"I'm just not a numbers person."

I hear this phrase at least three times a week from brilliant entrepreneurs who've built incredible businesses from their creativity and passion. They say it with a shrug, like it's just a fact about themselves—like having brown eyes or being left-handed.

But here's what I've discovered after working with hundreds of creative business owners: this isn't actually about your ability with numbers. It's about a story you've been telling yourself that's quietly sabotaging your success.

The Story Behind the Story

Let me guess how this started. Maybe it was a math teacher in middle school who made you feel stupid for asking questions. Or a parent who said you were "the creative one" while your sibling was "the math kid." Maybe you struggled with calculus in college and decided that meant you weren't "good with numbers." Guess what, I definitely identify as a "numbers person" but almost failed calculus.

Sound familiar? 💜

News Flash: being a business owner requires exactly zero advanced mathematics. You don't need to solve complex equations or remember calculus formulas. You need to understand patterns, make comparisons, and recognize trends—things you already do every single day.

When you say "I'm not a numbers person," what you're really saying is "I don't feel confident interpreting financial information." And that's completely different from not being capable of it.

How This Story Is Costing You Money

This seemingly innocent phrase is actually creating real barriers in your business:

You Avoid Important Financial Decisions

When you believe you're "not good with numbers," you postpone pricing reviews, delay investment decisions, and avoid analyzing what's actually profitable in your business. This avoidance can cost you thousands of dollars in missed opportunities.

You Outsource Your Power

Instead of learning to read your financial statements, you hand over all financial insight to others. While having support is crucial, you still need to understand your numbers well enough to make informed decisions about your own business. Only YOU know what's best, that's YOUR power move.

You Miss Growth Opportunities

Some of the best business decisions come from spotting patterns in your data. Which services are most profitable? What time of year do you need to plan for cash flow dips? When you avoid your numbers, you miss these insights.

You Create Financial Anxiety

Ironically, avoiding numbers because they make you uncomfortable actually creates more anxiety. When you understand your financial position, you feel more in control and less stressed about money.

Breaking the "Not a Numbers Person" Cycle

Ready to rewrite this story? Here's how to shift from numbers avoidance to financial confidence:

Step 1: Reframe Your Relationship with Numbers

Instead of "I'm not a numbers person," try:

• "I'm learning to understand my business numbers"
• "I can interpret financial information that matters to my business"
• "Numbers are just another language I can learn"

The words you use matter more than you think. Start speaking about numbers like a skill you're developing, not a limitation you have.

Step 2: Start with What You Already Know

You're already working with numbers every day! You:

• Track your monthly revenue
• Know your pricing for different services
• Monitor your business expenses
• Calculate project timelines and resources

See? You ARE a numbers person. You just need to apply this same logical thinking to your financial reports.

Step 3: Focus on the Story, Not the Math

Financial statements aren't math problems—they're stories about your business. Instead of getting overwhelmed by the numbers themselves, ask:

• What is this telling me about my business?
• Where do I see growth or decline?
• What patterns do I notice month to month?

Step 4: Learn One Thing at a Time

You don't need to understand everything at once. Pick one financial concept to focus on each month:

• Month 1: Understand your profit and loss statement
• Month 2: Learn to read your cash flow
• Month 3: Analyze your pricing profitability

Small, consistent steps build real confidence over time.

Step 5: Connect Numbers to Your Goals

Make your numbers meaningful by connecting them to what you care about:

• "This profit margin means I can afford to hire an assistant"
• "This cash flow pattern shows I need to save more in busy months"
• "This expense analysis reveals I'm spending too much on tools I don't use"

When numbers connect to your dreams and goals, they become much more interesting.

Try This: Your Numbers Confidence Challenge

Ready to start changing your story? Here's a simple exercise to try this week:

1. Name one financial goal you have for your business (hiring help, taking a vacation, purchasing assets)
2. Identify the numbers that would help you reach that goal (monthly profit, cash reserves, cost per client)
3. Find those numbers in your current financial reports or tracking systems
4. Write one sentence about what those numbers tell you about reaching your goal
5. Celebrate that you just did financial analysis (because that's exactly what you did!)

The Transformation Waiting for You

I've watched so many creative entrepreneurs completely transform their relationship with money once they stopped believing they weren't "numbers people."

They start making pricing decisions with confidence. They spot opportunities to increase profitability. They plan for growth instead of just hoping for it. Most importantly, they stop feeling anxious about money because they understand what's happening in their business.

One client recently told me: "I used to avoid looking at my financial reports for weeks. Now I actually get excited about our monthly review because I understand what the numbers are telling me about our growth."

That's the power of changing your story.

You're Already Smarter Than You Think

Here's what I want you to remember: You built a business from an idea. You've navigated challenges, solved problems, and created value for your clients. You've learned new skills, adapted to changes, and grown as an entrepreneur.

If you can do all of that, you can absolutely learn to work with numbers in a way that feels natural to you.

The phrase "I'm not a numbers person" isn't protecting you—it's limiting you. And you're far too talented and capable to let a limiting belief hold your business back.