Before they jump into today’s topic, Matt and Garrett take a minute to catch up with one another, as this is the norm for them. If you haven’t guessed it already, these two guys are good friends and they set a great example of taking time to check in with each other before they get to work. And today their work delves into a topic that is necessary for self-employed people to consider: When you aren’t paid a monthly salary, how do you plan for expenses? How do you save money? Well, one way to do this is to pay yourself first, and our hosts have some wise financial advice to share as well as some quality book recommendations on this topic. But be forewarned: Garrett and Matt are not financial professionals or accountants. Their topic today covers finances, but they always encourage you to discuss your specific situation, needs, and goals with your own financial professional. Do you need a recommendation for a financial advisor or accountant? Do want to learn more about Ninja Selling? Join the Ninja Selling Podcast group on Facebook at Ninja Selling Podcast Facebook, and find a community of over 9000 Ninjas who share ideas, ask and answer questions, collaborate, and network. If you’d like to offer more direct feedback, leave a voicemail at 208-MY-NINJA. Check out Ninja Selling Events for upcoming installations and other events, and if you’d like personalized help in achieving your goals, visit Ninja Coaching to connect with one of our amazing coaches. Episode Highlights: Write-offs do not mean “free” Business credit cards should not be a loan source Run your business on cash flow Consistently re-evaluate and keep your baseline low Set goals for saving Quotes: “We have to get ahead of ourselves in order to begin.” “Those can be business expenses. The problem is, we say, ‘Oh this is a write off’. That doesn’t make it free. Right? You still need income to do that.” “How do I look at this from a cash flow perspective?” “If I couldn’t bring it to zero, I didn’t use it. It wasn’t even available until we could get it back down to zero.” “If you’re running your business on cash flow, you really only need cash.” “Deposit your commission into a savings account and then deduct the same money every month—that’s your salary—into your checking account. And that’s what you have to spend; the rest gets saved.” “It’s hard for us to save and set money aside unless we have a goal for it.” “Don’t rob yourself. This is the whole concept of paying yourself first. Stop robbing yourself to pay all these other things… Fix that so that you can keep your own money.” “It’s amazing how fast money will start to build up.” “Find the tools that help you be aware.” Links: www.TheNinjaSellingPodcast.com Email us at TSW@TheNinjaSellingPodcast.com Leave a voicemail at (208) MY-NINJA Ninja Selling www.NinjaSelling.com @ninjasellingofficial Ninja Coaching: www.NinjaCoaching.com @ninja.coaching Ninja Events www.NinjaSelling.com/Events Garrett garrett@ninjacoaching.com @ninjaredding Matt matt@ninjacoaching.com @matthewjbonelli The Ninja Selling Podcast Facebook Group Ninja Coaching Book Study