I lost $500,000 of investor money.

Got kicked out of a company.

But my lowest point?

When I realized I didn't know my Vital 5 numbers.

Most business owners can't tell you their current sales, gross profit, gross profit percentage, net profit, or cash balance without looking them up.

It's like driving with a blindfold.

Here's the brutal truth: If you don't know these numbers by heart, you're gambling with your business future.

I meet with clients daily who are shocked when I ask them about their profit margins. They stumble, give vague answers, or confess they don't know.

These aren't struggling businesses. Some do millions in revenue.

The problem? They focus on the wrong metrics—vanity numbers that don't impact bottom line growth.

One manufacturing client called me in panic mode—they'd run out of cash despite "record sales."

Why? They never tracked their gross profit percentage, which had quietly eroded from 42% to 28% over six months due to rising material costs.

By the time they noticed, they'd burned through their reserves.

Don't wait for a crisis.

The five numbers that should burn in your memory:

• Total Sales (what you're bringing in)
• Gross Profit (sales minus direct costs)
• Gross Profit Percentage (margin on each dollar)
• Net Profit (what you actually keep)
• Current Cash Balance (your business oxygen)

Know these cold. Update them weekly—daily during tough times.

Because in business, surprises are rarely positive.

And financial blindspots? They're always expensive.