Creative Chaos #18
Growing too fast almost sunk me
The year my second business took off, I thought I was finally in the clear. Orders doubled in six months. More calls, more projects, more late nights. On paper, it looked great. In real life, I was staring at an account balance that barely covered rent.
That’s when I learned the hardest truth: momentum can break you if the timing’s wrong.
1) Mind the gap
There’s always a delay between when people pay you and when you owe others. If that gap leans the wrong way, you end up stuck — even if you’re busier than ever.
2) Ask before you start
I began requesting part of the payment upfront. Even a quarter of the bill covered materials and breathing room. The whole job felt lighter once that habit was in place.
3) Match your calendar
If income comes in slower than outgoings, shift your schedule. I once asked my team if we could move paydays by a few days — but added a small bonus for the trouble. They agreed, and it kept us running.
4) Talk to your suppliers
The people you buy from want you alive and growing. I’ve said:
“We’re expanding. Can we stretch terms a little this season?”
More often than not, they said yes.
5) Measure oxygen, not headlines
The month I hit my “best numbers” was also the month I nearly shut down. Now I don’t count projects or contracts. I count days of runway. That’s the real scoreboard.
One Move for Today
Check the delay between money in and money out. If it’s upside down, call one supplier and ask for a small extension. One phone call can buy you a week of breathing room.
Closing Thought
Fast growth is exciting. But if your timing is off, it’ll leave you gasping. Don’t measure how big things look. Measure how long you can keep going.
– Tom