Mike Michalowicz's Blog, page 3

Is TikTok Toxic – or Necessary?

Let me tell you a story about a bold idea, a brave team, and a platform full of 17-year-olds dancing in Crocs.

Spoiler alert: I am no Mr. Beast. I’m no Preston. And we didn’t break the internet.
But the internet did almost break us.

The setup

It all started when Kelsey (our Prez), Andrea (our cautious but fearless marketing director) came to me and said:

“Mike, we need to be on TikTok.”

Ugh. Are you sure?

Now, I’m not anti-TikTok. I’m pro-growth. Pro-attention. Pro-not-being-obsolete. And if that means trying out a platform known for lip-sync battles and chaotic cooking videos, I’m game.

Andrea had a plan. A good one, too.

She’d been studying TikTok trends, gathering inspo (did I just say, “inspo”?), and building a strategy that could bring The Money Habit, Fix This Next, and Profit First into the feed-scrolling minds of a new generation of entrepreneurs.

And we were all in.
We called it “The TikTok Experiment.”

It was going to be brilliant, right? Right?

Spoiler alert #2: It was something.

The plan

Andrea lined up a posting schedule.
She trained herself.
She got me on camera doing things that can never be unseen.

We danced (badly).
We used trending sounds (questionable).
We gave serious business advice while wearing sunglasses and trying to look like we understood Gen Z slang.

The hashtags? FIRE.
The lighting? Impeccable.
The commitment? Unmatched.

We were ready to go viral.
We hit publish.

The results

…crickets.

Well, not exactly crickets.

One video of me lip-syncing to a sound about “getting rich slow” did okay.
Another clip of Andrea dancing while explaining the Profit First formula actually caught some attention.

And then, then came the comments. The Toxic TikTok I had heard about was illustrated. Too well.

Let’s just say, TikTok users are creative in their feedback.
We got roasted.
Affectionately, savagely, relentlessly roasted.

One person said I looked like “the accountant your mom warned you about.” To note, I’ve never been an accountant!
Someone else accused Andrea of being a bot (which she took as a compliment).
Another just wrote, “OK Boomer,” which, for the record, I am not. Though they did point out that I had Skechers on. I was walking through the woods in that clip, guy.

But us being us, we kept going – because experiments aren’t supposed to be safe.
They’re supposed to be real. Even if they hurt real bad.

Our meltdown (and breakthrough)

Around week three, the team had what I’ll kindly call a “creative breakdown.”

Andrea was in the office, surrounded by ring lights, empty coffee cups, and a pile of rejected sound clips. She looked at me and said, “Mike. What even is our brand on TikTok?”

A fair question.

Because somewhere between trying to be “cool” and trying to stay on-brand, we realized something:

We weren’t failing because TikTok didn’t like us.

The pivot

So we stopped chasing trends.
We stopped trying to sound like a 19-year-old entrepreneur with a ring light and a six-pack.
We started doing what we do best:

Telling the truth.
Teaching what works.
Laughing at ourselves along the way.

Andrea led the shift. She scrapped half the calendar, took a breath, and said, “Let’s just be us, but faster and weirder.” I can do that.

We started making videos that were a little offbeat, a little uncomfortable, and very us:

Explaining financial principles as I scribbled notes onto a legal pad
Breaking down marketing myths while power-walking through the office
Talk about burnout, bad launches, and budget regret, with zero filters and questionable lighting.

And guess what?

People started watching.
Not millions. But thousands.
People started commenting things like, “Finally, something real on this app,” and “I didn’t expect to like this, but here we are.”

It wasn’t viral. But it was honest. And it was working.

And then there was the algorithm

Oh, the glorious, mysterious, emotionally abusive algorithm. One day, we’d post something that felt like gold, and nothing. Total silence. The next day, we’d upload a shaky, last-minute clip of my son and me at the Final Four, and thousands of views. No explanation. No logic. Just TikTok doing TikTok things. It became a running joke on the team: “Post it and pray to the algo gods.” Honestly, it felt like dating in high school – hot one day, ghosted the next. (I mean, that’s what I heard.)

What we learned

Here’s the truth about trying to go viral:
If you’re not clear on your voice before you hit publish, the algorithm will eat you alive.

We went into this experiment thinking, “Let’s go viral.”
We came out of it realizing, “Let’s go real, and let the right people find us.”

That’s marketing.
That’s leadership.
That’s what Andrea taught us by surviving what we now call the Great TikTok Breakdown of 2024.

So… Would we do it again?

100%.
With Andrea in charge? 200%.

Because here’s what most people don’t realize:

Marketing isn’t about being everywhere. It’s about being somewhere authentically.

You can fail beautifully in front of thousands of strangers and still win if you learn, adapt, and stop trying to be a copy of someone else’s viral moment.

So if you’re a business owner wondering if TikTok is worth trying, I say yes.

But not because you want fame.
Because you want connection.
Because you’re willing to experiment.
Because maybe, just maybe, you’re willing to look a little ridiculous in the process.

And in our case? Mission accomplished.

At least today.

-You’ve got this (even if the internet tries to break your spirit).

-Mike

P.S. If you see a video of me explaining The Profit First formula while holding a blender full of gummy bears… just know Andrea made me do it.

And I’d do it again. 

@mikemichalowicz

 

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Delegating is a Power Move

If it’s what you hate, delegate!

You probably heard this before. And sure, that’s decent advice. But this week, I want you to take a new approach because there’s something far more dangerous than work you hate.

It’s the work you love.
Yep. That sweet, satisfying, “I could do this all day” kind of work; the work you guard like Gollum and his precious.

Workaholic me really dug in when there was a task I loved. But leadership is about leading by example, growing your business, and your team. Achieving that means empowering your company by delegating the work you love. Not because you have to. But because you choose to.

Let me explain.

The dangerous allure of “fun” work

We all have our jam. For some, it’s design. For others, it’s deep-dive analysis, or client calls, or writing emails that convert. You tell yourself, “I can’t hand this off, this is my baby and no one will take care of it like me!”

But here’s what’s really happening:
You’re building a fiefdom. And not the cool Game-of-Thrones kind. More like a lonely tower where you are king, queen, and jester, juggling everything while your team watches from the moat.

When you cling to your favorite tasks, you block growth for your business and your people. Your team can’t step up because you won’t step out. The business can’t scale because you’re the bottleneck.

Here’s the real kicker: when you hold on to the fun stuff, your ego gets fed. You feel important. Needed. Indispensable. And that’s not freedom. That’s a velvet prison with golden handcuffs.

Do This: Let go on purpose

Pick one thing that you genuinely love doing. Maybe it’s creating your podcast, managing the company’s Instagram, or mapping out a financial strategy. Got it?

Now, train someone on your team to do it. All of it. Even the “magic touch” parts. Especially those. Give them the playbook, the context, the why behind the how.

Delegate because you choose to. That’s the power move. That’s what moves you from being the doer of the work… to the designer of outcomes.

Remember: true leadership isn’t about holding on. It’s about lifting others up.

Not that: Don’t feed the ego

If you’re keeping tasks because they make you feel “in the zone” or keep you busy or make you feel important, stop. That’s not strategy, that’s vanity. It’s letting your ego drive the bus. And guess what? Ego’s a terrible driver. You’ll end up stuck in the same place year after year.

When you delegate strategically, you free your brain to work on the business, not in it. You open the door for your team to grow, take ownership, and even (gasp!) get better at that task than you ever were.

It’s not abdication. It’s elevation.

Check here for implementation:

Clockwork – Chapter 4, pages 85–92: Learn about the Queen Bee Role and what truly needs to stay on your plate.

All In – Chapter 10, pages 178–189: Discover how trust, not control, is the path to team performance.

Fix This Next – Chapter 2, pages 34–40: Pinpoint your most vital need in business. (Hint: It’s probably leadership trust.)

Your action plan:

Copy, paste, and ask AI (that’s me) the following:

“Ask me one question at a time to help me figure out what I love doing most in my business. Then, help me see why that’s exactly the thing I need to delegate, because true ownership is about designing outcomes, not doing the work.”

This little exercise will help you identify your “fun trap”: the task you love that’s quietly holding you back, and guide you to train someone else to take the baton.

Final thought:

“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things.”
– Ronald Reagan

You’re not just an entrepreneur. You’re a leader, a guide, a builder of people. If you want your business to thrive without you (and because of you), you’ve got to delegate the crown jewels.

Not all of them. Just one to start.

So go ahead. Delegate what you love.
Seriously.

You’ve got this.
– Mike 

For more guidance about delegation, get help from our partners at Run Like Clockwork here.

ALL IN is a game-changer for leadership, and the folks at the ALL IN Company now have Saturday morning office hours so they can answer your questions live. Schedule a free advisory session here.

Fix This Next can help you pinpoint your biggest challenge. You can get the book here, take the evaluation here, and find a Fix This Next Advisor here. 

 

The post Delegating is a Power Move appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

Build Systems That Run Forever – The Power of the Mini-SOP

One of the biggest myths in entrepreneurship is that the more involved you are in every part of your business, the more successful it will be. Lies, I tell you!

Hustle culture glorifies being “in the weeds.” But I’m gonna lay it down: if your business can’t run without you, then you don’t own a business. You’ve built yourself a very demanding job.

The path to freedom doesn’t come from working harder. It comes from designing a business that runs itself. This week, I want to give you one tool to start making that shift, and it’s something I call the mini-SOP.

What the heck is a mini-SOP?

A mini-SOP (standard operating procedure) is a small, streamlined way to document and delegate a task. It’s not a 30-page ops manual gathering dust on a shelf. It’s quick, usable, and repeatable. It’s something your team will actually use and improve.

Think of it this way: your business is filled with tasks you do automatically, without thinking. Answering a weekly email. Publishing a blog. Posting to social media. Running payroll. What if someone else could do one of those for you, exactly the way you do it?

You don’t need to hire a systems consultant or build a complex workflow tool to get started. You just need your phone and three to five steps.

Here’s what to do.

Your 10-minute assignment

Pick one simple, recurring task that you do every week. Make sure it’s something that doesn’t require deep strategy; just clear execution.

Now, record a quick video (2–5 minutes) showing exactly how you do it.

Open your screen recording tool or phone camera.
Talk through the steps as if you’re teaching a team member.
Keep it simple. Think: “Open this tool → Click this tab → Paste the content → Hit publish.”

That’s it. You just made your first mini-SOP.

Now, hand it off.

Let your team member take it and run with it. Don’t hover. Don’t perfect. Let it be imperfect, but out of your head. Only revisit or improve it once the task runs without you.

This is how businesses scale. Not with massive reinvention, but with small systems executed consistently.

And, it builds undeniable empowerment in your employees.

Not that: Don’t build a big manual

Let me be super clear here: don’t write an operations manual. Don’t create a big doc full of bullet points no one will read.

We’ve all been there. We build an SOP library with the best of intentions, only to find it becomes an unused digital graveyard.

Mini-SOPs are different. They’re living tools, not static documents. They’re built to be used and improved in real time. Start small. Stay practical. Build while in motion.

Why this works

When you remove tasks from your plate and pass them to your team, you’re doing more than saving time. You’re building a self-sustaining machine. And it starts with one task.

Want to see this concept in action? Here’s how it ties directly into my core systems:

Clockwork: In Chapter 4 (pages 71–77), we talk about the Queen Bee Role—the essential activity that keeps your business thriving. Mini-SOPs help protect that role by moving everything else off your plate.
Fix This Next: Chapter 5 (pages 89–95) is all about removing bottlenecks. Guess who the biggest bottleneck usually is? Yep—you. By documenting and delegating tasks, you free up space and speed up growth.
Profit First: Systems aren’t just about time—they’re about money too. Chapter 9 (pages 165–171) shows you how to create consistent cash flow through systematization. The more predictable your processes, the more stable your profits.

A mini-SOP may feel small. But that one small handoff is a big move toward true business freedom.

A real-life example

A business owner I worked with had a bottleneck around posting her weekly newsletter. Every Thursday morning, she’d panic to get it written, designed, formatted, and sent. It took two hours and a lot of mental space.

We identified it as the first mini-SOP opportunity.

She made a screen recording of her process, narrated it once, and handed it to her assistant. Within one week, the task was off her plate. Within three weeks, her assistant had improved the process, added templates, and scheduled it out two months in advance.

Boom. Freedom.

This is what’s possible when you document in motion and delegate with trust.

Final thought – Build once, run forever

The best systems in business are the ones that keep working without your constant input. That’s the beauty of a mini-SOP. You build it once, and it runs forever with someone else at the wheel.

One step. One task. One video.

Then another.

And another.

Pretty soon, your business is running because of you, not entirely on you.

As Michael Gerber famously said in The E-Myth Revisited:

“Systems run the business. People run the systems.”

Start your first mini-SOP today. Let it be simple. Let it be imperfect. But let it be done.

You’ve got this.

– Mike

For more insight, check out the resources here:

The Money Habit: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9781774586433

Get Different: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593330630

Fix This Next: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593084410

Profit First: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780735214149

Pumpkin Plan: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9781591844884

All In: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593544501

Clockwork: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593538173

Money Bunnies: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780578929989

Podcast: The Don’t Write THAT Book podcast has been helping (and entertaining) authors and entrepreneurs alike. Give a listen on your favorite podcast platform today.

Mike Michalowicz is the author of Get Different, Profit First, Clockwork, All In, Surge, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, The Pumpkin Plan, and The Money Habit. He’s on a mission to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty and help business owners build wildly successful, radically fulfilling companies.

The post Build Systems That Run Forever – The Power of the Mini-SOP appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

The Money Habit Weekly | Bulk Deals Are Secretly Costing You

The Insight: Bulk discounts aren’t always a bargain

Let’s be honest: we love a deal.

Buy three, save ten bucks? In.
Family-size everything? In.
That mega-pack of avocados at warehouse clubs? Oh yeah, in.

But bulk buying only saves you money if you actually use what you buy. Otherwise, you’re just throwing money into your fridge, letting it spoil, and then dragging your wasted “savings” out to the trash.

Welcome to the Bulk Savings Illusion: the lie our brains love to believe when we see discounts without doing the math (or accounting for the moldy spinach we keep tossing out).

The Perspective – the real cost of buying bulk

Bulk deals are great for the right things, like non-perishables, long shelf life items, or essentials you use consistently over time. But when it comes to perishable goods, those “savings” often spoil faster than the food.

Studies show that Americans throw away up to 30% of perishable items they purchase. That means if you scored 30% off that huge bag of salad greens, and then threw 30% of it out… your savings just went poof.

Even worse, sometimes buying in bulk leads to overconsumption. You feel like you need to use it all before it expires. So now you’re eating 4 bagels a day and wondering why your grocery budget (and waistline) are growing.

Here’s what that means in plain terms:

That 5-pound tub of yogurt? Wasted money if you don’t finish it.The 24-pack of bananas? What are you, a monkey army?Giant cheese block? Unless you run a charcuterie board business, let it go.

We fall for the illusion because bulk feels responsible. It feels like we’re getting ahead. But unless it fits your actual usage and shelf life, it often backfires.

The action: Buy bulk when it lasts and small when it spoils

This week’s money habit is simple:

Buy bulk when it lasts. Spend small when it spoils.

Here’s your quick test:

Toilet paper? Bulk it up.Pasta? Stock away.Frozen veggies? Deal!Fresh berries, lettuce, milk, and avocados? Only buy what you’ll use in the next few days.

Ask yourself: Will I actually finish this before it goes bad?
If the answer is no, or even “maybe not”, skip the bulk deal.

Remember: waste is the opposite of wealth.
It’s not what you buy that saves you money. It’s what you keep.

And sometimes, spending less today saves you more tomorrow.

Share the habit and grow the money movement!

Know someone who loads up on bulk buys and ends up tossing half of it? Share this week’s issue and help them rethink the real cost of those “savings.”

Encourage them to subscribe to The Money Habit Weekly. It’s free, fun, and radically practical.

Until next week, keep making smart choices. Here’s to financial independence.

– Mike
Author of The Money Habit

One insight, one perspective, and one action to worry-free financial independence.
Read on MikeMichalowicz.com | Haven’t subscribed yet? It’s free!

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How to Get Fireworks in Your Marketing

Marketing can be tricky. The variables are endless. 

Timing. Messaging. Your offering. Your prospects are all at a picnic. Who knows?

Invisibility is often more dangerous than failure. We pour energy, money, and creativity into marketing, and sometimes?

Crickets.

Why is this? Because in most cases, we play marketing too safe.

Boring marketing is invisible marketing. It gets scrolled past, deleted, and forgotten before it has a chance to connect. In a world overwhelmed by sameness, the businesses that stand out are the ones that take risks. Small, smart, strategic risks. That’s where bold micro-experiments come in.

The case for marketing differently

No matter your industry, if you’ve been involved in marketing, you know that there is a kind of invisible template that exists. Businesses mimic each other’s social media content, websites, email language, even colors, and taglines. While this might feel professional or familiar, it’s also the fastest route to being ignored.

What drives real traction isn’t imitation. It’s differentiation.

In my book Get Different, I share a core belief: being different is better than being better. Better gets debated. Different gets noticed.

The most memorable marketing ideas tend to come from unexpected places. That might mean borrowing an idea from an unrelated industry or doing something that feels slightly uncomfortable, but that discomfort is often a sign you’re headed in the right direction.

Small bets, big returns

The beauty of a micro-experiment is that it doesn’t require a huge budget or commitment. You’re not rebranding your business. You’re simply testing one new idea, with a limited scope:

A $100 budget or lessA timeframe of one weekA focus on traction and attention, not perfection

These experiments will yield direct leads or sales. More importantly, they build confidence. Confidence in your voice. Confidence in your creativity. Confidence that you don’t have to market like everyone else.

Where to begin? Look outside of your industry and comfort zone

Start by exploring what’s working in industries far from your own. A dentist might gain inspiration from a tech startup’s quirky landing page. A professional coach might borrow a retail boutique’s Instagram challenge. A bookkeeper might riff off a bar’s “free drink with awkward joke” promotion.

Then, adapt it.

Ask yourself: “What’s a marketing tactic that no one in my industry is doing but works somewhere else?”

Here are a few real-world examples:

A personal trainer offering free “report cards” to followers, grading their current routines.A software developer running a lemonade stand…in front of a co-working space (yes, really).A financial advisor mailing handwritten thank-you notes with confetti inside—not for clients, but to cold leads who downloaded a free resource.

They’re fun. They’re unexpected. And they’re effective.

Building the bravery habit

Running a single experiment might feel small. But it’s how great marketing muscles are built.

Each test you run creates new data. You learn what grabs attention. What flops. What sparks conversation? And with every iteration, your ideas grow bolder and better.

To structure your approach, I recommend using the method outlined in Get Different, Chapter 7: Experiment. Measure. Amplify. Repeat.

Want to fine-tune where you start? Check out:

The Pumpkin Plan (Chapter 4): How to uncover what makes you radically unique.Fix This Next (Chapter 2): How to pinpoint the exact area in your marketing that needs attention first.

Leverage AI to brainstorm boldly

Need a little help thinking outside the box? AI tools can be a great companion for sparking unconventional ideas. Try prompting your favorite tool with this:

Ask up to five questions, one at a time, to uncover how I can market to my prospects in ways my competitors never have. Push beyond the obvious. Slight discomfort is welcome. Afterward, suggest three one-week marketing experiments I can run for $100 or less each. Aim for unconventional, curiosity-piquing tactics.

You don’t need to follow everything it says. Just let it nudge you out of your comfort zone, and stay authentic at the same time..

You only need one

One idea. One week. One hundred bucks.

That’s all it takes to break the rhythm of invisible marketing and start doing something memorable.

You don’t need to be outrageous. You just need to be noticeably different.

To quote Henry Ford:

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

So don’t do what you’ve always done. Don’t market the way your competitors do. Don’t sit on your next great idea because it makes you slightly nervous.

Take the risk. Make the ask. Test the thing.

When it comes to standing out in a crowded market, being safe is costly.
Be bold!

-Mike

—

For more insight, get these resources:

The Money Habit: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9781774586433

Get Different: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593330630

Fix This Next: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593084410

Profit First: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780735214149

Pumpkin Plan: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9781591844884

All In: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593544501

Clockwork: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593538173

Money Bunnies: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780578929989

Podcast: The Don’t Write THAT Book podcast has been helping (and entertaining) authors and entrepreneurs alike. Give a listen on your favorite podcast platform today.

Mike Michalowicz is the author of Get Different, Profit First, Clockwork, All In, Surge, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, The Pumpkin Plan, and The Money Habit. He’s on a mission to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty and help business owners build wildly successful, radically fulfilling companies.

The post How to Get Fireworks in Your Marketing appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

The Money Habit Weekly | Are You Being Squeezed By Shrinkflation?

The Insight: Shrinkflation Is Sneaky (and It’s Costing You)

The other day, we were having a team lunch and opened a bag of potato chips (it was a deli lunch, so requisite chips were had). The bag was filled about one-third of the way. 

Womp womp.

Have you noticed your favorite snack bag feeling a little lighter lately, or your go-to laundry detergent running out faster than usual? You’re not imagining it. That’s shrinkflation – when companies quietly reduce the size, quantity, or quality of their products without lowering the price.

Instead of raising the price by a dollar, they give you fewer ounces, fewer sheets, or less per serving. The price tag stays the same, but the value drops. It’s inflation’s stealthy cousin, and it’s impacting your bottom line more than you think.

Shrinkflation can fly under the radar. It’s subtle. And that’s exactly why it’s so effective. And dangerous. While you’re busy trying to budget or cut back on luxuries, these silent product changes are nibbling away at your money in the background.

But there’s good news: You can fight back. And it starts with awareness.

The Perspective: It’s not just about what you spend, but what you get

Most people track prices. You might scan the sale rack, clip coupons, or compare stores to get the best deal. But in today’s economy, it’s no longer enough to just look at the sticker.

You have to look at the value.

A $5 item isn’t always worth $5 if it used to contain 20% more. Your coffee, cereal, cleaning supplies, even toilet paper,if you’re getting less for the same money, you’re losing purchasing power.

Cost control isn’t just a budgeting trick. It’s a mindset shift. It’s about evaluating return on spend. What does each dollar actually bring you? When you stop seeing price tags as fixed truths and start questioning what you’re truly getting in exchange, you’ll unlock a whole new level of financial awareness.

Smart consumers are like smart investors: they ask not just “How much does this cost?” but “What do I get in return?” That’s the secret to staying financially resilient, even when the market (or your grocery store) tries to squeeze more from you.

The Action: Audit your everyday purchases, then eliminate some

Here’s your weekly money habit:

Pick five products you buy regularly.
Think pantry items, personal care products, cleaning supplies. Your everyday go-tos.
Compare current sizes and servings to older versions.
Check your receipts, photos of past packaging (yes, you probably have some in your phone), or even product reviews online. You’ll often find other buyers calling out shrinkflation in the comments.
If you’re getting less, take action.
Switch brands. Often, store brands or lesser-known names offer better value.
Source from alternative suppliers. Some warehouse clubs or online marketplaces still stock “pre-shrinkflation” sizes.
Consider bulk buying. But be strategic. Buying more doesn’t always mean saving more (and we’ll dive deeper into that next week).

The key is not to accept shrinkflation passively. If enough of us speak with our wallets, by refusing to pay more for less, companies will listen. Consumer behavior is powerful. Let’s use it wisely.

Share the habit

Know someone who might be unknowingly paying more for less? Share this issue with them and encourage them to subscribe to The Money Habit Weekly (it’s free!). The more we shine a light on these sneaky shifts, the better equipped we all become to make smarter money moves.

Wishing you vigilance, value, and most of all, financial freedom.

– Mike
Author of The Money Habit

The post The Money Habit Weekly | Are You Being Squeezed By Shrinkflation? appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

Are You Being Squeezed By Shrinkflation?

The Insight: Shrinkflation Is Sneaky (and It’s Costing You)

The other day, we were having a team lunch and opened a bag of potato chips (it was a deli lunch, so requisite chips were had). The bag was filled about one-third of the way. 

Womp womp.

Have you noticed your favorite snack bag feeling a little lighter lately, or your go-to laundry detergent running out faster than usual? You’re not imagining it. That’s shrinkflation – when companies quietly reduce the size, quantity, or quality of their products without lowering the price.

Instead of raising the price by a dollar, they give you fewer ounces, fewer sheets, or less per serving. The price tag stays the same, but the value drops. It’s inflation’s stealthy cousin, and it’s impacting your bottom line more than you think.

Shrinkflation can fly under the radar. It’s subtle. And that’s exactly why it’s so effective. And dangerous. While you’re busy trying to budget or cut back on luxuries, these silent product changes are nibbling away at your money in the background.

But there’s good news: You can fight back. And it starts with awareness.

The Perspective: It’s not just about what you spend, but what you get

Most people track prices. You might scan the sale rack, clip coupons, or compare stores to get the best deal. But in today’s economy, it’s no longer enough to just look at the sticker.

You have to look at the value.

A $5 item isn’t always worth $5 if it used to contain 20% more. Your coffee, cereal, cleaning supplies, even toilet paper,if you’re getting less for the same money, you’re losing purchasing power.

Cost control isn’t just a budgeting trick. It’s a mindset shift. It’s about evaluating return on spend. What does each dollar actually bring you? When you stop seeing price tags as fixed truths and start questioning what you’re truly getting in exchange, you’ll unlock a whole new level of financial awareness.

Smart consumers are like smart investors: they ask not just “How much does this cost?” but “What do I get in return?” That’s the secret to staying financially resilient, even when the market (or your grocery store) tries to squeeze more from you.

The Action: Audit your everyday purchases, then eliminate some

Here’s your weekly money habit:

Pick five products you buy regularly.
Think pantry items, personal care products, cleaning supplies. Your everyday go-tos.
Compare current sizes and servings to older versions.
Check your receipts, photos of past packaging (yes, you probably have some in your phone), or even product reviews online. You’ll often find other buyers calling out shrinkflation in the comments.
If you’re getting less, take action.
Switch brands. Often, store brands or lesser-known names offer better value.
Source from alternative suppliers. Some warehouse clubs or online marketplaces still stock “pre-shrinkflation” sizes.
Consider bulk buying. But be strategic. Buying more doesn’t always mean saving more (and we’ll dive deeper into that next week).

The key is not to accept shrinkflation passively. If enough of us speak with our wallets, by refusing to pay more for less, companies will listen. Consumer behavior is powerful. Let’s use it wisely.

Share the habit

Know someone who might be unknowingly paying more for less? Share this issue with them and encourage them to subscribe to The Money Habit Weekly (it’s free!). The more we shine a light on these sneaky shifts, the better equipped we all become to make smarter money moves.

Wishing you vigilance, value, and most of all, financial freedom.

– Mike
Author of The Money Habit

The post Are You Being Squeezed By Shrinkflation? appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

The Right Way To Boost Profit

Let’s talk about one of the simplest, fastest ways to boost your profit without raising your prices, chasing more customers, or burning out trying to sell harder:

A smart, value-packed upsell.

No sleazy tactics. No “but wait, there’s more!” infomercial energy. Just one useful thing your best customers will genuinely want offered at the right moment.

Let’s break it down.

What upselling really means

Most people hear “upsell” and immediately think of someone trying to push a premium version, extra warranty, or unnecessary bundle. And sure, those exist. But that’s not what we’re doing here.

A strategic upsell is not about squeezing more money from your customers. It’s about deepening the value you provide to people who already trust you.

Think of it like this:  If someone’s already buying from you, they’ve raised their hand and said, “I like what you’re doing.” Offering them something that enhances that experience isn’t annoying; it’s helpful. It’s a service.

The key is to keep it:

Relevant (it complements what they already bought)
Valuable (it genuinely improves their outcome)
Effortless (it feels like a natural “yes”)

A real-world example

Let’s say you sell a course on how to launch a podcast.

Instead of just offering the course and walking away, what if you included an option to add on a professionally designed podcast cover or a 30-minute launch strategy session?

These are low-lift for you (especially if you systemize or outsource them), but high-impact for your buyer. It helps them get results faster, with less friction. Win-win.

The best upsells feel like this:

“Oh wow, that’s exactly what I was going to need next anyway.”

The profit behind the psychology

Here’s why this matters: Your existing customers are your most profitable customers.

You don’t need to spend on advertising to get them. You don’t need to earn their trust from scratch. They already know you, like you, and see the value you provide.

A well-timed, well-designed upsell:

Increases your average transaction value
Deepens customer loyaltyMakes your business more efficient (serving more revenue with fewer customers)

And here’s the bonus: It can be done with zero pressure. It’s an invitation, not a pitch.

How to create a “Yes, please” upsell

Here’s what I want you to do this week:

Look at your best-selling product or service.
What are people already loving? What’s consistently delivering results?
Ask yourself:
“If my absolute best customer bought this, what’s the next thing they’d need to succeed faster or easier?”Create a simple offer.
Nothing massive, just something that supports the main offer. Think templates, guides, bonus calls, VIP upgrades, or pre-built tools.
Test it on your next sale.
Don’t overthink it. Mention it during the checkout process, in your confirmation email, or even in a follow-up message.
That’s it.

This one habit, repeated consistently, can make a meaningful difference in your bottom line without you having to hustle harder.

What not to do

Don’t tack on something random just to pad your offer. If it doesn’t feel like a natural fit or doesn’t improve the customer’s outcome, skip it.

This isn’t about selling more.
It’s about serving better, which just so happens to lead to greater profit.

Need backup? Here’s where to go deeper

The Pumpkin Plan – Chapter 10: On focusing on what your best clients want more of (pages 169–184)
Fix This Next – Chapter 3: Understanding the hierarchy of sales needs and how upsells can serve profitably (pages 54–89)
Profit First – Chapter 6: Profitability through strategic behavior (pages 120–126)
Get Different – Chapter 6: Standing out by offering what people actually want (pages 151–174)

Final thought – Edwards Deming said it best: “Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your product or service, and that bring friends with them.”

A thoughtful upsell does all three.

You serve more deeply. They get better results. And everyone wins.

Here’s to smarter offers, more profit, and less grind.
Keep going! You’ve got this!

 – Mike

The post The Right Way To Boost Profit appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

The Underrated Power of a Small, Smart Upsell

Let’s talk about one of the simplest, fastest ways to boost your profit without raising your prices, chasing more customers, or burning out trying to sell harder:

A smart, value-packed upsell.

No sleazy tactics. No “but wait, there’s more!” infomercial energy. Just one useful thing your best customers will genuinely want offered at the right moment.

Let’s break it down.

What upselling really means

Most people hear “upsell” and immediately think of someone trying to push a premium version, extra warranty, or unnecessary bundle. And sure, those exist. But that’s not what we’re doing here.

A strategic upsell is not about squeezing more money from your customers. It’s about deepening the value you provide to people who already trust you.

Think of it like this:  If someone’s already buying from you, they’ve raised their hand and said, “I like what you’re doing.” Offering them something that enhances that experience isn’t annoying; it’s helpful. It’s a service.

The key is to keep it:

Relevant (it complements what they already bought)
Valuable (it genuinely improves their outcome)
Effortless (it feels like a natural “yes”)

A real-world example

Let’s say you sell a course on how to launch a podcast.

Instead of just offering the course and walking away, what if you included an option to add on a professionally designed podcast cover or a 30-minute launch strategy session?

These are low-lift for you (especially if you systemize or outsource them), but high-impact for your buyer. It helps them get results faster, with less friction. Win-win.

The best upsells feel like this:

“Oh wow, that’s exactly what I was going to need next anyway.”

The profit behind the psychology

Here’s why this matters: Your existing customers are your most profitable customers.

You don’t need to spend on advertising to get them. You don’t need to earn their trust from scratch. They already know you, like you, and see the value you provide.

A well-timed, well-designed upsell:

Increases your average transaction value
Deepens customer loyaltyMakes your business more efficient (serving more revenue with fewer customers)

And here’s the bonus: It can be done with zero pressure. It’s an invitation, not a pitch.

How to create a “Yes, please” upsell

Here’s what I want you to do this week:

Look at your best-selling product or service.
What are people already loving? What’s consistently delivering results?
Ask yourself:
“If my absolute best customer bought this, what’s the next thing they’d need to succeed faster or easier?”Create a simple offer.
Nothing massive, just something that supports the main offer. Think templates, guides, bonus calls, VIP upgrades, or pre-built tools.
Test it on your next sale.
Don’t overthink it. Mention it during the checkout process, in your confirmation email, or even in a follow-up message.
That’s it.

This one habit, repeated consistently, can make a meaningful difference in your bottom line without you having to hustle harder.

What not to do

Don’t tack on something random just to pad your offer. If it doesn’t feel like a natural fit or doesn’t improve the customer’s outcome, skip it.

This isn’t about selling more.
It’s about serving better, which just so happens to lead to greater profit.

Need backup? Here’s where to go deeper

The Pumpkin Plan – Chapter 10: On focusing on what your best clients want more of (pages 169–184)
Fix This Next – Chapter 3: Understanding the hierarchy of sales needs and how upsells can serve profitably (pages 54–89)
Profit First – Chapter 6: Profitability through strategic behavior (pages 120–126)
Get Different – Chapter 6: Standing out by offering what people actually want (pages 151–174)

Final thought – Edwards Deming said it best: “Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your product or service, and that bring friends with them.”

A thoughtful upsell does all three.

You serve more deeply. They get better results. And everyone wins.

Here’s to smarter offers, more profit, and less grind.
Keep going! You’ve got this!

 – Mike

The post The Underrated Power of a Small, Smart Upsell appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.

You’ll Earn $2 Million. Now What?

The average U.S. salary is around $50,000. And over a 40-year working career, that adds up to about $2 million.

Let that sink in for a second.

Two million dollars. That’s what flows through the hands of the “average” person over their lifetime.

So if that’s true, why do so many people feel broke?

Why do smart, hardworking people still struggle to get ahead, even when they’re doing everything “right”?

The answer isn’t how much you make.
It’s what happens after the money hits your account.

The Perspective: You don’t need to be rich to start acting like it

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll start managing my money better when I make more of it,” you’re not alone.

More money doesn’t fix bad money habits. It just makes them more expensive.

The key to building financial independence isn’t earning more (though yes, that helps). It’s building tiny, repeatable habits that give every dollar a job. Even if you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck right now, you can start creating space between stress and survival.

You don’t need six figures to have a financial structure. You don’t need to feel wealthy to build wealth.

You just need to move a small percentage of your income into separate bank accounts, each with a clear purpose, so you know what your money is actually doing.

And no, we’re not talking about cutting out every coffee or selling your car. We’re talking about small shifts that add up.

The Action: Create a “DREAMS” account and move 1% Into It

Today’s action step isn’t going to change your whole financial life overnight, but it’s the beginning of something that can.

Set up one new bank account. Call it “DREAMS.”
Then, take just 1% of your next paycheck and move it into that account.

That’s it.

If you make $600/week, that’s $6.If you make $1,200 every two weeks, that’s $12.
Even if it’s just $3, move it.

It might not feel like much. But it’s a crack in the dam.
You’ve just created a space that’s not for bills, not for survival, not for guilt. It’s for you.

This is your space to save toward something meaningful. A trip. A class. A debt-free holiday. Something that reminds you why money matters in the first place.

It’s not about how much. It’s about starting.

But Mike, what if I cannot afford to save anything right now?

A totally fair question. If you’re living check to check, 1% might feel like a luxury.

But here’s what I’ve seen, again and again: even in the tightest budgets, a little separation changes everything.

Try this:
Instead of thinking of the DREAMS account as “extra,” think of it as non-urgent survival. Because the truth is, living in constant crisis mode isn’t survival. It’s burnout.

You’re sending a signal: “I’m not giving all of myself away anymore.”

Why this works (even when it feels too small)

Here’s what 1% does:

It gets you in the habit of saving without pain
It gives you your first taste of breathing room
It builds a muscle that’s 100% under your control

You don’t need to earn more, do more, or deprive yourself to start.

The Big Picture: Lifetime Wealth Built from Small Moves

Let’s go back to that $2 million lifetime earnings stat.

If you had a system that saved and allocated even 5–10% of that money with intention, without stress, you’d be sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings over time.

And that starts with doing the un-sexy, un-shiny thing: Opening a second account. Naming it. Moving $5 into it.

Not someday. Today.

Final Thought: You Don’t Need to Be Rich to Build Security

You are not behind.
You are not too late.
And you do not need a six-figure salary to start winning with money.

What you do need is structure. Separation. A plan that works even when money is tight. A system that honors your goals and gives you a break from the constant grind.

This week, create that system one step at a time.

Open your DREAMS account.
Move 1% in.
Set it to repeat.

That’s the habit. That’s the win. That’s how you take your power back.

– Mike

PS – Your business hinges on how your personal finances are going. Get on The Money Habit list here to get weekly insight on personal financial management.

 

The post You’ll Earn $2 Million. Now What? appeared first on Mike Michalowicz.