Blog | James C Foo Leong | Financial Storytelling Insights

Growth vs Resilience: What the Balance Sheet Really Tells Leaders

Growth often looks confident. Resilience is quieter. The balance sheet shows how leaders hold both — and what happens when one is ignored.

Jan 132 min read

Screenshot from Amazon showing Once Upon a Balance Sheet by James C Foo Leong ranked #1 on the “Hot New Releases in Management Accounting” list and appearing within the top five on the “Best Sellers in Management Accounting” list, alongside established international bestselling titles including Die With Zero, Good to Great, and A Random Walk Down Wall Street.

Once Upon a Balance Sheet Book Update: A Note of Thanks

A reflective update on the launch of Once Upon a Balance Sheet, five weeks on, and why the conversations matter more than the rankings.

Dec 14, 20252 min read

Celebrating the book launch of Once Upon a Balance Sheet with a full house of friends, supporters, and readers — a night filled with joy, learning, and the debut of Count Jargon®

Balance Sheet Night – Once Upon a Balance Sheet Launch

A heartfelt reflection on Balance Sheet Night — the world-first launch of Once Upon a Balance Sheet, where finance met storytelling with laughter, learning, and heart.

Nov 22, 20252 min read

James sits at the ISCA studio desk surrounded by green screens, cameras, and lighting equipment, recording a session for Accountify, ISCA’s online learning platform. The camera in the foreground captures his image on its monitor as he smiles during the shoot for Once Upon a Balance Sheet.

Recording for Accountify ISCA – Once Upon a Balance Sheet

A special behind-the-scenes reflection on recording Once Upon a Balance Sheet for ISCA’s Accountify, just ahead of the global launch.

Oct 30, 20252 min read

HUAT, the Symbol of Wealth and Herald of Prosperity from the Financial Storyverse™, stands smiling with golden ingot hands raised and sparkling around him. He wears a white fedora with a red band and has a dollar-shaped green body. The character card background is teal and red, with the text “Allegiance: Financial Storyverse” and “Once Upon a Balance Sheet” at the bottom.

HUAT – Financial Storyverse Symbol of Prosperity

Meet HUAT — the spirited symbol of prosperity from the Financial Storyverse, where confidence turns finance into momentum and joy.

Oct 29, 20252 min read

Character card of “Master C Foo,” depicted in a martial arts pose wearing glasses and a red top. The card headline reads “Master C Foo – Sage of Foresight. Channel of Wisdom.” The bottom banner states “Allegiance: Financial Storyverse” and “Once Upon a Balance Sheet.” A glowing image of the yellow book Once Upon a Balance Sheet appears beside the card, linking the character to the Financial Storyverse® created by James C Foo Leong.

Master C Foo – Financial Storyverse® Sage of Foresight and Flow

Meet Master C Foo, the sage of the Financial Storyverse®, who teaches leaders to see beyond numbers and align finance with foresight and flow.

Oct 27, 20251 min read

A minimalist blue figure holds a magnifying glass, examining a shiny gold coin with a small red flag on it. The caption reads “Red flags don’t wave in balance sheets — they hide behind them.” The image represents unseen financial risks that appear normal until examined closely, connecting to Once Upon a Balance Sheet by James C. Foo Leong.

Financial Blind Spots in Business Decisions

Financial blind spots in business decisions form quietly. Learn how clarity helps teams read patterns, reduce risk, and make sharper choices.

Oct 18, 20252 min read

Digital trading card of STEPH Model®, the analytical heart of the Financial Storyverse®, standing confidently with fuchsia hair and a glowing sash that symbolises clarity.

STEPH Model-Financial Storyverse®

Inside the Financial Storyverse®, STEPH Model® transforms complexity into clarity. Her frameworks reveal how data connects so leaders can see what truly matter.

Oct 16, 20252 min read

From the Stage to the Financial Storyverse®–What the CSP Taught Me

The CSP is more than a designation. It is a stretch goal that shaped my journey and inspired the creation of the Financial Storyverse®.

Sep 20, 20253 min read

James C Foo Leong delivering a humour keynote, showing that Mastering Humour Speech is about connection and leadership, not just comedy. Caption: Mastering Humour Speech — turning laughs into lessons.

Mastering Humour Speech: Making Every Laugh Count

Humour isn’t just for comedians. Mastering Humour Speech shows leaders and trainers how to make every laugh a lesson that lasts.

Sep 17, 20253 min read

A cartoon-style poster introducing the Financial Storyverse®. On the left, a colourful map shows a quest beginning at the “World of Confusion,” crossing the “Sea of Jargon,” and passing through islands labeled with finance concepts such as “The Storywork Story,” “The Accrual Story,” and “The Health Story,” before reaching the “World of Illumination” under a rainbow. On the right, Count Jargon is illustrated as a smiling calculator character with a bow tie and red cape, described as the “Slayer of Jargon. Defender of Clarity.” At the top, the title reads “Financial Storyverse® — Probably the happiest place to learn finance.”

Financial Storyverse® and Count Jargon® from Sketch to Trademark

Financial Storyverse® and Count Jargon® — from sketch to trademark, a journey where cartoons, clarity, and finance come together.

Sep 7, 20252 min read

Illustrated trading card featuring Miss Numbers, a cheerful character with orange hair and a large bow decorated with the numbers 1 to 9 in vibrant colors. Her tagline reads “Voice of Numbers. Keeper of Stories.” The card declares her allegiance to the Financial Storyverse and notes she is from “Once Upon a Balance Sheet.” Background is light blue with sparkles, and the card border is red and green.

The Calm in the Chaos with Miss Numbers from Once Upon a Balance Sheet

Miss Numbers™ is the calm in the chaos of finance. With her Ribbon of Numbers, she reveals the story behind the numbers and helps us believe we can truly understand.

Sep 2, 20252 min read

James C Foo Leong, smiling in a pink shirt, reads his yellow book Once Upon a Balance Sheet at an outdoor café, surrounded by greenery and filtered sunlight. A quiet moment with the Financial Storyteller.

Why Once Upon a Balance Sheet Feels More Like GPT 4o Than GPT 5

GPT 5 had the brains. GPT 4o had the heart. Once Upon a Balance Sheet carries that same spirit — clarity without losing connection

Aug 23, 20252 min read

Illustration of Count Jargon, a story character from Once Upon a Balance Sheet, posed in a dramatic stance holding the Sword of Simplicity and Shield of Clarity. He represents a heroic guide who helps readers cut through financial jargon and confusion.

Count Jargon™: Slayer of Jargon, Defender of Clarity.

Count Jargon is more than a character. He’s a guide in the Financial Storyverse™, created to help every reader, leader, and team member cut through jargon and see the story their numbers are telling.

Aug 17, 20252 min read

Celebrating SG60 Singapore Finance Leadership Clarity – A Milestone for Our Nation, A Bridge to the World

Celebrating Singapore’s 60th anniversary by sharing how finance, made clear and human, can build confident leaders worldwide.

Aug 10, 20252 min read

Kopi Codenames Singapore: What Local Coffee Teaches Us About Finance

Singapore turns 60. This tribute blends kopi quirks with finance lessons — and a quiet nod to the power of translation.

Aug 2, 20252 min read

A cartoon-style calculator is shown with the word “DECIDE” on its display. The buttons feature plus, minus, multiply, divide, and zero symbols. Above the calculator is the title “Finance Action Calculator™.” Below it, the tagline reads “We make finance seriously fun.” In the bottom right corner, a yellow book titled Once Upon a Balance Sheet by James & C Foo Leong is displayed, with the text “C Foo Says – Visual Finance Made Human” and the handle @visualfinancehuman.

The Finance Action Calculator™: A Clear Tool for Better Choices

Every decision creates movement. The Finance Action Calculator™ breaks down choices into six clear actions that help you focus on what matters most.

Jul 27, 20253 min read

James C Foo Leong stands inside a printing house, smiling with arms crossed while evaluating the printers for his upcoming book Once Upon a Balance Sheet. The background shows industrial printing equipment, stacks of paper, and a workshop setup.

Printing Press of Finance - The Press That Prints Your Future

The printing press transforms blank pages into a story worth reading. Finance is no different — clarity and precision shape every story.

Jul 20, 20252 min read

James C Foo Leong featured in the SG60 Showcase – Leading Finance as a Global Language. Recognised for redefining how finance is taught through storytelling, structure, and visual clarity.

Leading Finance as a Global Language – SG60 Feature

This week, I’m doing something a little different — I’m sharing the SG60 feature article that tells the story behind Financial Storytelling and the journey to making finance a language of leadership.

Jul 13, 20251 min read

A grey tap with a slow blue water droplet beneath it. Title reads “The Drip Spiral™.” Below the tap, the caption says “We make finance seriously fun.” Bottom right corner: “C Foo Says – Visual Finance Made Human – Follow @visualfinancehuman.” Bottom left: “Money Metaphors™.” By James C Foo Leong.

The Drip Spiral™: Why Tiny Delays Create Big Financial Stress

John thought his business was thriving — until small financial delays revealed a deeper pattern. The Drip Spiral™ explains how quiet lags create compounding pressure.

Jul 6, 20254 min read