Weekly Insights
5 “Musts” for Managers
Great managers aren’t created by chance. They develop habits and systems that help teams perform at their best. In this article, discover five essential “musts” every manager should follow to lead effectively, build accountability, and drive stronger results for their business.
Is 10% Net Profit Enough?
Many business owners aim for a 10% net profit margin—but is that actually enough? In this article, we break down what healthy businesses earn, how to evaluate profitability, and what benchmarks successful companies use.
Fun Financial Facts to Start the New Year
The new year is the perfect time to think about finances in a fresh way. These fun financial facts highlight surprising insights about money, business performance, and financial success.
Death by 1,000 Cuts – Abdicating the Responsibility for the Financial Side of Your Company
Many business owners unintentionally damage their companies by avoiding the financial side of the business. Over time, small financial issues compound into serious problems. This article explains why owners must stay engaged with their company’s financial health to prevent “death by 1,000 cuts.”
Death by 1,000 Cuts – Marketing Budget that Isn’t Based on Results
Death by 1,000 Cuts: A Marketing Budget That Isn’t Based on Results
Death by 1,000 Cuts – Don’t Give Employees KPI’s and Annual Reviews
When employees lack clear performance metrics, accountability and productivity often decline. This article explains why KPIs and annual reviews are essential tools for improving employee performance and building a stronger business.
Death by 1,000 Cuts – Not Paying Attention to Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable may seem like a routine administrative task, but ignoring it can slowly damage your company’s cash flow. This article explains why business owners must actively manage receivables to maintain financial stability and avoid long-term financial strain.
Happy Thanksgiving
This Thursday, November 27th we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. For Canadian readers, you celebrated Thanksgiving earlier this year. For those in other areas of the world, you might not formally celebrate a day to give thanks….but what if you did it?...
Death by 1,000 Cuts – Trying to Scale Chaos
The next death by another little cut: Trying to Scale Chaos If you try to scale chaos, you only get more chaos. And, eventually your business will implode. When you are small, i.e. less than $750,000 in revenues, you probably can do it yourself. You know exactly what...
Death by 1,000 Cuts – Don’t Answer the Telephone
The next death by another little cut Not Answering Your Telephone WAIT! Before you click off this Profitable Business …make sure that your employees DO answer your phones. And, they answer them in the way you want them to be answered. Here’s what happened…and this is...
Death by 1,000 Cuts – Ignoring Cash Trends
Ignoring Cash Trends “I look at the money in my operations account every day.” Yes, you should be doing this to spot irregularities in your operating account. However, looking at cash in the bank doesn’t give you the overall trends of your business as they relate to...
Death by 1,000 Cuts – Don’t Pay Attention to the Bottom Line as You Grow
The Ask Ruth Webinar is this Thursday, October 20, 2025 at 11 AM Eastern Topic: The Relationship between Profitability, Working Capital, and Current Ratio Click here for details and to register Now onto Financially Fit Business Pay attention to the bottom line as your...
Death by 1,000 Cuts – This Form of Chinese Torture Can Kill Your Business
Death by 1,000 cuts is how the ancient Chinese tortured people. No one single cut killed them. However, it was the accumulation of 1,000 cuts that eventually killed the person. What does this have to do with your business? It’s the little things that you don’t pay...
How to Give Your Employees a Day Off with Pay on December 26, 2025
Christmas is on a Thursday this year. The likelihood of much revenue generation on Friday, December 26, 2025 is slim. It’s a wasted day with no one really wanting to be at work. Customers don’t want to talk with you either – unless something is broken. What if you...
Don’t Let This Happen to You
A contractor (who is not a client) had good profits and profitability for the past several years. He negotiated a deal to sell his company. The process began in April and the April financial statements showed the company profitability. The business valuation and sales...