Shows
Strategy Meets FinancePart 14: The Cash Flow Formula for a Thriving Business | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 14 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In the conclusion, Steve shares the personal lessons and turning points that shaped his obsession with cash flow. He emphasizes why business leaders have a fiduciary duty to master it, how cash flow fuels stability, growth, and community impact, and why discipline—not just profit—ultimately determines whether a business thrives or fails.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0908 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 12: The Cash Flow Scorecard | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 12 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve introduces the Cash Flow Scorecard—a simple framework to diagnose where your business is leaking cash across the seven key levers. By scoring each area, you can pinpoint constraints, prioritize fixes, and build a roadmap for stronger free cash flow and long-term value.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0908 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 13: The Cash Flow Playbook | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 13 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve introduces the Cash Flow Playbook—a step-by-step plan to apply the seven levers, use the scorecard, and build a resilient, cash-generating business. He shows how to prioritize the right levers, implement changes, track progress, and create a company that thrives in any economy.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0908 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 10: Lever #6 – Risk | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 10 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve unpacks the sixth lever of cash flow: risk. He explains how uncertainty lowers valuation multiples and raises the cost of capital, the biggest risks that scare investors, and the steps business owners can take to de-risk their company and build more stable, predictable cash flow.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0909 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 11: Lever #7 – Strategy | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 11 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve covers the seventh lever of cash flow: strategy. He explains why profit is just the result of a good strategy, how ROIC is the scoreboard that proves whether your strategy is working, and the two main paths to long-term competitive advantage: differentiation or cost leadership.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0920 min
Building MarginPart 10: Margin | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 10 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. Steve brings the framework full circle, showing that margin is more than profit—it’s power. He explains how financial, operational, and leadership margin create the space to scale with clarity, stability, and conviction, turning chaos into confidence and giving owners the freedom to build businesses that last.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0906 min
Building MarginPart 8: Insight | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 8 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. Steve shows how to turn data into decisions—closing the visibility gap, shifting from lagging to leading indicators, and building a culture where estimating, field, and finance interpret the same KPIs. The focus: track free cash flow first, use a tight KPI set, and run “insight sprints” so action protects margin.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0931 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 2: The Cash Flow Mindset | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 2 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve explains why profit doesn’t protect a business from failure and why free cash flow is the real survival metric. He breaks down how to calculate free cash flow, why it matters more than revenue or profit, and how companies with strong cash flow thrive in any economy.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0909 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 3: What Creates Value in a Business? | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 3 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve reveals what truly creates value in a business: generating more cash flow than the cost of your investments. He explains return on invested capital (ROIC), why growth without strong returns destroys value, and how to measure whether your business is actually creating or burning cash.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0912 min
Building MarginPart 3: The Margin Crisis | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 3 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. Steve unpacks the margin crisis, showing how it creeps in quietly through strategic drift, profit erosion, and liquidity crunch. He explains why top-line growth can hide real problems, why confusion is more costly than competition, and how clarity and alignment are the foundation for protecting profit and cash flow.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0941 min
Building MarginPart 2: Why Another Book? Why Now? | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 2 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. Steve explains that contractors don’t have a hustle problem—they have a capacity problem. He explains how nonstop noise, rising complexity, and AI-era demands crush leaders without structural margin, and introduces a framework built for construction to create space, clarity, and sustainable scale.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0926 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 4: Two Ways to Measure Firm Value | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 4 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve breaks down the two main ways businesses are valued: the income approach, based on free cash flow, cost of capital, and growth, and the market approach, based on EBITDA multiples. He explains why understanding both is critical, how multiples impact valuation, and what really drives the worth of your company.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0917 min
Building MarginPart 4: Money | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 4 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. Steve shows contractors how to reclaim financial margin by focusing on free cash flow over paper profit—calculating gross margin and break-even revenue, using the four profit levers (pricing, COGS, overhead, volume), and tracking simple efficiency metrics (LTGP:CAC, ROL, ROIC) to stop leaks and price with confidence.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0955 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 6: Lever #2 – Price | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 6 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve unpacks the second lever of cash flow: price. He explains why price is the most powerful driver of profitability, how perceived value determines what customers will pay, and how businesses can raise prices confidently without losing customers.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0911 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 5: Lever #1 – Volume | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 5 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve introduces the first lever of cash flow: volume. He explains why selling more only creates value if it’s profitable, how to fix weak sales and marketing systems, and how the revenue flywheel drives sustainable growth without burning cash.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0920 min
Building MarginPart 7: Growth | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 7 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. Steve reframes growth as a margin-first, systems-led discipline—not a volume push. He shows how to set a safe growth ceiling with ROIC, say no to low-value work, install simple systems to scale, and keep growth aligned with purpose so the business gets stronger, not just bigger.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0927 min
Building MarginPart 6: Rhythm | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 6 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. Steve explains why most strategies fail not from bad ideas but from lack of rhythm. He shows how Coltivar helps contractors install a cadence of structured review that keep teams focused, accountable, and moving in sync so strategy turns into execution.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0930 min
Building MarginPart 5: Alignment | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 5 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. Steve shows how most contractors stall from misalignment, not lack of effort. He explains the Coltivar Strategy Blueprint and how to tie strategy, incentives, and execution rhythms together so teams row in the same direction and build real margin.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0944 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 9: Lever #5 – Capital | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 9 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve introduces the fifth lever of cash flow: capital. He explains why EBITDA isn’t cash flow, how invested capital and ROIC reveal whether a business is creating or destroying value, and the hidden cash traps in receivables, inventory, and CapEx that often strangle growth.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0916 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 8: Lever #4 – Operating Expenses | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 8 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve explains the fourth lever of cash flow: operating expenses. He shows why cutting costs blindly destroys value, how to eliminate waste without hurting growth, and the smart ways to optimize overhead while protecting employees, customers, and long-term strategy.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0910 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 7: Lever #3 – Cost of Goods Sold | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 7 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve covers the third lever of cash flow: cost of goods sold (COGS). He explains why lowering COGS directly boosts profitability, how throughput matters more than margins, and the strategies businesses can use to cut waste, improve labor efficiency, and increase cash flow without sacrificing quality.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0912 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 1: The Foundation of Great Companies | Cash FlowReady to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check This is Part 1 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. Steve lays the foundation of why so many businesses struggle with cash even when they look profitable on paper. He explains the stages of a hidden cash flow crisis, why free cash flow matters more than revenue or profit, and introduces the seven levers that determine a company’s value.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0921 min
Building MarginPart 4: Money | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 4 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. In this section, Steve shows contractors how to reclaim financial margin by focusing on free cash flow over paper profit—calculating gross margin and break-even revenue, using the four profit levers (pricing, COGS, overhead, volume), and tracking simple efficiency metrics (LTGP:CAC, ROL, ROIC) to stop leaks and price with confidence.Win a free custom KPI Dashboard for your business. Apply now before the September 10th drawing: coltivar.com/kpisLinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0456 min
Building MarginPart 10: Margin | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 10 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. In this section, Steve brings the framework full circle, showing that margin is more than profit—it’s power. He explains how financial, operational, and leadership margin create the space to scale with clarity, stability, and conviction, turning chaos into confidence and giving owners the freedom to build businesses that last.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0406 min
Building MarginPart 8: Insight | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 8 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. Steve shows how to turn data into decisions—closing the visibility gap, shifting from lagging to leading indicators, and building a culture where estimating, field, and finance interpret the same KPIs. The focus: track free cash flow first, use a tight KPI set, and run “insight sprints” so action protects margin.Win a free custom KPI Dashboard for your business. Apply now before the September 10th drawing: coltivar.com/kpisLinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0432 min
Building MarginPart 7: Growth | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 7 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. Steve reframes growth as a margin-first, systems-led discipline—not a volume push. He shows how to set a safe growth ceiling with ROIC, say no to low-value work, install simple systems to scale, and keep growth aligned with purpose so the business gets stronger, not just bigger.Win a free custom KPI Dashboard for your business. Apply now before the September 10th drawing: coltivar.com/kpisLinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0428 min
Building MarginPart 6: Rhythm | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 6 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. In this section, Steve explains why most strategies fail not from bad ideas but from lack of rhythm. He shows how Coltivar helps contractors install a cadence of structured review that keep teams focused, accountable, and moving in sync so strategy turns into execution.Win a free custom KPI Dashboard for your business. Apply now before the September 10th drawing: coltivar.com/kpisLinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0431 min
Building MarginPart 5: Alignment | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 5 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. In this section, Steve shows how most contractors stall from misalignment, not lack of effort. He explains the Coltivar Strategy Blueprint and how to tie strategy, incentives, and execution rhythms together so teams row in the same direction and build real margin.Win a free custom KPI Dashboard for your business. Apply now before the September 10th drawing: coltivar.com/kpisLinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0445 min
Building MarginPart 3: The Margin Crisis | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 3 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. In this section, Steve unpacks the margin crisis, showing how it creeps in quietly through strategic drift, profit erosion, and liquidity crunch. He explains why top-line growth can hide real problems, why confusion is more costly than competition, and how clarity and alignment are the foundation for protecting profit and cash flow.Win a free custom KPI Dashboard for your business. Apply now before the September 10th drawing: coltivar.com/kpisLinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0442 min
Building MarginPart 2: Why Another Book? Why Now? | Building Margin for ConstructionThis is Part 2 of Steve Coughran’s book Building Margin. In this section, Steve answers “why another book” and “why now,” showing that contractors don’t have a hustle problem—they have a capacity problem. He explains how nonstop noise, rising complexity, and AI-era demands crush leaders without structural margin, and introduces a framework built for construction to create space, clarity, and sustainable scale.Win a free custom KPI Dashboard for your business. Apply now before the September 10th drawing: coltivar.com/kpisLinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com
2025-09-0427 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 8: Lever #4 – Operating Expenses | Cash FlowThis is Part 8 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve explains the fourth lever of cash flow: operating expenses. He shows why cutting costs blindly destroys value, how to eliminate waste without hurting growth, and the smart ways to optimize overhead while protecting employees, customers, and long-term strategy.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2911 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 14: The Cash Flow Formula for a Thriving Business | Cash FlowThis is Part 14 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In the conclusion, Steve shares the personal lessons and turning points that shaped his obsession with cash flow. He emphasizes why business leaders have a fiduciary duty to master it, how cash flow fuels stability, growth, and community impact, and why discipline—not just profit—ultimately determines whether a business thrives or fails.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2909 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 13: The Cash Flow Playbook | Cash FlowThis is Part 13 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve introduces the Cash Flow Playbook—a step-by-step plan to apply the seven levers, use the scorecard, and build a resilient, cash-generating business. He shows how to prioritize the right levers, implement changes, track progress, and create a company that thrives in any economy.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2909 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 12: The Cash Flow Scorecard | Cash FlowThis is Part 12 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve introduces the Cashflow Scorecard—a simple framework to diagnose where your business is leaking cash across the seven key levers. By scoring each area, you can pinpoint constraints, prioritize fixes, and build a roadmap for stronger free cash flow and long-term value.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2909 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 11: Lever #7 – Strategy | Cash FlowThis is Part 11 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve covers the seventh lever of cash flow: strategy. He explains why profit is just the result of a good strategy, how ROIC is the scoreboard that proves whether your strategy is working, and the two main paths to long-term competitive advantage: differentiation or cost leadership.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2921 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 10: Lever #6 – Risk | Cash FlowThis is Part 10 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve unpacks the sixth lever of cash flow: risk. He explains how uncertainty lowers valuation multiples and raises the cost of capital, the biggest risks that scare investors, and the steps business owners can take to de-risk their company and build more stable, predictable cash flow.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2910 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 9: Lever #5 – Capital | Cash FlowThis is Part 9 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve introduces the fifth lever of cash flow: capital. He explains why EBITDA isn’t cash flow, how invested capital and ROIC reveal whether a business is creating or destroying value, and the hidden cash traps in receivables, inventory, and CapEx that often strangle growth.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2917 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 7: Lever #3 – Cost of Goods Sold | Cash FlowThis is Part 7 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve covers the third lever of cash flow: cost of goods sold (COGS). He explains why lowering COGS directly boosts profitability, how throughput matters more than margins, and the strategies businesses can use to cut waste, improve labor efficiency, and increase cash flow without sacrificing quality.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2913 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 6: Lever #2 – Price | Cash FlowThis is Part 6 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve unpacks the second lever of cash flow: price. He explains why price is the most powerful driver of profitability, how perceived value determines what customers will pay, and how businesses can raise prices confidently without losing customers.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2912 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 5: Lever #1 – Volume | Cash FlowThis is Part 5 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve introduces the first lever of cash flow: volume. He explains why selling more only creates value if it’s profitable, how to fix weak sales and marketing systems, and how the revenue flywheel drives sustainable growth without burning cash.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2921 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 4: Two Ways to Measure Firm Value | Cash FlowThis is Part 4 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve breaks down the two main ways businesses are valued: the income approach, based on free cash flow, cost of capital, and growth, and the market approach, based on EBITDA multiples. He explains why understanding both is critical, how multiples impact valuation, and what really drives the worth of your company.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2918 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 3: What Creates Value in a Business? | Cash FlowThis is Part 3 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve reveals what truly creates value in a business: generating more cash flow than the cost of your investments. He explains return on invested capital (ROIC), why growth without strong returns destroys value, and how to measure whether your business is actually creating or burning cash.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2913 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 2: The Cash Flow Mindset | Cash FlowThis is Part 2 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve explains why profit doesn’t protect a business from failure and why free cash flow is the real survival metric. He breaks down how to calculate free cash flow, why it matters more than revenue or profit, and how companies with strong cash flow thrive in any economy.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2910 min
Strategy Meets FinancePart 1: The Foundation of Great Companies | Cash FlowThis is Part 1 of Steve Coughran’s book Cash Flow. In this section, Steve lays the foundation of why so many businesses struggle with cash even when they look profitable on paper. He explains the stages of a hidden cash flow crisis, why free cash flow matters more than revenue or profit, and introduces the seven levers that determine a company’s value.LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com/byfiq
2025-08-2922 min
Strategy Meets FinanceThe One Truth I'll Never Stop Sharing About Finance | Ep 155Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Most professionals know financial literacy is crucial, yet few follow through.In this episode, Steve Coughran uncovers why so many start strong but fail to finish—and what it takes to break the cycle. Through real-world insights and hard-hitting truths, Steve shares why there are no shortcuts to financial success, how distractions derail progress, and what separates those who thrive from those who stay stuck.If you’re rea...
2025-02-2409 min
Building Margin91: 5 Financial Metrics You Should Know in Your BusinessWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth Are you running your business blind?In this episode, Steve Coughran, founder of Coltivar, reveals the five critical metrics you need to know to stop guessing and start growing. Learn how to optimize margins, improve cash flow, and make smarter, data-driven decisions—lessons Steve learned from scaling multi-million and billion-dollar companies.Discover the one metric that trumps them all and start building a more profitable, iconic business.Tune in now and take control of your numbers.D...
2024-12-1810 minStrategy Meets FinanceIs Your Company Really Making Money? | Ep 139Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Is your business truly profitable, or just looking good on paper? In this episode, Steve Coughran dives deep into the often-misunderstood world of profitability.Drawing insights from his book Outsizing and research on 300+ companies, he explains why accounting profit doesn’t always reflect a company’s real financial health. Steve reveals the critical metrics every business owner should know—like return on invested capital (ROIC) and cash flow—and shares sur...
2024-11-1113 minBuilding Margin83: I've Spent 15 Years Studying Strategy. Here's What I've LearnedWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran reveals six key lessons learned from over 15 years of helping companies grow and thrive. Discover how to simplify your strategy, avoid common traps, and focus on execution using Steve's IAR framework (Initiatives, Actions, Results). Perfect for business leaders looking to streamline strategy and drive real results.Tune in to build a more profitable, impactful business!Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are n...
2024-11-0711 minBuilding Margin82: The 4 Ways Initiatives Help You to Crush Your StrategyWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran shares how to turn a solid strategy into real results using his IAR framework: Initiatives, Actions, and Results. After defining purpose, principles, and market focus, the next step is execution—and that’s where most companies stumble.Steve explains how to set the right strategic initiatives—ones that tackle core problems, elevate customer experience, drive innovation, and strengthen competitive advantage. Drawing from his work scaling and turning around businesses, he shows how execution isn’t about doing more—it’s...
2024-11-0512 minBuilding Margin80: Straight Up Advice for Those Making Strategic DecisionsWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth Many business owners struggle to grow because they overlook the one key constraint that holds them back. In this episode, Steve Coughran shares a proven framework he’s used to turn around and grow multi-million and billion-dollar companies. Discover how to identify your business's biggest obstacle and focus your resources on solving it for exponential growth. Steve discusses real-world examples and offers practical, actionable steps to boost your company’s value, improve cash flow, and drive long-term success—without burning out. Tune in and learn h...
2024-10-2209 minStrategy Meets FinanceI Spent 8 Years Studying Finance In School. Here's What I Learned | Ep 137Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Not understanding cash flow can put your business at serious risk. In this episode, Steve Coughran emphasizes the critical importance of mastering free cash flow for business success. Drawing from his own experiences and real-world examples, Steve highlights how businesses often focus too much on profit while overlooking cash flow, which can lead to devastating consequences. Whether you're a student learning the ropes or a seasoned business owner, this episode will eq...
2024-10-2111 minBuilding Margin78: 6 Key Financial Concepts You Should KnowWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth Mastering key financial concepts is essential for driving business success. In this episode, Steve Coughran cuts through the complexity and explains the six critical concepts you need to know for maximizing free cash flow and firm value. From NOPAT and working capital to growth strategies and WACC, Steve breaks down how these drivers can transform your business. Whether you’re a CEO or business leader, this episode offers clear, actionable insights to help you focus on what really matters and build long-term value.
2024-10-1510 minBuilding Margin65: 4 Fundamentals of Strategy You Must KnowWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran breaks down what it really takes to build a winning strategy. He starts by clearing up a key misconception—strategy isn’t the same as strategic planning. Before execution comes clarity.Steve walks through the fundamentals: defining purpose, identifying your core strategic problem, evaluating options, and building customer-focused initiatives that drive long-term value. He also explains why aligning strategy with finance—especially around growth and return on capital—is essential for building a high-performing, resilient business.Whether...
2024-08-0113 minBuilding Margin64: The Most Important Ratio to Measure Your Sales and Marketing EffectivenessWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran breaks down one of the most important metrics for scaling profitably: the LTV to CAC ratio. He explains how to calculate it, why aiming for at least 3:1 matters, and how it can attract investors and fuel sustainable growth.Drawing from real-world experience turning around and scaling companies, Steve shares actionable tips to boost customer lifetime value, lower acquisition costs, and track these numbers over time to guide smarter decisions. If you’re serious about scaling, this is one...
2024-07-2507 minBuilding Margin61: Strategy for The NowWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran unpacks the critical role business strategy plays in driving long-term success. He explores how strategic planning fuels innovation, sharpens competitive advantage, and positions companies for sustainable growth.Steve also highlights what’s at stake when businesses fail to adapt—missed opportunities, market irrelevance, and financial setbacks. With practical advice tailored for business leaders, this episode offers clear steps to align your strategy with shifting trends and real-world demands.Disclaimer:The views expre...
2024-07-0410 minBuilding Margin60: Why I Want You to Invest in Your Strategic AcumenWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran dives into why developing strategic acumen is essential for thriving in today’s fast-moving business world. He breaks down how mastering strategic thinking can lead to better decisions, sustainable growth, and a lasting competitive edge.Steve shares practical tips on identifying your core strategic problem, defining a clear purpose, and building principles that actually guide execution. Whether you’re leading a startup or scaling an established company, this episode will help you think more strategically and lead more...
2024-06-2717 minBuilding Margin59: Why You Should Love What You Do In BusinessWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran explores one of the most underrated drivers of entrepreneurial success: passion. Drawing from his own journey as a founder and CFO, Steve shares why passion isn’t fluff—it’s fuel. It drives creativity, resilience, and purpose, turning a business into a mission and teams into believers.Packed with real stories and practical takeaways, this episode helps founders and leaders tap into what truly motivates them—and shows how to turn that energy into a strategic advantage.
2024-06-2120 minBuilding Margin56: What You Need to Know About Financial StatementsWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran breaks down the three core financial statements every business leader should understand: the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. Drawing on his experience as a CFO, Steve explains how these tools reveal the true health of a business—and how they connect to strategic decisions. Whether you're tracking revenue, cash flow, or equity, this episode will give you the financial clarity you need to lead with confidence.Disclaimer:The views exp...
2024-05-3024 minStrategy Meets FinanceThe 3 Things CEOs Should Know About Finance | Ep 116Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Join host Steve Coughran in this enlightening episode as he unveils the three essential financial insights every CEO should master. Without revealing the specifics, Steve teases listeners with the promise of valuable knowledge that can transform your business approach. Discover how understanding the language of money can empower you to run a more profitable, cash flow positive business that consistently grows in value. Tune in to gain actionable insights and elevate yo...
2024-05-2913 minBuilding Margin55: How to Develop a Strategy for Your BusinessWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran walks through his proven 10-step strategy blueprint for building a winning business. From defining your purpose and pinpointing your core problem to researching the market and choosing the right strategic path, Steve shares a practical approach to creating clarity and momentum. It’s a must-listen for any founder looking to boost profits, outmaneuver the competition, and lead with purpose.Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personn...
2024-05-2312 minBuilding Margin48: What You Need to Know About the 4 Phases of StrategyWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran unpacks his signature framework: Diagnose, Design, Execute, and Empower. Drawing from years of experience, Steve shares a holistic approach to strategy that blends data, finance, and leadership. He explains how to uncover root issues through benchmarking, build a strategic blueprint, drive execution with clear accountability, and create a culture of continuous improvement. It’s a practical playbook for turning big ideas into real results.Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the ind...
2024-04-0410 minStrategy Meets Finance3 Things to Measure in Any Business | Ep 107Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Steve Coughran delves into the "3 Things to Measure in Any Business," simplifying the complex world of finance for leaders inundated with metrics, KPIs, and detailed reports. This clutter of data can often cloud judgment, steering focus away from the true drivers of financial success. Steve champions the power of simplicity, arguing that the essence of financial clarity can be distilled into three pivotal measures: sales, margin, and profit. Each of these me...
2024-03-2609 minBuilding Margin46: Every Company a Tech CompanyWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this week's episode, host Steve Coughran dives deep into the transformative idea that, in the coming decade, nearly every company will essentially become a tech company. This sweeping change isn't limited to sectors traditionally associated with technology; it spans across industries like plumbing, electrical, advertising, food and beverage, healthcare, retail, and beyond. The dichotomy between tech companies and 'everyone else' is blurring, accelerated by the pandemic's push towards digital and the continuous evolution of artificial intelligence. Today, technology isn't just a part of b...
2024-03-2106 minBuilding Margin42: If You Want Better Results in Business, Listen to ThisWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, host Steve Coughran dives into the crucial topic of achieving better results in business. He emphasizes the significance of having everyone in the organization on the same page and strategically aligned to drive success. Steve underscores the importance of putting the customer at the center of the strategy, highlighting how customer-centric approaches can lead to sustainable growth and competitive advantage. Furthermore, Steve discusses the necessity of making strategy relatable at all levels of the organization to ensure successful execution. By ensuring t...
2024-02-2208 minStrategy Meets FinanceWhat You Need to Know About Financial Statements | Ep 101Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Steve Coughran delves into the crucial topic of "What You Need to Know About Financial Statements." As a seasoned financial expert, Coughran guides listeners through the essential components of the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. By breaking down these key financial documents, he empowers business professionals to gain a deeper understanding of their company's financial health and make informed decisions. Whether you're a seasoned executive or an as...
2024-02-2017 minBuilding Margin39: It's Time to Fire that Toxic EmployeeWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, your host Steve Coughran dives into the critical topic of "It's Time to Fire that Toxic Employee." Drawing on his extensive experience working with companies of various sizes and industries, Steve sheds light on the game-changing impact toxic employees can have on an organization. Sharing anecdotes from his days as the CFO of a major construction company, Steve emphasizes the detrimental effects of retaining toxic individuals, even if they are high performers. He discusses the delicate balance between the professional and p...
2024-02-0113 minStrategy Meets FinanceHow to Recover from Financial Trauma with Joyce Marter | Ep 97Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Steve Coughran engages in a transformative conversation with Joyce Marter, the esteemed author behind Financial Mindset Fix. Together, they address the pressing topic of "How to Recover from Financial Trauma." With a focus on empowering individuals who have faced financial setbacks such as divorce, bankruptcy, or business failure, Coughran and Marter provide invaluable insights on reclaiming the financial life we deserve to live. Drawing from their expertise and real-world examples, they gu...
2024-01-2314 minStrategy Meets FinanceShifting from a Scarcity to Abundance Mindset with Joyce Marter | Ep 95Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Steve Coughran engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Joyce Marter, the esteemed author behind Financial Mindset Fix. Together, they explore the transformative concept of "Shifting from a Scarcity to Abundance Mindset." By delving into the depths of our limiting beliefs and challenging our preconceived notions about money, Coughran and Marter provide listeners with valuable insights on how to change their relationship with finances. In this illuminating discussion, they guide us towards re...
2024-01-0918 minStrategy Meets FinanceSuccessful Trading with Tony Greer | Ep 88Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Steve Coughran engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Tony Greer, Editor of the Morning Navigator, focusing on the intriguing subject of "Successful Trading." Together, they delve into key aspects of the trading world and explore the reasons behind the staggering statistic that 97 percent of traders are not profitable. Additionally, they shed light on the technology required to embark on a trading journey in financial assets, outlining the essential steps to get st...
2023-11-2146 minStrategy Meets FinanceFinance Fundamentals You Should Know | Ep 86Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Take the Financial IQ Assessment: coltivar.com/byfiq Steve Coughran, with his wealth of experience as a business owner, management consultant, and CFO, provides valuable insights and knowledge to empower individuals in their financial lives. One of the highlights of the podcast is the BYFIQ Financial Assessment, a free tool that allows you to gauge your financial literacy. By reviewing the answers to this assessment, Steve Coughran guides listeners tow...
2023-11-0725 minBuilding Margin25: The Ins and Outs of Strategic Finance with Keith DownhamWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran is interviewed by Keith Downham, Co-Founder of Coltivar Growth Partners, on "The Ins and Outs of Strategic Finance." They discuss Steve's entrepreneurial journey, the synergy between strategy and finance, and the difference between a strategic CFO and a traditional CFO. This insightful conversation offers valuable lessons on how strategic finance drives long-term business success. Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views...
2023-10-1848 minBuilding Margin23: How Momentum and Speed Make or Break a Startup with Thomas WalleWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In the latest episode of the Business Strategy podcast, host Steve Coughran dives deep into the world of startups with a special guest, Thomas Walle, the CEO of Unacast. Together, they explore the critical role that momentum and speed play in the success or failure of a startup. Throughout the conversation, Walle shares valuable insights on how to harness momentum by implementing OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to align the organization and achieve desired results. They also discuss the comparison between OKRs and Coltivar's p...
2023-10-0444 minBuilding Margin22: Defining Your Strategic ProblemWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, hosted by Steve Coughran, listeners are enlightened about the criticality of clearly identifying their strategic problem. Steve emphasizes that understanding and articulating the strategic problem at hand is fundamental to pursuing the right initiatives that will effectively overcome the challenge. By defining the strategic problem, businesses can align their resources, efforts, and strategies towards addressing the core issue. This comprehensive approach enables organizations to build resiliency, adapt to market changes, and maximize firm value in the long run. Steve's insightful discussion u...
2023-09-2715 minStrategy Meets FinanceThe Upside of Business Equity | Ep 80Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Steve Coughran delves into the compelling advantages of participating in business equity. This enlightening episode highlights the potential for high returns that investing in business equity can bring. As companies experience growth and success over time, investors have the opportunity to reap significant rewards on their investments. Moreover, owning business equity grants investors a sense of ownership and control, enabling them to have a say in the company's decision-making processes. Steve em...
2023-09-2625 minBuilding Margin21: Crafting an Ideal Customer ProfileWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, hosted by Steve Coughran, listeners are guided through the art of crafting an ideal customer profile. With an emphasis on clear, concise language and a persuasive tone, Coughran dives into the process of identifying customer values, digging deep into their urgent problems, and analyzing macro trends that impact their space. By leveraging statistics, anecdotes, and direct address, he compels listeners to understand the importance of creating an ideal customer profile. Highlighting the significance of triggers and using data-driven insights, Coughran empowers i...
2023-09-2024 minBuilding Margin20: Aligning Business Strategy and Exit Planning with Dawn BloomerWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, host Steve Coughran sits down with renowned Business Strategist Dawn Bloomer to delve into the critical topic of aligning business strategy with exit planning. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the significance of making informed decisions when it comes to selecting the right business entity. They also explore strategies for building a business in a way that mitigates keyman risks, ensuring the continuity of success even in the face of unexpected changes. Furthermore, Coughran and Bloomer shed light on the importance of t...
2023-09-1353 minStrategy Meets FinanceNavigating Asset Bubbles and Financial Crises | Ep 78Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit Steve Coughran delves into the intriguing world of asset bubbles and provides valuable insights on how to navigate their perils while capitalizing on potential opportunities. Coughran starts by offering a concise history of asset bubbles, shedding light on their patterns and the factors that contribute to their formation. He then explores the correlation between asset bubbles and debt cycles, emphasizing how excessive borrowing can fuel the growth of these bubbles and ev...
2023-09-1238 minBuilding Margin19: Choosing the Right Entity StructureWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode of the Business Strategy podcast, Steve Coughran explores the importance of choosing the right entity structure when starting or scaling a business. From sole proprietorships to LLCs and corporations, Steve highlights how aligning your structure with your strategy can protect assets and drive growth. Tune in for essential insights to help you make informed decisions for long-term success. Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not t...
2023-09-0626 minStrategy Meets FinanceHow to Use Capital Budgeting to Make Better Financial Decisions | Ep 77Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit In the latest episode, host Steve Coughran dives deep into the world of capital budgeting and its significance as a powerful financial tool. Steve emphasizes the importance of coupling capital budgeting with a well-defined strategy to make great long-term investment decisions. With insightful examples and expert analysis, Steve unravels the complexities of capital budgeting and demonstrates how it can help individuals and businesses alike in maximizing their financial growth and stability. Do...
2023-09-0530 minStrategy Meets FinanceFrom Teenage Entrepreneur to Financial Visionary With Marco Bavetta | Ep 76Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit In this insightful episode, host Steve Coughran engages in an enlightening conversation with special guest Marco Bavetta. The discussion covers a range of topics, starting with the intricacies of entrepreneurship and the key factors that contribute to success in business ventures. Coughran shares valuable insights on how to get started in business, emphasizing the importance of aligning our daily patterns with long-term goals. He highlights the power of taking small and si...
2023-08-2955 minBuilding Margin16: How to Integrate Finance With Your StrategyWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode of the Business Strategy podcast, Steve Coughran discusses the importance of integrating finance with strategy. He explains how clear strategic initiatives guide financial decisions, resource allocation, and long-term success. Coughran highlights the need for a financial plan that aligns with business goals, covering revenue, expenses, and cash flow. He also emphasizes regular financial analysis and continuous monitoring to adapt and stay aligned with strategic objectives. This episode offers valuable insights on merging finance and strategy for business growth. D...
2023-08-1620 minStrategy Meets FinanceHow to Get Control of Your Spending | Ep 74Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit In the episode, host Steve Coughran delves into the significance of various aspects related to personal finance. He emphasizes the importance of paying yourself, which involves setting aside a portion of your income for savings or investments. Coughran also highlights the need to cultivate the right mindset when it comes to money, shifting our perspective from instant gratification to long-term financial goals. Additionally, he discusses the concept of overcoming our small se...
2023-08-1539 minStrategy Meets Finance3 Reasons Why Most People Don't Become Rich | Ep 73Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit In the captivating podcast episode titled "The 3 Reasons Why Most People Don't Become Rich," the enthusiastic host, Steve Coughran, delves deep into the core factors that hinder wealth creation. With expert analysis and engaging storytelling, Coughran unveils the first reason: the failure to take action. He emphasizes the crucial importance of seizing opportunities and implementing ideas, highlighting how inaction can stagnate financial growth. Moving on, Coughran explores the second reason - th...
2023-08-0828 minBuilding Margin13: What is a Strategic InitiativeWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran breaks down strategic initiatives and their role in driving business success. He explains how these initiatives help companies tackle challenges, build competitive advantages, and enhance customer experiences. Through real-world examples, Steve shows how aligning strategic initiatives with company goals can fuel innovation, improve efficiency, and expand markets. Whether you're a business owner or strategist, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of strategic initiatives.Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the i...
2023-07-2614 minStrategy Meets Finance5 Financial Mistakes Most Entrepreneurs Make in Business | Ep 71Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit In this episode, host Steve Coughran delves into the world of financial management for entrepreneurs and explores the five most common financial mistakes made in business. Join Steve as he uncovers the pitfalls that many entrepreneurs fall into and shares insights on how to avoid them. First, Steve highlights the importance of maintaining a clear and streamlined chart of accounts. He discusses how an overly complicated chart can lead to confusion, er...
2023-07-2528 minBuilding Margin12: How To Use IARs to Drive ExecutionWant to grow your business? Download your free roadmap today: coltivar.com/growth In this episode, Steve Coughran introduces the IAR framework—Initiatives, Actions, and Results—as a methodical approach to creating agile strategies that reduce risk, differentiate from competitors, and drive outcomes. IARs help teams assign ownership, set clear initiatives, design actions to advance them, and measure results. Steve explains how strategy can often feel overwhelming, but IARs simplify the process by establishing strategic patterns that make execution a habit. By ingraining strategy into everyday operations, teams can be proactive, align actions with goals, and track progr...
2023-07-1939 minStrategy Meets FinanceAsking for More Money and Increasing Your Income | Ep 70Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Financial Intelligence Toolkit In this episode, host Steve Coughran shares unconventional tips for people who want to successfully ask for more money at work and increase their overall income. Drawing on his years of experience in finance and business, Steve provides actionable strategies that can help listeners take control of their earning potential. Steve discusses the importance of focusing on the value that you bring to the table, rather than just your qualifications and ex...
2023-07-1830 min