The $100K mistake truly successful people NEVER make

The most successful people you know never seem rushed, right?

Well, in my new book, “The Solvable Problem®,” I’m breaking down exactly how they do it (and I’ll share with you how to get a free copy at the bottom of this newsletter).

It all starts with something that might hit a little close to home. But recognizing it right now, could save you 6-figures this year.

The most successful people are not sprinting to meetings. Their calendars have white space. They take vacations without checking email. And somehow, they still get more done than everyone else.

What’s their secret?

Margin.

Let me share something that changed my perspective forever:

Last summer, I watched a business owner have what she called her “airport moment.” Running through the terminal, shoes in hand, sweating through her suit - resulting in a missed flight to a $100,000 speaking opportunity that afternoon.

Why? Because she’d scheduled a client meeting that morning, thinking she’d “make it work.”

But here’s the real kicker: She didn’t just lose the speaking fee. She lost the potential clients in that room. The partnerships that could have formed. The opportunities she’ll never know about.

All because she had no margin.

Think about that word: Margin.

…it’s the white space around the text that makes reading possible.

… It’s the financial buffer that turns problems into opportunities.

… It;s the breath between meetings that keeps you sharp.

But most of us run our businesses (and our lives) like a page with no margins - text crammed edge to edge, impossible to read, impossible to navigate.  

Here’s what margin looks like in practice:

• Financial Margin:

Keep 20% of revenue uncommitted. When that dream opportunity shows up? You’re ready. When the market shifts? You’re stable.

• Time Margin:

Schedule to 70% capacity. Those “quick calls” and “small favors”? They find their space without breaking you. 

• Energy Margin:

Build recovery into your routine. Because your best ideas don’t come when

You’re running on fumes. 

I recently watched a business owner transform their entire operation by embracing margin. They:

• Raised prices 20%

• Reduced client load by 30%

• Built a 6-month cash reserve

• Blocked Fridays for strategic thinking

The result?

Revenue up 40%

Stress down 80%

And for the first time in years, they took a two-week vacation without their laptop.

But here’s what’s fascinating: Their biggest wins came from the space they created.

A competitor wanted to sell? They had the cash ready.

A key employee needed emergency leave? They had the capacity to cover.

A market shift created a new opportunity? They had the mental space to spot it and the resources to grab it.

Here’s the truth most business owners miss: Margin isn’t an expense. It’s an investment. And it might be the highest-returning investment you’ll ever make. 

Think about it:

• What opportunities are you missing because your calendar is packed? (Remember those infinite trade-offs?)

• What growth are you sacrificing because your cash is tight?

• What insights are you losing because your mind is crowded all the time?

Here’s your challenge: Pick ONE area to build margin this week.

Maybe it’s blocking two hours for strategic thinking.

Maybe it’s setting aside 5% more in cash reserves.

Maybe it’s finally taking that vacation you’ve been postponing.

Because here’s what I know: Life is going to happen at life-speed. You can either build margin now or wish you had later.

Email me your “margin of the week” and I’ll send you a FREE pdf copy of my new book, “The Solvable Problem®.”

Here’s to your success and financial certainty,

Dan Nicholson
Founder, Nth Degree CPAs, CertaintyU, (UN)Conventional Wealth