Do You Believe Your Money Problems Are Random? Think Again
“Things have been weird…I don't know if it's just the market or if it's me adjusting to a new sales process, but things feel a little more chaotic than they have been in terms of closing sales.”
This is what a client said to me in June of 2023, yet I remember our conversation as if it happened yesterday. Because it could have, though for a different set of reasons.
Things were a bit weird in June 2023.
The U.S. government was knee-deep in yet another debt ceiling negotiation — creating uncertainty for many businesses, especially small ones.
So, her statement and frustration were really more of a reflection of what her business (and many others) were bumping up against at that time:
A shift in demand and sales and lower revenues.
My client ran a marketing agency and “weird” played out in her business like this: clients were taking a longer time to pay her.
In 2023, my business wasn’t experiencing any unusual fluctuation in sales — nor were the businesses of most of my other clients.
That would change starting in 2024 — and the ripple effects continued into 2025.
Combine the waning post-pandemic sales boost that positively affected the bottom lines of many businesses with the tariffs and other policy initiatives of the current U.S. administration and you get a lot of uncertainty. Again.
Sure, the confluence of triggers may be different, but here’s the truth…
Some businesses and industries are affected sooner than others by things we might describe as eloquently as — “weird.”
But weird doesn’t mean random.
According to Merriam-Webster, random is defined as an adjective meaning lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern.
I’m reminding you of this definition just as much as I’m reminding myself.
Because I bet that when you have a money (or business or life) problem, your initial reaction is you’re shocked — as if the problem emerged out of nowhere.
But that is so rarely the case.
The clues are usually present.
We just don’t usually recognize them until a pattern is interrupted.
And when it comes to money, those patterns show up in some very familiar ways.
What Looks Random, But Isn’t?
Cash Flow Tightness
A cash-flow squeeze rarely appears overnight.
It often begins with small shifts: a few clients paying slower than usual, expenses creeping up, or an offer that takes longer to convert. Or — God forbid — all of them happening at once. Yikes.
Underpricing
Underpricing doesn’t suddenly become a problem.
It starts with small compromises — a discounted project here, a rushed proposal there, a hesitation to raise rates when demand increases or you want more time capacity and thus fewer clients.
Revenue Volatility
Revenue volatility is normal — it’s rare that you earn the same amount every month of the year.
The key is knowing when the fluctuation is unusual. And what makes discerning this tricky is that the variance between normal and unusual can often be subtle.
This means not just paying attention to the bottom-line sales number, but doing so through the lens of whether you’re:
relying too heavily on a small number of clients,
neglecting lead generation during busy periods, or
ignoring early signs of shifting demand.
I call this getting curious about the “why” behind the numbers — not just the numbers themselves.
Lifestyle Creep/Spending Drift
Personal money stress often creeps in quietly — not through one big purchase, but through dozens of small, unexamined decisions.
Or spending money to take care of others that could otherwise be saved or invested for yourself.
Financial Burnout
Yes, financial burnout is a real thing. And, it rarely happens suddenly.
It builds gradually — through overwork, unclear pricing, or the pressure of sustaining a lifestyle that no longer matches your priorities.
Look For The Patterns
When a money problem surfaces, it can feel sudden.
But more often than not, what feels random is actually the result of patterns that have been quietly unfolding for some time.
Patterns in how money is earned.
Patterns in how it’s priced.
Patterns in how it’s spent.
Patterns in how it’s avoided.
And once you begin to see those patterns, something interesting happens.
The focus shifts from trying to fix the numbers…
to understanding the thinking and behavior that created them — and never from a place of self-judgment or shame.
Because before you try to fix what you’ve identified as a money problem, you have to understand the context and circumstances that created it.
In other words, you have to understand the patterns, pressure, and priorities shaping the decisions you make with your money.
If you’re curious about the patterns shaping your own financial life or business, I created a free resource to help you begin seeing them more clearly.
It’s called “Go From Foggy & Confused to Clear & Confident — About Your Next Money Move.” It’s a private audio series designed to help you notice what might otherwise feel random. But isn’t!
You can start listening from any podcast platform: [click here]
And next week, we’ll take this a step further — exploring how your relationship with money shapes the way you think about it and behave with it.
About Jacquette
I love to ask questions and spark aha moments. I love to talk about why success with money is about more than just the numbers, and how the cultural impact on the intersection of money, business, and life matters–A LOT! And, I really hope I help people feel seen, heard, and not judged—especially since money is emotional and personal.
