In this episode of Money First, CEO, host Harman Johnston discusses the critical importance of rest for business owners. Harman explains how intentional rest can be a powerful revenue strategy, leading to clear decisions, better boundaries, and higher profits. The episode includes practical steps for taking a real CEO break, such as creating a money wind-down checklist, setting boundaries, and planning a 'no money zone' period. Harman shares lessons from past episodes and emphasises that rest...
All content for Money First CEO is the property of Harman and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
In this episode of Money First, CEO, host Harman Johnston discusses the critical importance of rest for business owners. Harman explains how intentional rest can be a powerful revenue strategy, leading to clear decisions, better boundaries, and higher profits. The episode includes practical steps for taking a real CEO break, such as creating a money wind-down checklist, setting boundaries, and planning a 'no money zone' period. Harman shares lessons from past episodes and emphasises that rest...
In this episode of Money First, CEO, host Harman Johnston discusses the critical importance of rest for business owners. Harman explains how intentional rest can be a powerful revenue strategy, leading to clear decisions, better boundaries, and higher profits. The episode includes practical steps for taking a real CEO break, such as creating a money wind-down checklist, setting boundaries, and planning a 'no money zone' period. Harman shares lessons from past episodes and emphasises that rest...
Welcome back to Money First, CEO, with your host Harman Johnston, who shares her journey from a one-person operation to a thriving business through smart money habits and systems. This episode focuses on the importance of delegation, highlighting the pitfalls of trying to do everything yourself and offering practical steps to effectively delegate tasks. Harman discusses how using platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, setting clear expectations, and starting small can free up valuable time for rev...
Welcome to Money First, CEO, with Harman Johnston, an expert bookkeeper, profit-first professional, and business coach from Sydney, Australia. This episode focuses on envisioning a fearless business quarter, free from self-doubt and overwhelm. Harman emphasises the power of financial clarity and strategic bold moves based on real data. Listeners are guided through actionable steps such as reviewing bank account transactions and making informed decisions to raise prices, cut unprofitable offer...
Unlocking the Five Types of Wealth: A Holistic Approach to Business Success In this episode of Money First, CEO, host Harman Johnston introduces listeners to the five types of wealth, inspired by Sahil Bloom's framework, which she encountered at Angela Henderson's Women in Business Conference. Harman underscores the significance of balancing time, social, mental, physical, and financial wealth to create a thriving business and fulfilling life. She explains how money is instrumental in buildin...
This is a special episode as we welcome our first guest, Mike Michalowicz. Mike is the author of Profit First and a global expert on small business finance. His mission is to end entrepreneurial poverty, and he's helped thousands of business owners take control of their money. We talk about the real mistakes that keep business owners stuck, the myth of growing your way to success, and why taking profit first is a game changer. If you're feeling the pressure of cash flow or struggling to pay y...
In this episode of Money First, CEO, Harman Johnston discusses the critical importance of setting boundaries in business. Harman shares a personal story about the costly mistake of saying yes to a rush job, highlighting how it drained her resources and affected her profits. She explains why saying no to low-value clients and requests is essential for maintaining profitability and mental well-being. Harman offers a three-step plan for saying no effectively: knowing your priorities, using polit...
In this episode, Harman discusses the challenges of dealing with late payments and how it affects cash flow and overall business health. She outlines practical steps to improve debtor follow-ups, including sending friendly reminders, automating notifications, and making payment processes easier for clients. Harman shares a three-step plan to ensure timely payments without alienating clients and offers tips for handling tough debtors. The episode emphasises the importance of disciplined financ...
In this episode of Money First, CEO, Harman Johnston discusses how to keep customers forever with cash-boosting loyalty strategies. She shares her personal experience of losing a $10,000 client and explains the significant costs associated with acquiring new customers compared to retaining existing ones. Johnston outlines a three-step plan to enhance customer loyalty: personalising interactions, creating loyalty programs, and following up with value-added content. She emphasises the importanc...
Mastering the 80/20 Profit Hack: Work Less, Earn More In this episode of 'Money First, CEO,' host Harman Johnston is focused on helping business owners leverage the 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) to maximise their profits while reducing work hours. Harman shares her own experience of how focusing on top revenue-generating clients significantly increased her profits. She explains the importance of analysing sales data to identify high-value clients or products and offers actionable steps ...
Hiring can make or break your business finances. In this episode of Money First CEO, I share how to build a cash-savvy team that helps you grow profits without draining your bank account. I talk about how rushing into hiring can hurt your cash flow, why hiring strategically is a Profit First move, and how to make sure every hire adds value, not stress. I walk through my own story of hiring too fast and how it hit my cash flow hard. Then, I share how I turned things around by appl...
In this episode of Money First, CEO, Harman Johnston gets real about one of the biggest mindset shifts in business: charging what you’re truly worth. If you’ve ever hesitated to raise your rates or felt weird asking for more money, this episode is exactly what you need. Harman shares the story of how undercharging in her early days nearly burned her out—and how switching to value-based pricing changed everything. From breaking down what undercharging really costs you, to simple steps for rais...
In this episode of Money First, CEO, Harman Johnston explores the powerful framework from Adam Grant’s Give and Take that categorises people into Givers, Takers, and Matchers. Learn how each type shows up in business, why givers tend to both fail and succeed the most, and what separates a sustainable giver from a burnt-out one. You’ll discover: - How to recognise your giving style and its impact on your energy, profits, and boundaries - The warning signs of overgiving and how to shift to stra...
One of the biggest mistakes I see business owners make is treating their business like a personal ATM. Logging into your business account, seeing money sitting there, and using it for groceries or personal bills might feel harmless - but this habit will keep you broke, stressed, and stuck. In this episode of Money First, CEO, I share how I used to treat my business like a piggy bank, the financial chaos it created, and the exact system I now use to separate business and personal money with ab...
Making smart investments in your business can feel tricky. We’ve all been tempted by late-night offers, shiny software, or coaching packages that promise the world. But the truth is, there’s a big difference between investing from strength and investing from stress. In this episode of Money First, CEO, I share how to make confident investment decisions without draining your business or relying on impulse. I walk you through the difference between smart spending and emotional buying, and why t...
Credit cards can be a controversial topic in the Profit First world. The standard advice is to avoid them completely, stick to cash, and keep things simple. And for many business owners, that’s the safest path. But what if I told you there’s a way to use credit cards strategically inside a Profit First system without falling into debt, losing track, or jeopardising your cash flow? In this episode of Money First, CEO, I share exactly how I use my American Express card for business expenses onl...
Running a service-based business can often feel like money is slipping through your fingers, no matter how much revenue you generate. In this episode of Money First, CEO, I unpack why traditional financial advice doesn’t always fit coaches, consultants, creative agencies, and other service providers - and how you can finally take control of your cash flow. I share the most common cash flow traps I see in service businesses, from slow-paying clients to emotional pricing, and why having just on...
In this episode of Money First, CEO, I’m diving into a topic that could save your business from unnecessary stress — identifying and fixing financial red flags before they spiral out of control. Your business rarely goes broke overnight; instead, it’s a slow erosion that starts with subtle warning signs. The problem? Most business owners either don’t see them or avoid addressing them until it’s too late. I unpack the early indicators that your finances might be heading in the wrong direction,...
In this episode of Money First, CEO, I’m tackling the most common doubts and misconceptions about Profit First — the cashflow system that has transformed thousands of businesses. Over the past three years of working with Profit First, I’ve heard it all: “It’s too complicated.” “I’ll run out of money.” “My business is too small.” “Bank fees will eat into my profit.” “My income fluctuates too much.” Here’s the truth: these fears aren’t about Profit First being hard — they’re about change. And c...
In this episode of Money First, CEO, I’m diving into one of the most powerful (and overlooked) financial decisions a business owner can make – paying yourself first. This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever hesitated to transfer money into your own account because of guilt, uncertainty, or the fear of putting your business under pressure. I open up about my personal journey and the shift I made when I started treating myself like a real employee in my own business. Too often, founders are...
In this episode of Money First, CEO, I challenge the popular belief that constant growth equals success. While rapid revenue increases and a growing client list might look great on paper, if you're overwhelmed, underpaid, or spinning your wheels – it’s time to rethink what sustainable success really looks like. I walk you through how to pause the hustle, build strong financial foundations, and stabilise your business operations. I share insights from my own experience and that of clients who’...
In this episode of Money First, CEO, host Harman Johnston discusses the critical importance of rest for business owners. Harman explains how intentional rest can be a powerful revenue strategy, leading to clear decisions, better boundaries, and higher profits. The episode includes practical steps for taking a real CEO break, such as creating a money wind-down checklist, setting boundaries, and planning a 'no money zone' period. Harman shares lessons from past episodes and emphasises that rest...