When More Revenue Means Less in Your Pocket
Marcus has had his best revenue year ever – by a lot. So why is he taking home less than last year?
In this episode, we’ll dig into one of the most disorienting experiences a growing business can have: outward success that doesn't match the internal reality. More people, more offerings, more money – and somehow, less to show for it.
The conversation cuts past the surface symptom of cash flow pain to find what's actually driving the disconnect. Brad introduces the Growth Engine Formula – a three-lever framework that shows you exactly what’s driving (or shrinking) your profit margins. He also calls out the one place every P&L falls short and why that matters.
We also explore why operational complexity doesn't scale linearly, why solving a cash flow problem before understanding its root cause can make things significantly worse, and what business owners like Marcus need to do in order to dig out of a financial hole that feels like it’s getting bigger by the day.
If your business is growing but your bank account isn't keeping up, this one's for you.
Welcome to the Inner Work of Business — 0:00
The Scenario — 1:15
Diagnosing the Disconnect — 2:07
Where Is the Growth Coming From? — 4:56
Risks Behind Each Growth Path — 7:14
A Real-World Lesson in Unit Economics — 10:26
Breaking Down the Wages Line — 16:15
The Growth Engine Formula — 20:23
Key Takeaways — 24:00
Outro — 30:16
Dealing with a growing pain you can't diagnose? Send us your scenario at innerworkofbusiness@gmail.com