Every economic has cycles—booms and busts—but are you ready for the downturns? You need a war chest, and I’ve seen too many businesses crumble because they didn’t have one. At iQuest, we adopt Profit First mentality to build ours, which meant when things slowed down, we could still keep our best employees and cover rising costs.

The war chest isn’t just about survival; it’s about thriving during tough times and good times. The businesses that fail are usually the ones caught without reserves, forced into bad decisions when revenue dries up. This is directly tied to Financial Management, one of the Business by Design 7 Essentials. It’s not just about making money; it’s about being smart with it—tracking it, budgeting for it, and having a buffer when the unexpected happens.

So next time you’re in a boom, think about the bust. Are you preparing for it, or just hoping it doesn’t come?