OPERATING FROM A POSITION OF ABUNDANCE I think I have a bit of a bias when it comes to people who use those small camp gas cylinders. Wait, wait! Before you come for me, let me explain myself. Yesterday, on my way to work, I noticed this lady walking to refill her small gas cylinder. I sighed deeply because just last Sunday, on my way to church, I saw the exact same woman heading out to refill that same little cylinder. Every Eke market day, this woman is out there refilling gas. She could ‘easily’ invest in a 12kg cylinder that would serve her for an entire month, maybe two or three depending on usage. Instead, she ‘chooses’ to purchase gas every other week, spending more money over time and creating unnecessary stress for herself. And honestly, most of us operate exactly the same way. We've convinced ourselves that buying small quantities frequently is somehow smarter than investing in bulk purchases. We think we're being financially wise by spending less in the moment, not realizing we're actually spending significantly more over time while creating constant financial pressure for ourselves. As a Business Structure Professional, what really concerns me is the fact that we carry this exact same mindset into our businesses. I see it every now and then as we engage with business owners to restructure their businesses. In many cases, a company's operational culture directly mirrors the CEO's personal habits and mindset. Every day, you’re buying 2k worth of electricity units. Right in the middle of an important training session or client meeting, the power cuts out because you didn't plan ahead. You're always purchasing single packs of water, so when a potential client visits your office, you scramble to find drinking water, and sometimes there's not even money available at that moment to quickly grab some, leaving you feeling frantic and unprofessional. You're perpetually buying single rolls of tissue paper, so when a visitor uses your restroom, they're met with empty dispensers. The same pattern repeats with printer paper, cleaning supplies, office snacks, internet data bundles, all the small operational necessities that keep a business running smoothly. Think about this for a moment: What creates daily financial stress in our lives? It's rarely the big, one-time expenses. Your rent is paid once and then you can focus on comfortably saving for the next payment. Your school fees are handled in bulk. But it's those constant small purchases, the daily necessities, that keep us financially anxious and reactive. What if you approached your consumables the same way you handle rent? What if you bought non-perishable items in quantities that would last at least six months? Imagine the mental freedom of knowing that when unexpected situations arise, you're dealing with genuine emergencies or personal choices, not basic survival needs. You'd have the bandwidth to think strategically instead of constantly firefighting. The same principle applies to your business operations, and this is where it gets really interesting. A huge component of running a profitable business is not only revenue generation, but also keeping what comes in and maximising it efficiently. I've seen countless business owners generating impressive income, but daily operational expenses are slowly strangling their profitability. They're making money, but they can't seem to hold onto it. If you’re caught in this web, you can try this practical exercise: Create a comprehensive list of everything that regularly drains money from your business; daily utilities, weekly supplies, monthly subscriptions, routine maintenance, office supplies, refreshments, transportation costs, communication expenses. Really think through every recurring cost, no matter how small. Now ask yourself: Which of these items could I purchase in bulk to last several months? With proper inventory management and storage, you could run your business operations smoothly without constantly gasping for financial air. You'd eliminate the stress of wondering whether you have enough petty cash for basic needs, and you'd free up mental energy to focus on growth instead of survival. More importantly, you’ll have money in the business for investment activities. The goal isn't to tie up all your capital in inventory, but to strategically invest in the consumables that keep your business functioning, so you can operate from a place of abundance rather than scarcity. With Love,