Negative Cash Flow: Normal yet Sucky

Sometimes, it is seasonal.

Sometimes, it is unforeseen.

Sometimes, you know it will happen.

Sometimes, a prior employee takes your book of business with them.

Sometimes, you lose your book of business because of an employee.

These five scenarios are normal, yet sucky. I've experienced every single one of them.

Do you know what saved or sunk my business? Planning for them BEFORE the negative cash flow happened. Sometimes months before, sometimes years in advance, depending on how big my company was.

Right now, in real time as of March 2025, one of my companies is forecast to have negative cash flow for the next THREE MONTHS. Brutal, right?

Here are four things I’m doing. Maybe they will help you too: 

1.  Focus on my mindset. No news and all the things wrong with the world. My feed on social media is full of fluffy cows and chickens in costumes. I follow leaders and mentors who have been in my shoes. This is a daily thing.

2. Acknowledging my mistakes, owning them, and leveling up from them. Eating humble pie is required when you are a business owner. I refuse to sit and dwell on the mistakes though, because I want to grow and be better, not be sad and broke.

3. Building new strategic partnerships.

   • I am attending a Quarter 2 Workshop with a new business coach. Fresh vibe, fresh eyes, fresh community. Very needed when you are spiraling.

   • I joined Vusi's community to learn about life and community outside my bubble.

   • We did a soft pivot on clientele. We are working with divorce attorneys and their self employed clients. So far, it seems like an amazing fit. The narrowed focus makes it very clear on who we are serving and why.

4. My STOP bank accounts were funded. I'm not worried about how I'm going to make payroll. Removing the fear around making payroll allows me to be open to opportunities all around me vs shrinking in on myself and spiraling further.

Over the last few months, you have witnessed me navigate the worst season of my entrepreneur journey. 17 years, 8 business, 1000s of employees...so when I say worst season, you know I mean it. You are not alone in your season and every business owner experiences this, start up or seasoned.