Stop the Leaks: The CFO Strategy That Scales Profit and Time Freedom
Creating
Powerful
Impact
Podcast
with Shay
Wheat
The show where we look behind the scenes of why and how leaders are making an impact and how you can too.
If your business is growing but your bank account isn’t — this episode will change the way you look at profit.
Founder, CFO, and strategist Michael Barbarita joins Shay to reveal how small, intentional financial shifts can transform chaos into clarity and scale your business without adding more hours.
Michael grew a company from $2.5M to $8M by fixing what most founders ignore — hidden revenue leaks, outdated pricing, and cash flow blind spots. Now, through his company Next Step CFO, he helps entrepreneurs forecast cash flow, protect profits, and reclaim their time freedom.
Together, Shay and Michael unpack what it really takes to build a financially resilient business and why “Profit First” alone isn’t enough in 2025.
Connect with Michael:
Website: NextStepCFO.net
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaelbarbarita
Facebook: facebook.com/nextstepcfo
“Every business has leaks. The question is whether you’re tracking where they’re coming from.”
Michael Barbarita
What You’ll Learn
• How to identify and plug the top profit leaks hiding in your business
• A simple “Conversion Formula” to forecast cash flow with confidence
• How to use the 80/20 rule to free time, raise profit, and focus ops
• Why “Profit First” alone isn’t enough in 2025—and what to add
• The link between messaging, positioning, and financial performance
• How virtual events lift authority, qualify buyers, and stabilize revenue
• Practical moves to build resilience in uncertain markets
Key Moments in This Episode:
00:30 — Michael’s turning point
The moment he realized more effort wasn’t the answer — and how clarity changed everything.
04:15 — Applying the 80/20 rule
Michael explains how focusing on the most profitable areas doubled results without adding hours.
08:40 — Finding hidden profit leaks
The surprising areas where most business owners lose money — and how to stop the bleeding.
12:10 — Why “Profit First” isn’t enough
Michael shares why this popular method only works when paired with forecasting and focus.
16:25 — Introducing the Conversion Formula
A simple yet powerful model that predicts cash flow and helps business owners scale with confidence.
20:10 — Messaging meets metrics
Why your message can be a financial multiplier — and how clarity drives both authority and revenue.
Download the Free Decision Threshold Blueprint
About Michael Barbarita
Michael J. Barbarita Jr. is an entrepreneur, CFO, and award-winning speaker with over 40 years of success across retail, manufacturing, and service industries. He grew Ski Town USA from $2.5M to $8M in five years before founding Next Step CFO in 2007. Today, Michael helps business owners implement financial strategies that increase profit, improve cash flow, and create true time freedom.
Clarity beats complexity every time. Once you see the numbers clearly, everything else falls into place.”
-Michael Barbarita
From Shay Wheat
Initial Event Planning Playbook – EventFreeGift.com
Decision Threshold Blueprint – graceandeaseproductions.com/threshold
Think you’d be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.
Want to learn more about Shay and her work?
Check out Grace and Ease Productions at https://graceandeaseproductions.com/