Best-selling author Mike Michalowicz returns to explore what sits beneath financial systems: psychology, habits, and the personal behaviours that drive money stress. Mike explains why successful entrepreneurs often struggle with money despite strong businesses, highlighting the tension between business and personal finances. 

He discusses lifestyle inflation, the myth that growth fixes everything, and why true financial control comes from clarity, intentional habits, and conscious decision-making – allowing business owners to lead calmly, sustainably, and with confidence. 

Takeaways 

• Money stress comes from habits and psychology not income or intelligence alone. 
• More revenue amplifies existing behaviours, rather than fixing broken financial systems habits. 
• True financial control comes from clarity, intentionality and conscious daily money decisions. 
• Lifestyle creep quietly erodes profitability even as businesses appear successful externally outside. 
• Separating personal and business finances is essential for sustainable leadership and focus. 
• Growth without discipline creates fragility stress and constant reactionary decision making cycles. 
• Profit first reveals underlying problems forcing better pricing cost control and priorities. 
• Financial security allows owners to lead calmly serve clients and think long. 

Follow Mike Michalowicz 
https://mikemotorbike.com/ 
https://mikemichalowicz.com/ 

Mike’s books
The Money Habit: The Worry-Free Way to Financial Independence https://amzn.to/3NrTB2c
Profit First https://amzn.to/46hE4JB
Clockwork https://amzn.to/46g8ImC 
All In: How Great Leaders Build Unstoppable Teams  https://amzn.to/3TSTnRE 
The Pumpkin Plan https://amzn.to/4kN1ZE7
Get Different: Marketing That Can't Be Ignored!   https://amzn.to/3IXfYtN
Surge: Time the Marketplace, Ride the Wave of Consumer Demand, and Become Your Industry's Big Kahuna https://amzn.to/4kSgneC
Fix This Next https://amzn.to/417zJ8e
The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur https://amzn.to/3TTnsAr
The Recession Response https://amzn.to/40xAGqm 

Books recommended on this episode
LAST TIME EP66 Reset: How to change what’s not working by Dan Heath https://amzn.to/4lFr8Ss 

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners

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Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/ 
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. 
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. 
Bigger isn’t Better, Better is Better: Avoiding the pressure of endless growth to build a better business (and better life) 

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