If You Had to Buy Your Own Business Today—Would You?

At 6 AM this morning, whether you realized it or not, you made an investment decision. It may have been $50,000 or $100,000 or maybe even $1,000,000.

You didn't write a check. You didn't call your broker. You just got out of bed and showed up to your business.

Your time, your focus, your best thinking hours—all flowing into this one asset. But here's the question most cabinet business owners dodge:

If someone handed you the cash value of what you're about to invest today, would you buy stock in your own company?

Most wouldn't.

And that's exactly why they're stuck running expensive hobbies instead of building wealth.

The Truth You Have Been Avoiding

Your business should be the best investment you know about. If it's not, you only have two choices:

• Fix it until it is

• Find a better place for your money

There's no honorable third option called "grinding it out."

The Five Stages (And Where You're Actually Stuck)

Stage 1: The Craftsperson - You ARE the product. Revenue stops when you stop. You've built yourself the world's most expensive job.

Stage 2: The Supervisor - You hire people to do the work while you watch them do the work. Congratulations—you're now paying for the privilege of being stressed.

Stage 3: The Business Owner - You step back from daily operations. You build systems, processes, culture. Finally, something that could run without you.

Stage 4: The Growth Engineer - You crack the code: business is just applied psychology at scale. You understand customer lifetime value, acquisition costs, retention systems. You're printing money.

Stage 5: The Portfolio Builder - Every dollar goes through one filter: "What's my ROI on this?" You're not running a business anymore. You're running an investment thesis.

Most entrepreneurs get stuck at Stage 2. They mistake motion for progress, hours for value, being needed for being successful.

The Warren Buffett Test

Imagine Warren Buffett walked into your business tomorrow morning. Would he see:

• A money-printing machine that compounds value predictably?

• A lifestyle business that pays you well to show up?

• An expensive hobby that consumes more than it creates?

Buffett only invests in Category 1. Your money should too.

The Real Investment Decision

Here's what separates entrepreneurs from business owners:

Entrepreneurs ask: "How hard am I willing to work? "Investors ask: "What return am I getting on this capital?"

Your time is capital. Your attention is capital. Your stress capacity is capital.

The question isn't whether you're working hard enough. The question is whether your capital is working hard enough.

The Morning Mirror

So tomorrow at 6 AM, before you dive back in, ask yourself:

If I could liquidate my time and energy investment in this business right now, would I choose to buy it again at today's price?

If yes—you're building wealth. If no—you're building a trap.

The market doesn't care how many hours you put in. It only cares about the value that comes out.

Make sure yours is worth the investment.

Cabinetry is your craft. Wealth-building is your choice. Stop investing blindly—start building a business that pays you back.

David W Baker

The Business of Cabinetry

Ready to turn your passion into a thriving business?

At The Business of Cabinetry, we understand that exceptional craftsmanship doesn’t always translate to business success. Many talented cabinetmakers struggle with the business side of their craft—like marketing, nurturing leads, and building a professional brand. We are here to bridge the gap between your skill and proven business strategy.

If you're ready to stop struggling and start building a business as strong as the pieces you craft, here’s how to get started:

1. Get personalized help. The best way to accelerate your growth is to have a guide. If you’re ready to dive deep and transform your business, consider joining The Business of Cabinetry.

2. Learn the system. Want a proven roadmap to profitability? Grab a copy of The Profit System. It will show you exactly how to build a business that works for you, not the other way around.

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