1227: Revenue is a Lie! A CFO's Guide to What Really Matters w/ Kelly Goode
Feeling anxious, guilty, or just plain confused about your business finances? You're not alone. This episode tackles the money taboo head-on with fractional CFO and financial wellness consultant, Kelly Goode. Kelly breaks down why so many entrepreneurs avoid their numbers and how this avoidance is secretly sabotaging their growth. She provides a clear, shame-free path to understanding your finances, moving beyond surface-level revenue goals, and finally building a business that’s not only profitable but also sustainable and fulfilling. If you're ready to stop second-guessing and start making confident, data-driven decisions, this conversation is your first step.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- 💰 Why focusing only on revenue is a recipe for burnout and disappointment.
- 🗺️ How to reframe the dreaded "budget" into a powerful, forward-looking plan for growth.
- 🧠 The critical mindset shift from being an employee in your business to becoming its CEO.
- 🤔 A simple framework for deciding when to hire (hint: it’s much earlier than you think).
- 💸 The "work backwards" method to determine how much revenue you actually need to support your desired lifestyle.
- 📈 Why your most successful months are only valuable if you can figure out how to repeat them.
📝 About Kelly Goode
Kelly Goode is a fractional CFO, financial wellness consultant, and founder of The Goode Path Group. With two decades of experience in accounting and finance, she partners with business owners to bring clarity, confidence, and strategy to their financial decisions. Kelly is known for her calm, straight-talking approach and her ability to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights. She believes financial confidence is essential to building a business that’s not only profitable but also sustainable and aligned with the owner’s goals. Whether guiding clients through forecasting, budgeting, or financial planning, Kelly empowers them to move forward with clarity—free from overwhelm and second-guessing.
🎯 Kelly’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
Take the first step. It doesn't have to be a giant leap; it just has to be a step forward.
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “You can't plan to get somewhere if you don't actually have a path to get somewhere.”
- “If you are already considering hiring, you should have considered it two months ago, two years ago, whatever it may be, because you are obviously now at the point that you're going to think about handing things off.”
💡 Actionable Takeaways
- ✅ Create a "plan," not a "budget." Ditch the restrictive mindset and write down a simple plan for your money. Start by working backward: What do you want your take-home pay to be? What expenses do you have? How much revenue does that require?
- ✅ Schedule 15-30 minutes of "CEO Time" on your calendar each week. Use this time to look at your business from a high level, review your numbers, and think about strategy—don't do client work.
- ✅ Identify one task you don't enjoy or aren't good at (like social media or bookkeeping) and start planning to hire it out. What would a system for that task look like?
🔗 Links & Resources
