Cash isn’t just a by-product of profit, it’s the lifeblood of every business. Yet many leaders chase revenue and focus on profit while overlooking the numbers that truly matter. Alan Miltz explains why understanding cash flow is the key to building stronger, more valuable companies. 

Alan is the co-founder of Cashflow Story, software used by tens of thousands of businesses in more than 90 countries, and he sits on 15 company boards. With more than 30 years’ experience helping CEOs and boards “speak the language of cash,” he’s become a global authority on turning numbers into strategy. 

Alan reveals how small shifts in pricing, margins, and working capital can dramatically transform results. 

Takeaways  
Small 1% changes in pricing, margins, or working capital can transform results. 
Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, but cash is always king. 
Most CEOs only master profit, yet fail to understand their cash story. 
Growth often drains cash faster than it generates profit, leaving businesses vulnerable. 
Sustainable growth requires balancing profit, working capital, overheads, and cash flow management. 
Banks value cash flow more than profit – understanding this strengthens business partnerships. 
A better business predicts, delegates, and repeats simple cash-driven improvements consistently over time. 

Follow Alan Miltz 
https://www.alanmiltz.com/
https://cashflowstory.com/ 

Books on this episode 
Scaling Up co-authored by Alan Miltz https://scalingup.com/book/
Good to Great by Jim Collins https://scalingup.com/book/ 

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners 

Newsletter – each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/ 

Books – Learn more about our books https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/
Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO 
Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process. 
Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster. 

Follow me: 
on https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles
on https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth 

Enjoying the show? Leave a review 

Cash isn&rsquo;t just a by-product of profit, it&rsquo;s the lifeblood of every business. Yet many leaders chase revenue and focus on profit while overlooking the numbers that truly matter. Alan Miltz explains why understanding cash flow is the key to building stronger, more valuable companies.&nbsp;
Alan is the co-founder of Cashflow Story, software used by tens of thousands of businesses in more than 90 countries, and he sits on 15 company boards. With more than 30 years&rsquo; experience helping CEOs and boards &ldquo;speak the language of cash,&rdquo; he&rsquo;s become a global authority on turning numbers into strategy.&nbsp;
Alan reveals how small shifts in pricing, margins, and working capital can dramatically transform results.&nbsp;
Takeaways &nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Small 1% changes in pricing, margins, or working capital can transform results.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, but cash is always king.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Most CEOs only master profit, yet fail to understand their cash story.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Growth often drains cash faster than it generates profit, leaving businesses vulnerable.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Sustainable growth requires balancing profit, working capital, overheads, and cash flow management.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Banks value cash flow more than profit &ndash; understanding this strengthens business partnerships.&nbsp;</li>
<li>A better business predicts, delegates, and repeats simple cash-driven improvements consistently over time.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Follow Alan Miltz <a href="https://www.alanmiltz.com/">https://www.alanmiltz.com/</a> <a href="https://cashflowstory.com/">https://cashflowstory.com/</a>&nbsp;
Books on this episode Scaling Up co-authored by Alan Miltz <a href="https://scalingup.com/book/">https://scalingup.com/book/</a> Good to Great by Jim Collins&nbsp;<a href="https://scalingup.com/book/">https://scalingup.com/book/</a>&nbsp;
Watch the episode on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners">https://www.youtube.com/@TheEvolutionPartners</a>&nbsp;
Newsletter &ndash; each week I share interesting insights, articles and ideas you can use. Join other leaders and subscribe to The Evolution Partners newsletter <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/subscribe/</a>&nbsp;
Books &ndash; Learn more about our books <a href="https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/">https://evolutionpartners.com.au/books/</a> Made to Thrive: The practical, prescriptive guide on how to be a great CEO&nbsp; Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the points where they are more effective faster. A business case for leaders on why you should commit to an effective onboarded process.&nbsp; Onboarded for Managers: Helping managers bring new hires to the point where they are more effective faster.&nbsp;
Follow me: on <a href="https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles">https://au.linkedin.com/in/bradleygiles</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth">https://twitter.com/Evolution_Perth</a>&nbsp;
Enjoying the show? Leave a review&nbsp;

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.

The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

A place for the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers.
The Evolution Partners is a weekly podcast hosted by Brad Giles. Join Brad as he engages in conversations with some of the world’s sharpest minds, learning a bit more about them and delving into what makes them tick.

The Evolution Partners

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.

We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.

Each week Brad Giles talks with the world’s leading thinkers, planners and doers who are helping to build great companies in their own way.
We learn how the work they’re doing is creating an impact and get to know a little bit more about them, and what makes them tick.