Revenue Isn’t Cashflow: Why Your P&L Is Lying to You
Before we begin:
My name is Troy McLennan. I’ve made six figures in a month — and still felt broke by Friday. I’ve had record-breaking quarters and still had to move money around just to cover payroll. If you’re a business owner and you’ve ever thought, “Why does the math not math?” — I’ve been there.
Today, I help founders stop confusing revenue with reality, and start making decisions based on actual cashflow — not accounting fantasies.
1. Are You Falling for the P&L Illusion?
You’re making money. Clients are happy. Revenue is up. But you’re still stressed. Still short. Still robbing Peter to pay Paul — and wondering how it’s possible to work this hard and feel this stuck.
Does this sound like you?
You celebrate big months… but cash disappears by week two
You assume profit means you can spend (spoiler: it doesn’t)
You’re flying blind when it comes to upcoming bills or tax
You’ve been burned by ‘surprise’ costs more than once
Here’s the punchline: Your P&L is a story. Cashflow is the truth.
2. The Month I Nearly Broke Myself
There was a month early on where we smashed records. Highest sales ever. Everything looked perfect — on paper. But I hadn’t prepared for the lag: commissions delayed, settlements staggered, overhead rising fast.
The bills didn’t wait. Cash dried up. I had to take money out of my own pocket just to keep the lights on. And it hit me — revenue doesn’t matter if you can’t access it.
Since that moment, we’ve operated with a completely different lens: cash-in, cash-out, cash-forward.
3. The Arcanium Reality Model
You don’t need to become a CFO. But you do need to stop trusting the wrong numbers.
Here’s the simplified framework we install with every founder:
1. Cash-In — What actually hits your account. Not billed. Not earned. Received.
2. Cash-Out — All fixed + variable outgoings for the month (including invisible expenses: tax, debt, software, quiet months).
3. Cash-Forward — Your operating runway. How many weeks can you survive if income stops?
When these three numbers are visible — weekly, not quarterly — you make better decisions. Period.
4. What Visibility Does For You
When you track real cashflow:
You stop guessing on reinvestment
You prevent surprise stress events
You buy with clarity, not optimism
You get early warning signals
You finally feel like the CEO of your business, not just the talent
Revenue makes you feel rich. Cashflow keeps you sane.
5. Final Thought: Don’t Trust Pretty Numbers
Revenue is ego. Profit is theory. Cashflow is fact.
If you’re making money but still feeling broke — it’s time to shift what you track, how you plan, and how you lead.
Your business doesn’t need more hype. It needs visibility.
6. Ready to Get Clear?
Arcanium helps founders install cashflow clarity systems that give them real visibility — and real control.
Book your Cash Clarity Call →
Or download the Cashflow Visibility Dashboard to get started.