Most people think that if they make $10,000 in a month, they are "rich."

They see that big number hit their bank account, and they immediately want to spend it. They think they’ve won the game.

But after an extensive tenure in corporate finance and getting an MBA, I can tell you the truth: Revenue is just a vanity number.

If you make $10,000, but you spent $9,000 to make it happen, you didn't "make" ten grand. You made one grand.

If you want to be a millionaire, you have to stop looking at the big number and start looking at what’s left over. Here is how to fix your "Optimal Factor."

1. Stop using your business like an ATM

Most small business owners treat their business account like a personal piggy bank. They buy lunch, gas, and clothes directly from the business.

The Fix: Give yourself a "paycheck" just like you’re an employee. If your business makes $5,000 this month, pay yourself a set amount—let's say $3,000—and leave the rest in the business.

This keeps your business healthy and stops you from overspending just because you had a "good month."

2. Every dollar needs a job

In a big company, every dollar is tracked. In a small business, dollars usually just "disappear."

Before you spend money on a new tool, a new desk, or an ad, ask yourself: "Will this dollar bring back two more friends?"

If you spend $100 and it doesn't help you make more money or save you time, don't spend it. A dollar spent on a "toy" is a dollar that can never work for you again.

3. Move the money fast

The biggest mistake I see is people letting their profit sit still.

Money is like water; if it sits still, it gets gross. You want your money to flow into things that grow.

Every Friday, take whatever profit is left over and move it into an investment account. Don't wait until the end of the year. Do it every week. The faster you move your profit into investments, the faster you become free.

The Bottom Line

It’s not about how much you make. It’s about how much you keep.

Stop trying to look rich and start trying to be rich. We have the plan. Now let’s get to work.

Stay Optimal,

Sayeed Quadri

BSc Economics, MBA