For years, the loudest voices told us to chase top-line revenue at all costs.
But that old playbook is getting companies into deep trouble.
The future of business growth is a radical shift: sustainable profit and true freedom. Here’s why:
The traditional entrepreneurial mindset often prioritizes rapid gross revenue growth above all else. This can lead founders down an unsustainable path, where they find themselves constantly hustling, even as their expenses keep climbing faster than their income.
While seemingly counterintuitive, chasing gross sales without considering profitability can lead to not just financial instability and burn through cash reserves or credit, but forcing you to pour money into what effectively becomes a leaky bucket.
Consider the cautionary tale of WeWork, which grew revenues rapidly but saw its losses accelerate even faster. In 2019, they lost over $1 billion on $1.8 billion in revenue, primarily due to heavy spending on growth and prices often below costs.
This ultimately led to a dramatic plummet in valuation and bankruptcy. As I cover in Your Business Growth Playbook , there is danger in focusing solely on top-line revenue without prioritizing profitability.
You cannot, as my book states, “make up for a lack of profit with volume!”
The shift, and the future, is about sustainable profit and the freedom it provides.
True entrepreneurial freedom – the freedom of time and choice – is bought by profit, not just revenue.
This is why I provide a simple framework with three core levers. Improving the right variables in this formula can specifically help you improve the profitability in your business, not just gross sales.
This future-focused approach ensures that every step you take in growth also contributes to a more stable, profitable, and ultimately, freer business.
🧠 The bigger idea: The era of prioritizing top-line revenue is fading. Sustainable profit, driven by strategic focus and avoiding pitfalls like excessive discounting, is the true engine for business growth, innovation, and ultimately, the entrepreneurial freedom you deserve.
What’s one financial metric you’ll prioritize this week to ensure your business is chasing profit, not just revenue?
The Evolution of Growth: From Revenue Race to Profit-First Freedom
