Volume 03 of 07 · Earn

The Path of Money

Name: The Path of Money
Author: Philipp Rückert

Your day is full. Which of it really moves a deal forward?

One open invoice. One quote without a decision. One contact with interest. This illustrated handbook helps you see the actual status, choose the next step and put it in your calendar.

Download the book as PDF

PDF · current illustrated reading edition · approx. 57 MB

236 pages · 48 chapters · 4 phases · 10 steps

Cover of The Path of Money by Philipp Rückert

Everyday life

“We're on it” is not a next step.

The quote has been sent, but nobody has a decision date. The work is done, but approval is missing. The invoice is out, but the money isn't there yet. The book makes visible the handoffs where things get stuck in everyday work.

Before: An invoice that has been delivered is open.
Action: Clarify the payment date with the responsible person.
Afterward: A specific agreement with a follow-up date is recorded.

The money path

Four phases. Ten concrete steps.

Envelope on rails to the container – original illustration from chapter I.01a — Original illustration from chapter I.01a · Check payment received

Turn completed work and open invoices into the next step toward incoming payment.

You check from 01 to 10. Your customer moves from 10 to 01.

Peak Atlas gold coin at the incoming payment

The review order is not a rigid task ranking: amount, documented prospects, effort and a real time window all play a part. Outreach permanently has a fixed slot in the calendar.

G.04 · Abridged original excerpt

Proximity is not right of way.

Cut-out collage from chapter G.04: lever and switch between two opportunities — Original illustration from chapter G.04

Fictional case example

Monday, 9:40 a.m. In front of you lie €900 and €18,000. Unfortunately, both on paper.

The €900 sits on an overdue invoice. You're already reaching for the phone. It's quick. At least something would be done afterward.

Next to it lies the €18,000 quote. Need and budget are settled. One question is open: “Are the two workshops included?” The decision-maker can talk until ten. After that, not until next week.

With the invoice customer, you can reach someone all morning. The call at 10:30 has no visible downside here. The invoice is closer to the money. The quote is closer to a closed door.

You settle the open quote question first. You call the invoice customer at 10:30. That's not a close yet, but it's a concrete next step in both cases.

“The invoice gets its call at 10:30. It isn't offended. It needs a date.”

Closeness to money shows you where to check. A real time window can change where you start.

From reading to doing

A good insight is allowed to leave marks in your calendar.

48 chapters are assigned to a specific phase and subtask. Each pairs its own illustration with a short checklist. In total, 185 concrete action items are spread across the book.

Try it out – on this page

Choose two cases that are competing for your time today.For both, check what is concretely lost while waiting.Give the deferred case a next action and a fixed date.

A real look inside the book

Two adjacent original pages.

Original page 28 with title and illustration from chapter G.04 — Page 28 · Open at full size

Original page 29 with the case example on competing time windows — Page 29 · Open at full size

Original pages of the current reading edition

Who it's for

For several purchase and payment processes at once.

For owners, sales leads and teams in agencies, consultancies, custom software and similar services. You can jump in at a real case or read from the start.