EPISODE 29| 1.29.2026

It Wasn't the Market With Michelle Mitchell

.The episode dives deep into financial patterns that signal trouble, from mispricing services to overspending on "tax deductions" that sabotage long-term business health. Mitchell shares how she guides clients through custom solutions rather than cookie-cutter advice, emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions: 
● What does it cost to bring in each dollar? ● Are you generating enough margin to operate, pay yourself, set aside taxes, and retain profit? 
She challenges listeners to reflect on where they are today versus where they want to be, and critically, who they need to become to bridge that gap. With 15 years of experience navigating these waters herself, Mitchell offers a roadmap to shortening the learning curve—but only for those ready to do the work.

Key Takeaways● Stop discounting your way to customers – If you're constantly lowering prices, you're talking to the wrong audience, not pricing incorrectly● Recognize the revenue vs. profit trap – Making money doesn't mean keeping money; understand your true margins● Target audience misalignment kills businesses – Your corporate model may not work for your entrepreneurial audience● Growth requires discomfort – Opportunities don't happen inside your comfort zone● Know who you need to become – Success isn't just about where you want to go, but who you need to become to get there
Sound Bites● "Sometimes you don't need to generate more customers. You need to stop spending some of the money that you're spending on things that aren't going anywhere." – Sean M Atkinson● "As long as your hand is open, you're open to receive. It is never tied, but if you have that hand clenched closed, opportunities won't come past you because your hand is not open." – Michelle Mitchell● "You never need to lower the price. Go get a new potential customer. Because that one is not buying what you have to offer." – Michelle Mitchell● "Did you actually make a sale or did you create a headache for yourself?" – Michelle Mitchell● "I make $100,000—is that enough to run a business? No. You can't hire expertise on your team if you're making top line $100,000." – Michelle Mitchell● "Your business can help you get to retirement. But if I don't know that, how am I going to help you? And that is not a bookkeeper's job, but that is what we do." – Michelle Mitchell
Projects:3 Simple Financial HabitsMitchell Consulting YouTube Channel
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📌 Timestamps:00:00 — Introduction to the episode
02:10 — Patterns that keep people stuck
06:50 — How the status quo creates risk
10:15 — The three entrepreneurial pathways
13:30 — Why growth requires discomfort
20:00 — What happens when you target the wrong audience
24:30 — Mispricing your services and its real cost
30:00 — How overspending hides profit gaps
36:00 — Revenue vs. profit explained
40:45 — Understanding true business margins
45:50 — Why trusted advice matters
50:15 — Spotting blind spots before they become breakdowns
56:00 — Are you ready for help or asking the wrong questions?
1:00:10 — What guidance should actually look like
1:12:00 — The final takeaway that changes everything

Michelle Mitchell

Michelle Mitchell: The CFO With a Mission, a Mic, and a Whole Lot of SparkleMichelle Mitchell isn’t just a financial strategist — she’s the truth-teller and confidence-igniter that ambitious women didn’t know they needed. As the founder of Mitchell Consulting, she’s spent over 15 years helping powerhouse service providers get real about their finances, scale with intention, and finally break free from the bottlenecks holding their business (and theirpeace) hostage. 
But here’s what sets Michelle apart: she doesn’t sugarcoat. She gets to the heart of what’s really driving your decisions — your beliefs, your fears, your default money patterns — and then helps you rewrite the script so you can lead with power and purpose.
She’s walked the talk, evolving from an overworked “laptop mom” to a liberated CEO who built a business that runs without her — and now she’s coaching others to do the same. Whether she’s guiding a CEO through her first million-dollar year or helping a service provider make her firstconfident hire, Michelle brings strategy, soul, and just the right amount of sparkle to every conversation.
Because that sparkle? It’s not fluff — it’s fuel.Fuel for clarity. Fuel for confidence. Fuel for building a business that actually feels good to run.
Website: Mitchell Consulting Services