A respected friend of mine told me that her family has found that on the months they make and follow their budget and make sacrifices, they usually have an extra $100-200 when the month ends.  She went on to tell me that on the months when they don't make a budget, they often run out of money before they run out of month.

We then talked about how people sometimes react when they find out that she and her husband both work extra jobs, drive older cars and don't take lengthy vacations.  They try to make her feel smaller for saying no and sticking to her budget.

But we concludedthat the reactions of other people have no relevance.  Why?  Because, in the end, by sticking to her plan, she's going to be much better off financially than those other people.  She's developing strong financial habits that will result in a solid bottom line.  Over time, she'll have all her debts paid, cash in her pocket and a crystal clear plan for the future.

The same holds true with your business.  You'll find that if you look at your budget each month, you'll be tuned in to what’s coming up and what you need to do to ensure that you'll cover expenses.  You'll find yourself better equipped to manage surprises because you know what your plan is and where you have flexibility.  You'll also find yourself looking longer term and thinking bigger picture as you discover the value of putting yourself through the discomfort of a temporary imbalance to arrive at a strong financial position.

So make your plan and stick to it.

It really doesn't matter what others think, particularly if the others have large debt and no real assets or money in their accounts.  What matters is that you are developing quality habits and becoming financially strong.