Pooh’s Rule: Simple Is Profitable (A Story About the Week Everything Got Too Loud)

If your business feels heavy, it’s often not because you need a bigger strategy — it’s because you’re carrying too much complexity that’s draining your time, energy, and decision-making.

In this episode of Grit & Grace, I share a story about the week my business got too loud: too many moving parts, too many “quick” requests, too many half-finished ideas, and a constant sense of mental clutter. The solution wasn’t another tool or another offer. It was simplicity — the kind Winnie the Pooh quietly models.

I also share why Pooh became meaningful for me during grief after my husband’s death, and why reading it as an adult reveals powerful patterns about how we lead ourselves in real life and in business. This isn’t about doing less because you’re tired. It’s about doing less because you’re leading.

In this episode, we cover:

• How “business noise” creates hidden costs (time leaks, mental load, unclear scope, inconsistent delivery)
• Why clarity calms people — clients included
• How simplicity increases follow-through (and follow-through is where profit comes from)
• A practical 7-day challenge to make your business 20% quieter, without shrinking your ambition

Disclaimer: This episode is general information only and does not take into account your personal circumstances. It is not financial or tax advice. Please seek advice specific to your situation.

If the word numbers makes you want to close your laptop and suddenly find something—anything—else to do, you’re not alone. Many women in business aren’t avoiding the numbers because they’re incapable. They’re avoiding them because they’ve been made to feel intimidating, overly technical, or like a measure of personal worth.

In this episode of Grit & Grace, I’m simplifying business numbers in a way that feels clear, practical, and genuinely useful—without turning it into a finance lecture. You don’t need to become an accountant to run a strong business, but you do need a simple way to read the dashboard so you can make decisions with confidence.

This episode is about shifting your relationship with numbers from avoidance and overwhelm to visibility and calm. Because your numbers aren’t there to judge you. They’re there to guide you. When you understand a few key metrics and build a consistent rhythm, you stop guessing, stop getting surprised, and start leading your business like a CEO.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “being bad with numbers” is often a story, not a fact—and how shame keeps business owners stuck
• The reframe that makes money easier: business numbers are like a dashboard, not a school test
• The four key numbers that give you clarity without drowning you in reports:
  1. Cash (your reality check, and why looking creates calm)
  2. Profit (what’s left after costs—and why profit equals stability, not greed)
  3. Margin (the number that explains why high revenue can still feel exhausting)
  4. Debtors (money owed to you, and why delayed payments create unnecessary pressure)
• A simple weekly habit: the CEO Money Moment (20 minutes per week, same time, same day)
• Why profit doesn’t always match your bank balance in plain language—without jargon (timing, GST/tax, owner drawings, debt repayments, and irregular bills)

The point of this episode:

Not to make you obsessed with spreadsheets. Not to make you “perfect” with money. But to help you build the kind of visibility that makes decisions easier, boundaries stronger, and growth more sustainable.

Practical actions to take this week:

1. Write down your four numbers: cash, profit, margin, debtors.
2. Put a recurring 20-minute CEO Money Moment in your diary.
3. Choose one lever to adjust this month based on what you see: pricing, scope, costs, delivery efficiency, or collections.

Disclaimer: This episode is general information only and does not take into account your personal circumstances. It is not financial or tax advice. Please seek advice specific to your situation.

In Episode 1 of Grit & Grace, I explain why I created the podcast and who it’s for: business owners who want to grow profitably and sustainably, without burning out. I unpack what “grit” means in this context (clear decisions, consistent execution, and raising your standards) and what “grace” looks like (boundaries, capacity, and building a business that supports your life, not one that consumes it). You’ll also get three practical actions to set your direction for 2026: define your one sentence business aim, choose one key metric to track weekly, and commit to one boundary that protects your time, energy, and profit.