--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We were always focused on our profit and…" description: "\"We were always focused on our profit and loss statement. But cash flow was not a regularly discussed topic. It was as if we were driving along, watchin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/michael-dell-6511_cash_we-were-always-focused-on-our-profit-and_1163453.png" --- # We were always focused on our profit and loss statement… ![“We were always focused on our profit and loss statement. But cash flow was not a regularly discussed topic. It was as if we were driving along, watching only the speedometer, when in fact we were running out of gas.” quote by Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/michael-dell-6511_cash_we-were-always-focused-on-our-profit-and_1163453.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/michael-dell-6511_cash_we-were-always-focused-on-our-profit-and_1163453.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef0/michael-dell-6511_cash_we-were-always-focused-on-our-profit-and_1163453.png) > “We were always focused on our profit and loss statement. But cash flow was not a regularly discussed topic. It was as if we were driving along, watching only the speedometer, when in fact we were running out of gas.” [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing only on profit and loss ignores cash flow, which is essential for sustaining operations. **In simple terms:** Profit focus can hide cash shortages. Key Takeaway Monitor cash flow as closely as profit. Themes finance operations risk management Mood cautious analytical Type advisory practical When to use this quote - startup budgeting - corporate finance - financial planning - cash management Key Concepts cash flow liquidity business sustainability Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance profit goals with cash flow health? - What metrics should complement profit statements? A Different Perspective Cash flow alone cannot guarantee profitability without solid revenue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cash flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cash-flow/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flow/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Profit and loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit-and-loss/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [The Profit and Loss Statement tells you a lot about how your business is doing. It can also help you to determine ways that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-l-johnson/the-profit-and-loss-statement-tells-you-a-lot-about-how-your-business/) [Darren L Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-l-johnson/) > [Between calculated risk and reckless decision-making lies the dividing line between profit and loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/between-calculated-risk-and-reckless-decision-making-lies-the/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [A market system is not a profit system, it's a profit-and-loss system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/a-market-system-is-not-a-profit-system-it-s-a-profit-and-loss-system/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) > [The difference in the profit and loss is usually ... do not quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-difference-in-the-profit-and-loss-is-usually-do-not-quit/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [“Why does socialist central planning not work? The means of production are not held privately, so there cannot be any exchange markets for them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/llewellyn-h-rockwell-jr/why-does-socialist-central-planning-not-work-the-means-of-production/) Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr > [“You can see the size of people’s dreams from their profit and loss calculations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/you-can-see-the-size-of-people-s-dreams-from-their-profit-and-loss/) S.E. SEVER > [We tend to think of prayer, in spite of ourselves, in terms of profit and loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-quoist/we-tend-to-think-of-prayer-in-spite-of-ourselves-in-terms-of-profit/) [Michel Quoist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-quoist/) > [When individual enterprise is free and unhampered, profit-and-loss calculations set precise limits to a businessman's temptations to expand his services... a government valuable they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-f-sennholz/when-individual-enterprise-is-free-and-unhampered-profit-and-loss/) [Hans F. Sennholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-f-sennholz/) > [ The \[liberals\] consider profits as objectionable. The very existence of profits is in their eyes a proof that wage rates could be raised without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-liberals-consider-profits-as-objectionable-the-very-existence-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [This may be one of the real tragedies of free market capitalism gone awry. The quality of our intellectual life is declining in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/this-may-be-one-of-the-real-tragedies-of-free-market-capitalism-gone/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [“Loss Statement from a major local”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-kelly/loss-statement-from-a-major-local/) Leslie Kelly > [The bottom line is down where it belongs – at the bottom. Far above it in importance are the infinite number of events that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/the-bottom-line-is-down-where-it-belongs-at-the-bottom-far-above-it/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [I can't stand to see red in my profit-or-loss column. I'm Taurus the bull, so I react to red. If I see it, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/i-can-t-stand-to-see-red-in-my-profit-or-loss-column-i-m-taurus-the/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [“If someone were to ask 'us', "Have you incurred a loss this year?" Then 'we' would answer, "No sir, we have not incurred a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-someone-were-to-ask-us-have-you-incurred-a-loss-this-year-then-we/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Even with a margin of safety in the investor's favor, an individual security may work out badly. For the margin guarantees only that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/even-with-a-margin-of-safety-in-the-investor-s-favor-an-individual/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) ## More by Michael Dell > [By questioning all the aspects of our business, we continuously inject improvement and innovation into our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/by-questioning-all-the-aspects-of-our-business-we-continuously-inject/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [When we acquired Secureworks, if we had taken it and made all the salespeople into Dell salespeople, we would have totally destroyed Secureworks. Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/when-we-acquired-secureworks-if-we-had-taken-it-and-made-all-the/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [Anything that can be measured can be improved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/anything-that-can-be-measured-can-be-improved/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [If you have to go through life being unhappy to conform to society around you, that's not a very good deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/if-you-have-to-go-through-life-being-unhappy-to-conform-to-society/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [“Sometimes it's better not to ask-or to listen-when tell you something can't be done. I didn't ask for permission or approval. I just went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/sometimes-it-s-better-not-to-ask-or-to-listen-when-tell-you-something/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [Computing shows up in many different ways. You have computing that you wear, computing that you carry. What you think of as the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/computing-shows-up-in-many-different-ways-you-have-computing-that-you/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [The IT organization can't drive or lead a digital transformation. It has to come from the business and the business strategy, because they're fundamental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/the-it-organization-can-t-drive-or-lead-a-digital-transformation-it/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [With the understanding that you will face tough times and amazing experiences, you must also commit to the adventure. Just have faith in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/with-the-understanding-that-you-will-face-tough-times-and-amazing/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [“I started the business with a simple question: How can we make the process of buying a computer better? The answer was: Sell computers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/i-started-the-business-with-a-simple-question-how-can-we-make-the/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [The key is to listen to your heart and let it carry you in the direction of your dreams. I've learned that it's possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/the-key-is-to-listen-to-your-heart-and-let-it-carry-you-in-the/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [The world got enamored with smartphones and tablets, but what's interesting is those devices don't do everything that needs to be done. Three-D printing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/the-world-got-enamored-with-smartphones-and-tablets-but-what-s/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [I was in seventh grade math class, and we had this thing called Number Sense. So, I wasn't on the track team. Wasn't on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/i-was-in-seventh-grade-math-class-and-we-had-this-thing-called-number/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [The idea of being all things to all people is a thing of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/the-idea-of-being-all-things-to-all-people-is-a-thing-of-the-past/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [Visionaries have the unique ability to dream of what's possible and then make it a reality. 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Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [After I graduated, I carried on with my academic work, via grants but I often had a market stall on Camden Market selling hand-painted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettany-hughes/after-i-graduated-i-carried-on-with-my-academic-work-via-grants-but-i/) [Bettany Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettany-hughes/) > [You might be a redneck if you have a picture of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, or Elvis over your fireplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-you-have-a-picture-of-johnny-cash-willie/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [American forces in Iraq found $650 million in American cash sealed in a hidden cottage. See, this is why President Bush wants to invade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/american-forces-in-iraq-found-650-million-in-american-cash-sealed-in/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I feel a lot better when I've got a bit of cash on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-doherty/i-feel-a-lot-better-when-i-ve-got-a-bit-of-cash-on-me/) [Pete Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-doherty/) > [If our financial industry regarded security the way the health-care sector does, I would stuff my cash in a mattress under my bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-rubin/if-our-financial-industry-regarded-security-the-way-the-health-care/) [Avi Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-rubin/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The only issue cash presents you is the independence of not stressing about funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/the-only-issue-cash-presents-you-is-the-independence-of-not-stressing/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [It's funny about men and women. Men pay in cash to get them and pay in cash to get rid of them. Women pay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedy-lamarr/it-s-funny-about-men-and-women-men-pay-in-cash-to-get-them-and-pay-in/) [Hedy Lamarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedy-lamarr/) > [ I mean, you take a look at this, it's one way. \[Mexicans\] get the jobs, they get the factories, they get the cash, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-mean-you-take-a-look-at-this-it-s-one-way-mexicans-get-the-jobs/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [It was really starting to get pathetic, everyday they would come in looking for one thing or another. 'Zach, can you give me some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/it-was-really-starting-to-get-pathetic-everyday-they-would-come-in/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [One of my officers said to me that Trinidad and Tobago is seen like an ATM card... you come in with the card and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamla-persad-bissessar/one-of-my-officers-said-to-me-that-trinidad-and-tobago-is-seen-like/) [Kamla Persad-Bissessar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamla-persad-bissessar/) Browse all 1,141 Cash quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We were always focused on our profit and loss statement. But cash flow was not a regularly discussed topic. 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