The Dangerous Myth: Good Business Owners Pay Themselves Last

Maybe it's just me, but I used to feel this weird sense of pride when I didn't take a paycheck from my business.

Like somehow, sacrificing my own financial well-being meant I was a better business owner. More generous. More humble. More committed to taking care of everyone else.

My employees got paid. My vendors got paid. My business expenses got paid. And if there was anything left for me? Well, that was icing on the cake. Like a bonus instead of a requirement, you know?

I genuinely thought that was something to be proud of.

It wasn't until I suffered a catastrophic traumatic brain injury that I started realizing how little I had taken care of myself and my family. All of a sudden, I was facing doctor appointments, physical therapy, mobility aids, and a very long recovery that I hadn't financially prepared for.

And the realization hit me pretty hard. I felt so guilty, which is not a great feeling when your body is already struggling just to get through the day.

I had spent so much time making sure everyone else was financially taken care of that I had left myself incredibly vulnerable when I was the one who needed help. My need to take care of everyone else had put me in quite the pickle when it came to my own health and well-being.

And here's what I wish I had understood sooner. Not paying yourself doesn't make you a more generous business owner. It makes you a financially vulnerable one. You can still take care of your employees, care deeply about your clients, and reinvest in your business. But it is equally important that you prioritize your own financial security.

Those things aren't mutually exclusive.

It took a catastrophic injury for me to realize that I deserved the same financial consideration I was so willing to give everyone else. And now, when I work with business owners who tell me they haven't paid themselves in months because they're making sure everyone else gets paid, I understand exactly where they're coming from.

Because I used to think that was what being a good business owner looked like, too.

But I truly hope it doesn't take something catastrophic, like it did for me, for you to realize that taking care of yourself financially isn't a luxury. It's a necessity. And you deserve to be included in the financial plans you're making for everyone else.

Manifesting Magic,

Crys

For Accounting Professionals:

💜 Join the CFO Advisory Institute! Live CFO Mentorship - Learn how to help your clients budget for employees, plan for growth, and make confident financial decisions while building an advisory service rooted in genuine relationships and care.

LEARN MORE HERE