05/19/25 - Wakie Wakie 4:44

Welcome to Your 444 Newsletter!

Where excuses get cut, numbers do the talking, and growth is measured, not imagined.

Today’s topic?
Why most entrepreneurs stay stuck spinning stories instead of studying the numbers.

When things go sideways in your business, what do you reach for first?

Be honest.

The data? Or the drama?

Because here’s what I’ve seen:

Most people default to stories.
"The market’s soft. Ads are acting weird. I’ve been swamped."
That’s not leadership. That’s ego protection.

I don’t want drama. I want data.

Apply for the Deal Maker Alliance
Inside DMA, we don’t tolerate guesswork. We look at the real numbers, make real moves, and hold each other accountable to outcomes.

4 Thoughts to Reflect On

1. Drama is comfortable. Data is confronting.
   One makes you feel better. The other makes you better.

2. Your excuses are louder than your results.
   That’s the real reason growth feels stuck.

3. Business is math. Not mood.
   If the model isn’t profitable, the story doesn’t matter.

4. Most people are surrounded by enablers.
   They’ll tell you it’s fine when it’s clearly broken.

4 Lessons I’ve Learned

1. The truth is in the numbers. Always.
   You can ignore them, but you can’t outrun them.

2. You can’t scale what you won’t measure.
   Gut instinct is great, but margin is math.

3. Loyalty to underperformance kills momentum.
   Just because you like them doesn’t mean they’re helping.

4. Walking away from what’s “fine” is how you grow.
   Fine is the enemy of excellent.

4 Challenges for You This Week

1. Audit one area of your business you’ve been storytelling about.
   Leads, margins, fulfillment. Pick one. Get honest.

2. Look at your numbers daily this week.
   Sales, cost, profit, cash. No filters. Just facts.

3. Have one hard conversation you’ve been avoiding.
   Could be with a team member, a client, or yourself.

4. Apply for the Deal Maker Alliance.
   Get in a room where excuses don’t fly and standards are high.

You don’t get paid for how hard you try.
You get paid for what works.

The market doesn’t care about your feelings.
It rewards execution.

Data is your friend. Drama is your downfall.
Choose wisely.

Let’s build with truth, not stories.
Mark Evans DM