The 2 AM Text That Changed My Business (& Will Change Yours!)
"Jessica, for the first time ever, I have money left over in my accounts at the end of the month. It wasn't even the best sales month I've had. But here I am with money in my tax account, my profit account, and my operating account. I can't believe it! Thank you so much —Amanda."
This is the text that changed everything for me. Sure, it was just reaffirming what I already knew: the money formulas we use for business are backwards. Changing that formula is what turns stressful businesses into rewarding ones.
But this particular text and the story behind it were powerful. They told me it wasn't just about the money—it was about safety, comfort, and wellbeing for a real person. That's the impact I've always wanted to have for business owners.
This was the day I decided to turn my knowledge about business, finances, and the Profit First system into a group program where women could not only get these wins, but celebrate them with others—Fast Track to Sustainable Profits.
Why Smart Entrepreneurs Always Feel Broke
Before that text, Amanda was like most small business owners—trapped in the cycle of working harder to make more sales, but always ending up broke at the end of the month. She paid herself what she could, scrambled to pay out her expenses, and then started over in a new month.
This is what kills the entrepreneurial spirit. Not the challenges and ups and downs in the day to day, but the constant reminder that you'll never get ahead. Not really.
If you've ever stared at your bank account after a "good month" wondering where all the money went, you're not alone. And more importantly, you're not failing or "bad at business." The system you're using is broken.
The Problem That's Killing Great Businesses
The problem is this: your natural instinct is actually working against you.
You think through your finances logically, like any normal person would. When money comes in, you immediately start thinking about who you owe, what bills need paying, which contractor hasn't been paid yet. You take care of everyone else first... because that's what responsible people do!
This backwards system is what's destroying otherwise brilliant businesses. Companies with amazing products, incredible customer service, and passionate owners are quietly dying, not from lack of sales, but from lack of profit. The owner burns out, the business becomes unsustainable, and what could have been a thriving enterprise becomes another "failed" startup statistic.
But here's the thing: it doesn't have to be that way. Amanda's story proves it. A simple shift in how you handle money doesn't just save your business; it transforms your entire relationship with entrepreneurship. Suddenly, you're not just surviving month to month. You're building something that actually serves your life instead of consuming it.
The Simple Test That Changes Everything
I created the 30-Day Profit First Quick Start Challenge because I was tired of watching brilliant entrepreneurs like Amanda work themselves to exhaustion for businesses that never paid them back.
It's stupidly simple: for 30 days, you take 1% of every payment and put it in a separate account labeled "profit" before you pay anyone else. Before rent. Before supplies. Before that contractor invoice that's been sitting on your desk.
1%. That's it.
"But Jessica," you're thinking, "1% isn't going to make me rich."
You're absolutely right. But here's what 1% will do: it'll prove to you that your business can actually pay you. And sometimes, that's the most important thing you can learn.
What Happens When You Start Paying Yourself First
Amanda's first transfer was $23. Twenty-three dollars from a $2,300 client payment. She told me later she felt "ridiculous and proud at the same time—like I was finally treating myself like I mattered."
But watch what happened over the next month:
Week 1: "This feels weird, but I have $47 in an account that's just for me."
Week 2: "Holy crap, I'm up to $89 and my business didn't collapse."
Week 3: "I'm actually looking forward to checking this balance."
Week 4: "I have $156 that belongs to ME. When's the last time I could say that?"
Here's what Amanda didn't expect: watching that account grow changed how she thought about her entire business. Suddenly, she wasn't just covering expenses—she was building something that could actually support her life.
"I was stuck in a feast and famine cycle,” she told me. “I was not in tune with my numbers and I had no ability to effectively plan for anything. I was literally at the mercy of my bank account and the billable hours I had on the books."
By the time she’d implemented the full system, she wasn’t stuck in the “just making it” cycle anymore; she was returning to her vision for an expanded business.
Your Business Wants to Pay You
The most important thing I've learned after helping hundreds of entrepreneurs is this: your business WANTS to be profitable. It wants to pay you. You just have to let it.
When you start taking that 1% first (and that’s just the first step), something magical happens. Your business finds a way to operate on what's left. It gets more efficient because it has to. You get more intentional about expenses because you have to.
And most importantly, you start to believe that you deserve to get paid for the work you're doing.
Amanda summed it up perfectly: "Now I don't panic about anything financial. I can make important decisions on the fly because at a glance I can see where everything's at. And that gives me incredible peace of mind as a business owner."
Want to see how this transformation works for other entrepreneurs?
Read Michelle's complete story here → she went from barely making ends meet to making the far-off dream of bringing her husband home from the oilfield a much closer reality.
The Proof Is in the Trying
Look, I could tell you all the theory in the world about why this works. But you don't need theory—you need proof. Real, tangible proof that your business can support you.
The 30-Day Profit First Quick Start challenge gives you that proof. It's not about getting rich in a month. It's about proving to yourself that your business works, that you deserve to get paid, and that you're not crazy for believing in what you've built.
Your business should reward you for starting it, not punish you. It should give you freedom, not stress. It should work for your life, not against it.
Ready to Prove Your Business Works?
The Profit First Challenge gives you everything you need to test this system—for free. You get daily tasks that take 10 minutes or less, accountability check-ins, and personal follow-up from me after 30 days.
Get the Challenge Guide Now! →
And if you're ready to see what the complete transformation looks like for YOUR specific business, let's talk. I'll analyze your current numbers and show you exactly what they could look like after implementing the full Profit First system.
Book Your Free Profit Clarity Call →