In her thought-provoking book The Crossroads of Should and Must, author Elle Luna says “Should is how other people want us to live our lives. Must is different. Unlike Should, Must doesn’t accept compromises. To choose Must is to say yes to hard work and constant effort.”
Having served 19 years in corporate financial management followed by 20+ years of being an entrepreneur, I’ve had the unique opportunity to experience both what I Should do in the corporate world compared to what I Must do as an small business owner.
If you are a small business owner or leader, here is my finance and accounting Should vs. Must list for you to consider:
Americans read left to right. When it comes to financial management of a small business, I recommend business owners read the chart above right to left. Your goal is Should, but begin with Must.