Podcast Spotlight: Michelle Scribner on The Unforgiving Yourself Show
Helping Entrepreneurs Turn Financial Stress Into Strategic Growth
Listen to the full episode here:
Michelle Scribner, founder of Sum of All Numbers, joins The Unforgiving Yourself Show to share how she helps business owners achieve financial peace by connecting daily business challenges to their financial reality. Through strategic advisory and full-charge bookkeeping, Michelle guides entrepreneurs to solve cash flow issues, uncover the root causes of financial stress, and take actionable steps toward stability and growth.
From bookkeeping to strategic advisory
In 2017, Michelle recognized a shift on the horizon: AI would automate transactional bookkeeping. She made a bold move. She transitioned her team’s focus from simple bookkeeping to strategic advisory and high level strategic bookkeeping. This pivot transformed the business. Clients who embraced this approach were prepared for challenges like COVID, able to focus on solutions rather than scrambling over numbers.
Solving the real problem first
Michelle’s philosophy is simple: address the urgent problem before layering on long-term systems. Most clients face cash flow challenges, but the causes vary. Sometimes it’s timing and client delays. Others it’s double spending. Her approach:
Solve the immediate fire
Systematize the solution
Automate or outsource where possible
Create processes that prevent recurrence
This method frees business owners to focus on work they love rather than chasing invoices or worrying at 2 a.m.
Planning for the long game
Michelle helps clients think beyond a big exit. Instead of chasing a multi-million-dollar sale, she focuses on building a business that:
Operates successfully without the owner’s constant presence
Has 10+ years of financial statements proving the model works
Contains clear, scalable processes
Generates income while allowing the owner to step back
Flexibility is key. Michelle shared a story of a Texas businessman who pivoted his succession plan when circumstances changed. Ultimately selling the business successfully thanks to adaptable systems and strategic guidance.
The human side of numbers
Michelle doesn’t just provide financial insight. She provides emotional support. Business ownership can feel lonely. She helps clients face tough decisions, like letting go of employees or ending unprofitable projects, while creating mental space for creativity and growth.
Evidence + intuition
Michelle balances entrepreneurial gut instinct with hard data. Through rolling 12-month forecasts instead of static budgets, she gives clients guardrails while keeping them agile. Her approach turns financial statements from intimidating documents into neutral tools that tell a story. A story that business owners can actively shape.
Key takeaways from the episode
Face your numbers with confidence. They tell a story, not a judgment
Solve urgent problems first, then systematize
Not everyone will follow your vision and that’s okay
Combine evidence with intuition for smarter decisions
Use deadlines to remove emotion from tough choices
Remove what keeps you up at night to free creative energy
Rolling forecasts beat static budgets
Trusted advisors make challenging decisions less isolating
Michelle’s journey—from pivoting her business model to building a team aligned with her mission—offers actionable strategies and reassurance for entrepreneurs seeking both financial clarity and freedom.
Listen to the Full Episode
Ready to transform how you see your numbers? Hear the complete conversation with Michelle Scribner on The Unforgiving Yourself Show, where hosts Mark and Katie dive deep into the real stories behind entrepreneurial success with vulnerability, humor, and actionable insights.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here: