6-month financial runway: build it for 2026 now

This week, I want to walk you through something that stops more would-be founders than market competition, pricing, or fear of failure:

The fear of running out of money.

When I re-connected with Adam last week, he wasn’t stuck because he lacked skills or ideas.

He was stuck because he couldn’t see the path from “employee” to “founder” without financial chaos.

And I get it. I’ve lived it.

When I got laid off and launched my first business out of a friend’s garage, I had no sales experience, no marketing experience, and no roadmap. The only thing that kept me moving was a lean personal runway and a commitment to knock on doors until something clicked.

And one conversation — with my dentist — changed everything. She became my second client. Paid $2,000. That sale proved this wasn’t luck.

Here’s the rhythm I teach founders today:

Months 1–3 (Prep Phase):

• List personal expenses. Cut noise, keep essentials
• Get your business expenses down to the minimum
• Build conservative sales projections
• Land 1–2 validation clients
• Learn your numbers (revenue, profit, cash flow)

Months 4–6 (Transition Phase):

• Secure 60–90 days of runway
• Start selling consistently (start with your network)
• Refine your pitch after every conversation
• Learn about funding options (in case you need a bridge)
• Maintain momentum

A runway isn’t just financial.

It’s psychological. It lets you move forward without the panic of “How do I pay rent next month?”

If 2026 is your target year to take the leap, the work begins now.

Runway builds clarity.
Clarity builds confidence.
And confidence builds action.