How a creative weirdo, who "hated math," became really damn good at numbers

If highschool me could see me now. She hated math. She avoided it at all costs. She would be shocked that I literally help people every day use math to make their badass dream lives come true.

Because the way I got good at this is not a traditional path. I did not go to school for business finance. I am not trained as a CPA or financial analyst.  

The way I got good at this was living in it. Every day. Growing a business 23x without loans or financing of any kind. Where every dollar being spent came from the business and the business financed the future growth. Often at the expense of my own salary. 

The way I got good at this was realizing that 15 people’s livelihoods depended on my business not only surviving, but thriving. And that my knowing the numbers so intimately that I knew exactly what it was going to take to make it thrive. To make payroll, to buy new equipment, to grow. 

And after I sold Portland Garment Factory, I didn’t intend to go into this type of coaching.  People in my community found out I left my former company, and reached out for help. Often confidentially. They would say things like, “I don’t know what to do. The finances are not looking good, I am exhausted and burned out and I feel like I’ve tried everything. I keep staring at the numbers, hoping to see an answer but I just don’t know what move to make.”

Or they would say, “We are maxed out with our current business structure. We are booked out, and we have reached a cap. Some big things are going to have to shift if we are going to grow this thing. But I’m scared. I don’t know what moves to make. I want to make the best choice possible.” 

And thats where the Financial Deep Dive was born. An intimate look into the numbers of the business to give my outsider and expert opinion on what I am seeing. To give the Entrepreneur the insights into the patterns I am seeing, to feel empowered in their own numbers, and to see a clear path forward.  Designed to show with cold hard numbers the exact strategy for getting them to profitability, cash positive flow, and ease in their business. 

Sometimes I am in detective mode, crunching numbers to find the sweet spot of sales and expenses. Just the right amount of growth without having to hire too many people or max out their current square footage or whatever. With these clients I am so honored every time to see the look on their face soften. To hear them say they feel so much more relaxed and clear on the moves they need to make. 

But sometimes I am like a death doula. Which takes sensitivity and care. To deliver the information that what I am seeing is a hole so deep that it doesn’t make sense to hold on. That they are digging themselves deeper and deeper in debt, and I’m not seeing a clear path forward.  (Ive only ever had 2 of these, but still, I hold space for whatever the reality of the situation is.)

I do not sugarcoat it. I am not a cheerleader. I am more of a doctor. Looking at the lab results with a discerning eye and years of experience.