receipts

to identify the real health of the operation, you have to check the books and keep the receipts.

i imagine some companies ride the coattails of the successful fasade. all could look trendy and glamorous on the outside - catchy rebranding campaign, lots of double-taps, smooth sailing hitting those new big customer targets - or steady eddy if that’s the aim. but the balance sheet might bleed red.

then there’s the slow burn, odd ducks, easily counted out. seemingly pulling all the contrarian moves, flying under the radar, but just intriguing enough. they may easily grab repeated curious glances, seemingly expecting to see the dumpster go up in flames. yet a peek at their books might find the small, shy drift - up and to the right. a cloud the size of man’s hand.

it’s easy to attach to the external. to interpret the circumstances for exactly what they appear - or exactly what we thought. to cling to the easy scripts, old ones long written, bound, and published. throw it on the table and it opens to the same creased pages often referenced, those lines that reverberate with the same chorus of fear, worry, sadness, shame, those familiar low-level frequencies. in our minds the numbers must be tanking, we’re investing here and there yet seeing nothing back, expenses and deficits wringing us dry. so we hide in the back room, shuffling the same papers and mashing the calculator pretending the lights will keep turning on day by day. or we keep sliding the bills under the door of that same back office, locked with a long-lost key, blissfully ignoring the numbers for the sake of the production in the front of the house - gotta keep the people happy and keep ‘em comin’.

but someone has to work the books. after all, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. especially when there’s a higher level economy at play here.
far above my pay-grade.

i’ve found just the guy. experienced bookkeeper.
kind and respectful,
although he’ll shoot ya straight and get right up in your business.
good with numbers, high integrity, and sharp - nothing gets by him.
strong business sense although a bit unconventional.
he’s got controversial methods but rave reviews,
and just know, he’s a bit of a loyalty and commitment stickler.

he gives and takes away.
he’s taught me to count some costs.

but forever the books are balanced, and somehow never balanced at the same time.
i’m always found in the black.
no matter the investments, no matter the generosities,
or the losses, the depreciation, the expenditures, and the pouring,
the return seems to be more.
the profits seemingly abundant.

i’ve got receipts of deposits and withdrawals.
i’ve got receipts of earnings and expenditures.
i’ve got receipts of returns and debts.
i've got receipts that make sense,
and some that never will.

i'm learning the value is actually hard to define on my own.
nevertheless, i’m always found in the black.
no matter the loss, there’s no lack.
no matter the external, i can confidently check the books.

i’ve got receipts that say you’re good, that you’ve got a plan.
i’ve got receipts that you care,
that you’re in the details.
i’ve got receipts that you’ve shown up every time.
i’ve got scars and limps,
yet also gift receipts, ticket stubs, and stocks - initiated far before i came to be.
i could itemize and always be found blessed.
for the poor in spirit, he dwells richly.
i’ve got receipts.