My daughter and her wife came over one day to help me do, “The Swedish Death Cleanse.” It’s basically organizing and cleaning your home as if your relatives were coming in after you died. It’s a tad morbid, but boy, does it get you thinking about what is really important to keep in your home. My kitchen was one of the main areas that needed work. I found things like wedding presents (I’ve been divorced for a decade and those gifts were over 30 years old) that I never use anymore. I realized I had more plates than I’ll ever need in my life and oh my – the expired items. I can’t believe this, but my daughter found baker’s chocolate that expired in 2010. If I could put that face palm emoji right here, I would. It wasn’t just that, many spices and condiments had been sitting on my shelf far past their life span. This process got me thinking about how we tend to hold on to things (clients, expenses, bad business practices) and not pay attention (shoving it back into the broken cabinet) when it’s really time for a change. Your financial health in your business is just as important as your actual physical and mental health.I’ve been taking care of my health by utilizing a meal prep service so I actually eat healthy. I’m not the greatest cook, so receiving everything I need, in the exact amounts I need, with clear instructions is a game changer.

If the financial ‘kitchen’ in your business is just a bunch of broken cabinets (bad records) with expired spices (unnecessary expenses) and no cookbooks (no plans), your meals (revenue and growth) are not going to be healthy.

Hiring a virtual CFO or outsourcing work to a bookkeeper is just like having a meal prep service. An expert tells you everything you need to do. I know how to cut an avocado correctly and you’ll know when taxes are due and how to separate your sales tax from your income.

I don’t have to go buy fresh basil, thyme and parsley that will go bad if I don’t cook the meal in time, I get exactly the amount I need from the meal prep service, at the time I need it and nothing goes to waste.

In your business, you might be buying things you do not need. If you use a really robust CRM or email client and you aren’t using all the functionality, why pay for it? Cut that expense and get something that is the right size for you.

I started walking recently, consistently every day. Even in the snow and the rain, I am making it outside. This is vital for my health. And in business, you need to get out and walk. And by walking, I mean out of the day-to-day and into the future. You need to find clarity and decide what is most important for your vision. Set priorities with your budget and spending for the short-term AND the long-term.

My kitchen is so organized now; I actually know where everything is. That platter I use for hosting or that special mug I like around the holidays. There is no more pushing around a lot of junk to get to what I’m really looking for. Organize your books, just like my cabinets. It’s a new year, so start filing your documents properly now (whether that’s hard copy or online) so when tax time rolls around again, everything is in its place.

If PTCFOs was a financial meal prep service, here is what your box for January would include:1. A plan for your budget 2. A list of all your current clients, current contracts and the pipeline for new business for you to review thoroughly 3. A complete list of your expenses and anything changing in the new year (insurance, benefits, employees, etc.) 4. A sheet forecasting the future (new locations and when, new services and when, etc.) 5. A piece of candy for a sweet year ahead J

This is a case where more cooks in the kitchen is a good thing. If you want to improve your financial health, schedule a CFO Review with me. The first quarter is a great time to prepare for the year ahead and tie up loose ends from last year.

If you’d like to attend an upcoming PTCFO Breakfast Series meeting for connections and conversation, sign up right here.

And if you end up doing the “Swedish Death Cleanse,” please tell me what the wackiest thing you found in your house was!