Zero Hour: Radical Audit

THE BRUTAL REALITY: EGO IS A LUXURY YOU CAN'T AFFORD

Most founders watch their company die because they are too proud to admit they are failing. They hide the truth from the team, the bank, and themselves.

The Conflict: Your ego wants to "save face." The market only cares about solvency.

The Truth: Survival begins the second you stop lying. You must look at the wreckage with the cold eyes of an undertaker.

The Fix: A Radical Audit. No "optimism." Only cold, hard numbers.

1. THE LIQUIDITY REALITY

"Profit" is a theoretical hallucination on a spreadsheet. "Cash" is what is in the bank today. Calculate your "True Runway"—exactly how many days until you hit $0. If the number is less than 90, you are in a War Zone.

2. THE LEAK DETECTION

Find where the capital is bleeding. Is it a zombie product? A bloated sales team? Excessive office space? Identify the "Bleed" and prepare to cut it out with a butcher's knife.

SMART WORDS

SOLVENCY

The "Life Support." The ability to pay your bills today without begging for a miracle.

CASH RUNWAY

The "Fuse." The exact number of days before your bank account hits zero and the game is over.

ZOMBIE PROJECT

The "Vampire." A product that drinks cash but provides zero profit or strategic leverage.

TACTICAL DIRECTIVES

1. The Bank Check: Calculate your exact bank balance and daily burn rate right now.

2. The Rank: List your top 10 expenses. Rank them by "Survival Value." If it doesn't keep the lights on, it's a target.

3. Kill the Waste: Cancel one subscription or service that isn't essential for today's survival.