: Light the fuse
Growth won’t show up just because you want it. You need a trigger that makes change unavoidable. Think Profit First (taking profit before you spend) or Clockwork (a four-week vacation to force the team to run without you). 

Commitment: Burn the boats
A spark fades fast unless you back it up with commitment. No half-in, half-out. No safety nets. Declare it to your team. To your family. Make it harder to quit than to push forward.

Cascade: Watch the cracks appear
Once you’ve sparked change and committed to it, chaos stops looking random. Patterns show up. You can finally see what’s breaking, and in what order.

Concentration: Aim at the constraint
Your business has one choke point that’s starving the whole system. Find it. Fix it. And resist the urge to chase everything else at once.

Cure: Install, don’t guess
Stop gambling. Test one solution at a time. Keep what works. Kill what doesn’t. Rinse and repeat until stability sets in.

Continuity: Make it stick
Change isn’t real until it runs without you. Build it into your routines, metrics, and accountability so the fix survives long after your attention moves on.

Why this works

Most frameworks give you theory. The C6 Cycle gives you movement. It forces you to act in the right order so chaos doesn’t just shrink—it transforms into clarity and control.

That septic company I told you about? Once they worked the cycle, the late nights ended. Not because the business got smaller, but because it finally got stronger.

For me, this framework ended my Groundhog Day loop. I stopped reliving the same problems in every company I built. Instead, I built systems that grew stronger with each turn of the cycle.

And that’s what I want for you, too: real clarity, real control, and a business that doesn’t eat you alive as it grows.

Growth shouldn’t feel like chaos. With the right framework, it becomes freedom.

Here’s to your success.

-Mike

Curious about how the Prosper Group can invest in your company? Email Greg Eckler at greg@thepropspergroup.org or check out the page! https://prospergroup.pages.ontraport.net/

The post Why Your Growth Feels Like Chaos – Spoiler: I’ve Got the Framework to Fix It appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.