The annual financial statements are on the table. Balance sheet, income statement, notes—perhaps part of a full annual report. Clearly structured, audited, approved. Factual. Neutral. Reliable. And yet there is often that quiet unease: I see the numbers—but do I really understand what happened over the past year? Annual financial statements enjoy an almost sacred status. They are regarded as truth in numerical form, as a sober depiction of economic reality. But anyone who has

Starting a company often feels like a big leap at the beginning. There is a mix of excitement, energy, and a firm belief that your idea is coming at exactly the right time. You have plans, visions, and the feeling that you are finally building something of your own. Looking back, many founders realize that not everything that was difficult necessarily had to be that difficult. Some challenges are simply part of the journey, no question. Others arise from a lack of experience,