Chapter 26 Breakdown: Cash Flow Is More Important Than Your Mother
Section B3: Money | Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. Series
Resilience Repurposed Blog by Brent Parker
👁️ Intro: Why Cash Flow Will Save You (When No One Else Can)
Most entrepreneurs obsess over funding, valuation, or top-line revenue. But Colin C. Campbell makes it plain in Chapter 26: cash flow is the heartbeat of your business—and without it, you’re dead, regardless of how good your product or team is (Campbell, 2023, p. 200).
The title says it all— “Cash Flow Is More Important Than Your Mother.” It’s tongue-in-cheek, but it lands hard. You may have great intentions and a bold vision, but if the money dries up before the momentum kicks in, you’ll be forced to pivot, pause, or perish. Campbell doesn’t just talk about theory—he breaks down how he survived near collapse by prioritizing daily cash management over quarterly earnings.
🧠 Key Lessons from Chapter 26
✅ 1. Revenue ≠ Cash Flow
“It’s not how much you’re selling—it’s when and how you get paid” (Campbell, 2023, p. 201).
You can hit big sales numbers and still run out of cash. Real financial health comes from monitoring what’s coming in, what’s going out, and when it all happens.
✅ 2. Cash Flow Should Be a Daily Priority
Campbell compares managing cash flow to checking the pulse of a patient. If you’re only reviewing your financial health once a month, you’re reacting too late (Campbell, 2023). Daily visibility means you can respond before it’s too late.
✅ 3. Scale Can Be Dangerous Without Strong Cash Management
Growth often means higher overhead, more payroll, and bigger inventory orders. If your cash flow can’t support it, scaling too fast can actually break the business (Campbell, 2023).
✅ 4. Delay Payments, Accelerate Receivables
To strengthen your position, negotiate longer payment terms with vendors while collecting from customers faster. This cash gap buffer gives your business breathing room during growth sprints (Campbell, 2023, p. 202).
✅ 5. Build a Cash Reserve Before You Need It
You don’t want to start saving cash when the storm hits. Just like you’d build a bunker before the hurricane, start stacking cash when things are calm, not when you’re desperate (Campbell, 2023).
💡 Final Takeaway
Cash is oxygen. Chapter 26 reframes success from “how much money you raise” to “how well you control your cash.” If you want to scale safely and stay in control, watch your cash flow every single day—because it won’t lie to you, and it won’t wait for you to catch up.
🔁 Coming Next
Chapter 27 – Line of Sight: Daily Numbers You Need to Know
If Chapter 26 is about oxygen, Chapter 27 is about vision. What are the key metrics every founder should track in real-time? Let’s talk visibility, precision, and decision-making.
💬 Share This With a Future Founder
Know someone building a great brand but ignoring the books? This chapter could save their business. Share it, tag them, or send it privately—they’ll thank you later.
📬 Subscribe to Resilience Repurposed
Get the next chapter straight to your inbox. Subscribe here
📚 References
Campbell, C. C. (2023). Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat.: Serial entrepreneurs’ secrets revealed! ForbesBooks.