Who or what is your inspiration in business?

I am inspired by anyone who builds a business that survives the first year. Most people talk about big dreams but fail at the basics like cash flow and customer service. I look up to ALL founders who are obsessed with the mechanics of their industry. My inspiration is the reality of a successful balance sheet. It takes more than a good idea to stay in business; it takes a relentless focus on the numbers and the discipline to ignore the noise.

How do you stay motivated?

Motivation is a lie told by people who do not want to work. I stay on track by having a clear schedule and measurable targets. DISCIPLINE. I do not care if I feel like working; I care about whether the work gets done. My motivation is the progress I see in my bank account and the quality of the products I build. I also enjoy the competitive nature of business. Knowing that someone else is trying to outwork me is all the reason I need to keep going.

What would you do with the $25,000?

$25,000 is a lot of money, but not if you spend it poorly. I would put $15,000 into infrastructure and marketing to scale my operations. $5,000 would be held for legal and tax preparation to avoid future headaches. The final $5,000 would be put into assets that provide liquidity. I would not buy a new car or clothes. I would treat this money like fuel for an engine. If it does not make the engine go faster or run longer, I am not spending it.