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I Hate Numbers: Simplifying Tax and AccountingHelping you and your business make more profits and reduce your anxiety Author: I Hate Numbers
For some, watching paint dry, or a poke in the eye is better than dealing with their business numbers. I get it, numbers can be scary, confusing, and boring, not what your business is meant to be about. But heres the thing. If youre serious about your business, you need to grab hold of your numbers, and connect with them. Falling in love with them may feel weird, but at least be on friendly terms with them if you want your business to survive and thrive. Numbers make you accountable, showing you the financial impact of your successes, a route map to success and highlighting those flip-ups. Above all, learning to love & use your numbers means you have a better chance of making money, whats not to love. Fundamentally business is there to make money. You need to make money to survive and have impact. Its about knowing how your future is going to pan out. As a business finance coach, financial story teller and tax advisor, I've helped thousands of businesses over the years. I love numbers, but I get it that not many businesses will do so. I want to share my love of numbers through my podcast, to make it accessible, to help you and your business power forward. My aim is to make this podcast listener friendly, jargon and BS free. In the words of W.E.B. Dubois When you have mastered numbers, you will in fact no longer be reading numbers, any more than you read words when reading books. You will be reading meanings. Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Ignoring Your Numbers Is Killing Your Creative Business
Episode 311
Saturday, 14 February, 2026
SEO Description:IntroductionIn this episode of the I Hate Numbers podcast, we tackle a tough but necessary truth: ignoring your numbers is quietly damaging your creative business. We understand why creatives avoid spreadsheets, budgets, and financial reports. You started your journey to create, perform, design, and inspire — not to stare at figures. However, the longer you ignore your numbers, the louder the financial clock ticks.Why Ignoring Your Numbers Feels AppealingLet’s be honest. Avoidance feels easier in the short term. Staying reactive, making decisions on instinct, and hoping everything works out can seem simpler than facing the reality of your bank balance. But if you want to stay stressed, reactive, and running what feels more like an expensive hobby than a business, then ignoring your finances is a perfect strategy. Without clarity:You make snap decisions without insight.You chase invoices while worrying about rent.You feel overwhelmed by tax deadlines.You live hand-to-mouth from project to project.That is not creative freedom. That is financial anxiety.Why Numbers Matter (Even If You Dislike Them)When you understand your numbers, something empowering happens. You stop guessing. You start making informed decisions. You move from “I hope this works” to “I know this works.” It is like switching on the light in a dark room. You can see what is coming in, what is going out, and where growth is possible. Understanding your finances does not mean becoming an accountant. It means becoming the driver of your business rather than a passenger.Profit Is Not a Dirty WordProfit allows you to cover your costs, pay yourself properly, and build a financial buffer. It gives you sustainability. It prevents burnout and protects your creative future. Without profit, your business cannot survive long term. How you earn that profit is up to you. Ethics and values matter. But profit itself is not the enemy.Three Simple Steps You Can Take Today1. Track What’s Coming In and Going OutYou do not need complex systems to start. A notebook, spreadsheet, or digital tool like Xero cloud accounting can give you visibility and control.2. Schedule a Weekly Money Check-InSet aside 15 to 30 minutes each week to review your numbers. Treat it like brushing your teeth — routine, necessary, and good for your long-term health.3. Give Every Pound a PurposeAssign money intentionally. Allocate funds for tax, equipment, rent, savings, and paying yourself. Money without a plan disappears.You Are Not AloneYou did not enter the creative world to become a number cruncher. But if you want your passion to pay the bills — and more — then your numbers matter. That is why we created the podcast. It is why Numbers Know How and I Hate Numbers exist — to make finance human, practical, and empowering for creatives.Key TakeawayIgnoring your numbers might feel comfortable in the short term, but it limits your growth. When you face them — even imperfectly — you take back control. Understanding your money does not make you less creative. It makes you unstoppable.Episode Timecodes[00:00:00] – Why...
