Make more $30,000 Decisions and less $30 Decisions EP#49
The $30,000 mindset shift every small business owner needs. A breakdown of why obsessing over $30 subscriptions won’t move the needle, and how focusing on $30,000 decisions (the kind that grow revenue and build assets) changes everything.
If you’ve ever caught yourself working hard but not seeing it reflected in your bank account, this one’s for you.
Listen to Episode 49
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Why paying yourself first isn’t selfish, it’s smart business strategy.
How Profit First helps you see money clearly by splitting income into multiple accounts for people, profit, expenses, and tax.
The 25% rule: why no more than a quarter of your income should go to operating expenses (excluding wages or product).
Why reducing costs only takes you so far, and increasing revenue takes you much further.
$30 vs $30,000 decisions: how to stop overthinking small costs and start engineering big, strategic wins.
What smarter spending looks like: investing in assets that compound, like branding, training, and marketing.
The “revenue-first” mindset shift that turns stress into momentum and growth.
How to attract premium clients who value your work and pay accordingly.
Why long-term thinking (not penny-pinching) is the key to sustainable profit.
Make more $30,000 Decisions and less $30 Decisions
Money Secrets Podcast – Episode 49
Introduction
We've made a lot of progress as a society in many areas, but one thing that hasn’t changed enough is our relationship with money. If we want to tip the scales in favour of marginalised people, we need to understand the secrets to making money in small business.
The more we talk about money — especially the secrets that usually stay behind closed doors or on the golf course — the more empowered we become. My mission is to get more money into the hands of good people, specifically business owners like you.
Because I believe small business can change the world. And to do that, we need to be making more money.
Acknowledgement of Country
This episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. I’d like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on.
I pay my respects to Elders past and present, and recognise that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.
Stop Stressing About $30 Decisions (and Start Making $30,000 Ones)
Are you paying yourself from your business?
If not — you’re not alone. In this episode of Money Secrets, Fi breaks down one of the most common mistakes small business owners make: spending hours agonising over tiny expenses instead of focusing on what really grows profit — bringing in more revenue.
The Two Ways to Make More Profit
According to Fi, there are only two ways to increase profit in business:
Make more revenue.
Spend less on expenses.
Simple, right? But here’s the thing — most small business owners spend far too much time on the second one.
Fi reminds us that cutting costs has limited impact. Your operating expenses should ideally sit around 25% of your income (excluding wages and product costs). Once you’ve optimised that, the real opportunity lies in increasing what comes in, not shrinking what goes out.
Your Time Is Worth More Than $30
If you’ve ever spent hours comparing software subscriptions or deciding between annual and monthly payments, Fi’s got a gentle truth bomb for you:
“In the time you’ve spent overthinking a $30 decision, you could have made a $30,000 one.”
Instead of fixating on saving a few dollars, Fi encourages small business owners to spend their energy on activities that bring in real revenue — like refining offers, improving marketing, and building client relationships that convert.
The $30,000 Decision Mindset
So what does a $30,000 decision look like? It’s the kind of move that builds long-term revenue, not short-term savings:
Investing in a new brand or website that attracts premium clients.
Building an asset — like a course, product, or membership — that earns income while you sleep.
Hiring the right coach or mentor to fast-track your growth.
Increasing your prices to reflect the value you actually deliver.
When you start making these kinds of decisions, your focus shifts from scarcity to sustainability — and that’s when real profit happens.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Here’s Fi’s favourite part: you don’t need to feel guilty about spending money.
If you love investing in coaching, travel, or professional development — go for it. The secret isn’t to spend less; it’s to earn more so that you can spend freely and intentionally.
As Fi says:
“If you like spending money, awesome. The more you bring in, the more you can spend — and it actually works.”
When you shift your focus to generating revenue, not restricting expenses, business starts to feel expansive again.
Good Money Club
Are you a female or LGBTQIA+ business owner who wants to make more money and create meaningful change? My 6-month program, Good Money Club, is designed to help you do exactly that.
We work on your pricing, positioning, business model, and mindset — so you can build your bank account and your impact. Read more about Good Money Club.
Final Thoughts
If you want to pay yourself more, stop obsessing over the small stuff.
Instead, think bigger — make bold, $30,000-level decisions that expand your business instead of restricting it.
Because as Fi reminds us, you can’t cut your way to growth.
Outro
Thank you for listening to Money Secrets. If you loved this episode, please subscribe, share it with a friend, or leave a review. Your support helps us get these conversations into the hands of more good people who deserve to thrive in business.
We’ve come so far as a society in many ways, but money is one of the areas where progress hasn’t been enough. If we want to tip the scales in favour of marginalised people, it starts with understanding the secret: money in small business.
In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fiona (Fi) Johnston—Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast—dives into the conversations we need to have about money. The secrets that once stayed behind closed doors (or on the golf course) are finally out in the open.
Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses have the power to change the world, and the key to making a bigger impact is to make—and manage—more money.
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Thank you to everyone involved for bringing this podcast together. We are excited to hear from you with any questions, feedback or suggestions for future episodes that you might have. Send a Direct Message to @peach.business
If you are excited for what’s to come, please like this episode, follow the podcast and share it with your friends. We are thrilled you're here.
Want to find out more about Good Money Club? It's for female and non-binary business owners ready to make more money and impact. Join us?
Check out my FREE Pricing Training you need to set your prices for profitability.
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This podcast episode was recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation and I'd like to acknowledge them as the Traditional Owners and custodians of this land and water that I live, work and play on. I'd like to pay respect to elders both past and present, and note that sovereignty has never been ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.
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