About Us
đŻ Who We Help:
⢠Owners doing $1MMâ$10MM who are always busy but barely profitable
⢠Business brokers, coaches, and accountants who need real results
⢠Companies ready to shift from âsurvive modeâ to scalable, cash-rich operations
⢠Organizations facing inflation, margin pressure, or labor constraints
đĄ What Makes Us Different:
⢠40 Profit Levers tailored to $1MMâ$10MM businesses
⢠AI & Predictive Modeling to identify leverage
⢠Field-Tested Playbooks, not theory
⢠Weekly Accountability + Multi-Platform Training
⢠Transformation, not just optimization
𧪠Proof It Works:
âDeep critical thinker. Thought leader. Delivers real results.â â LinkedIn Reviews
All our methods are tested in the real world. We don't guessâwe track, measure, and deliver. This is profit intelligence for the hands-on business owner whoâs ready to grow smarter.
đ Take the First Step:
⢠â
Free Profit Potential Assessment
⢠â
Schedule a 1:1 Strategic Clarity Call and see what you're missing
https://go.oncehub.com/coudray
Final Word:
You didnât come this far to settle for âbusy.â
Catalyst shows you the hidden leverage in your businessâand how to turn it into lasting, predictable profit.
#BusinessStrategy #ExecutiveCoaching #ProfitGrowth #BusinessTransformation #EntrepreneurialLeadership
How We Got Started
I am a serial entrepreneur that started in my parent's garage at 19. That company is still working and will 53 years old in 2025.
The companies I have founded were all conceived and grown from the premise of incubating and proving new business concepts. Once proven, the principles are taught to other businesses so they can grow and prosper.
It has been my experience that much of the advice and guidance given to small business owners is plain wrong. I have many examples that we have all told ourselves, and consequently slowed or hurt our growth and profitability.
All the methods used by CGT have been field-tested and proven. Over 400 companies have been through the program in the last 9 years. The methods are measurable and deliver substantial results. Whether you are on the March to a Million or seeking Double Digit Profits, I can help you get there faster.
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (60)
"The man that makes me think "I never thought of that, but it makes perfect sense""
"Mark Coudray is a true visionary who help everyone around him to push through their limits."
Products & Services
Both are group coaching programs. March to a Million is designed to launch businesses to $1 million in revenue with positive cash flow and net prof...
Recommendations Given (32)
"I've worked with Deborah for over 25 years. She is an excellent and professional editor and..."
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"I've worked with Deborah for over 25 years. She is an excellent and professional editor and copywriter. There is definitely a reason why her clients stay with her for decades. When you connect with a valuable resource, you don't let it slip away."
"Great resource for real estate in the Nort county."
Recent Activity
This is an excellent example of why every small business should be using the Profit First methodology to strengthen their business. I have been using and teaching this in my business coaching practices for the last 3 years and it has made an enormous difference. The primary difference between...
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This is an excellent example of why every small business should be using the Profit First methodology to strengthen their business. I have been using and teaching this in my business coaching practices for the last 3 years and it has made an enormous difference. The primary difference between those who do and those who don't is confidence in what is ahead. None of us know for sure, but when you are confident in your cash position and your ability to consistently pay your bills, the peace of mind is highly evident. If you have not started using Profit First, I recommend you get the book by the same name and check it out. It will definitely be worth your time.
Absolutely. That being said, your BP does not have to be an ordeal. The reason I am such a proponent is because it forces you to clarity. Iâve witnessed so many small business lose focus and get caught in the weeds because they arenât clear. The business plan will help you know who your exact...
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Absolutely. That being said, your BP does not have to be an ordeal. The reason I am such a proponent is because it forces you to clarity. Iâve witnessed so many small business lose focus and get caught in the weeds because they arenât clear. The business plan will help you know who your exact customer is and exactly what goodies and services you offer.
My experience with closing sales has changed over the years. My first experience was more than 45 years ago, but today's sales close is different than in the past. To be effective you need to come into the presentation with a clear expectation of what the intent of the call is. If they have done...
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My experience with closing sales has changed over the years. My first experience was more than 45 years ago, but today's sales close is different than in the past. To be effective you need to come into the presentation with a clear expectation of what the intent of the call is. If they have done their research and are beyond just interest, your job is to act as a trusted guide. The questions you ask are designed to have the prospect clarify and determine for themselves your solution is what they are looking for. Remember that all sales decisions are made emotionally and justified logically. It took me years to figure this out. If you are throwing out all kinds of features and benefits thinking you are going to dazzle them with your product knowledge, I'm afraid you will be disappointed more often than not. Rather, ask them deep questions based on how they will feel AFTER they buy from you. These are the emotional triggers that cause them to come to their own conclusions, on their own terms. There is not hard close. My favorite conclusion is: "We can help you with that. When would you like to start?" With this approach, there is never any buyer's remorse or refunding. It is truly magical. A great resource for this is Jeb Blount's book Sales EQ How Ultra High Performers Leverage Sales Specific Emotional Intelligence. Â
This is an interesting question. Having worked with hundreds of businesses one of the things IÂ have noticed is that success means different things to different people. For some it may be cash flow and profit. For others, top line growth. For even others it is freedom to do the things you want to...
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This is an interesting question. Having worked with hundreds of businesses one of the things I have noticed is that success means different things to different people. For some it may be cash flow and profit. For others, top line growth. For even others it is freedom to do the things you want to do. In other words, the business is a vehicle for other goals or a lifestyle. Regardless, the ones who are consistently successful have two things in common. The first is they have a clear idea or vision they want to attain and have a way to measure their progress. The other is a clear set of Core Values that everyone in the organization knows and respects. This is not as easy as it sounds, but have have a huge impact on overcoming other deficiencies in the business.
For me, there are a couple of primary ways. The main one is a proven record of results. When someone inquires about my services, I refer them to past and current clients.Â
Because one of my key approaches is How to Differentiate Yourself to Eliminate Your Competition, they have no fear or...
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For me, there are a couple of primary ways. The main one is a proven record of results. When someone inquires about my services, I refer them to past and current clients.Â
Because one of my key approaches is How to Differentiate Yourself to Eliminate Your Competition, they have no fear or reluctance to discuss their success. It is a very effective and passive way to validate who you are and how you work.
The second big way is content. I write and publish frequently. Unlike many others, I do not publish "useful but incomplete information." The old approach was to tease them by creating interest, but not telling the full story. People do not have time for that anymore.Â
I give the complete strategy. My approach is that it will take you X months or years to implement this on your own. If you want to cut that time to 1/4 or less, we should talk. Having an expert guide dramatically speeds up the learning and implementation process. In my case, clients typically achieve in 6 months what previously took 2-3 years, with lower results.
Peaks and valleys in your sales cycle are really an indication that your pipeline is not fully developed or synchronized. This isn't solved with short term tricks. I would rather solve the problem with a long term solution.Â
In my own business Dec and Jan have been the problem months. After...
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Peaks and valleys in your sales cycle are really an indication that your pipeline is not fully developed or synchronized. This isn't solved with short term tricks. I would rather solve the problem with a long term solution.Â
In my own business Dec and Jan have been the problem months. After close consideration, they are now the strongest months of the year.
The challenge was that during Christmas or the middle of the summer, people are distracted with other social things, time off, family, and so on. It is difficult to get anyone or the team as a whole together to make a decision. Meetings get put off until everyone is there.
The solution for me was to remove the decision making step from those months. I changed my client acquisition and onboarding process to coincide with periods where everyone was available. Now I take on new clients in January and June only. The rest of the time is for projects, planning, and implementing with the clients. Now they are responsible for deliverables during those times, instead of me trying to get them to make a decision.
To make matters even better, there are only a fixed number of clients IÂ can work with, so they are forced to make a decision prior to the onboarding period or risk a 6-month delay.
To make this work, I backed all the pre-engagement work out over a longer period of time so I would not feel rushed or desperate at the end when a decision has to be made.
I have several I really enjoy. Building a StoryBrand with a Donald Miller. For sales I like Jeffrey Gitomerâs Sell or Die.
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I have several I really enjoy. Building a StoryBrand with a Donald Miller. For sales I like Jeffrey Gitomerâs Sell or Die.
I love mastermind groups as long as they are structured and follow a predictable path. Without this, they can wander and degrade. It's important that the meetings are prescheduled a year in advance and members only be allowed 1-2 absences for the year. Make sure the group does not have any...
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I love mastermind groups as long as they are structured and follow a predictable path. Without this, they can wander and degrade. It's important that the meetings are prescheduled a year in advance and members only be allowed 1-2 absences for the year. Make sure the group does not have any competing businesses and stays at 10 or fewer. I have been in multiple masterminds over the years. The longest was 15 years.
6 Replies
This is one of my highest recommendations for any small business. My standing recommendation is to form a small group of 4-6 advisors. Each one should represent a key area of guidance. Examples would be legal, financial, operations, marketing, and growth. You don't need a lawyer or CPA as...
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This is one of my highest recommendations for any small business. My standing recommendation is to form a small group of 4-6 advisors. Each one should represent a key area of guidance. Examples would be legal, financial, operations, marketing, and growth. You don't need a lawyer or CPA as advisors.Â
You need other business owners who are experienced in these areas. Try and pick individuals who have businesses that are larger than you, but not too large. For example, if you are moving toward $1MM in sales, pick advisors who have $3-$5MM companies.Â
I would initially set-up quarterly meetings for review of the immediate past quarter and planning for the next quarter and balance of the year. They have been where you are, not that long ago and their perspective will be more relevant to you. I would also look to an organization like YPO, EO, or Vistage. My experience with them has been great.
These positions are normally not paid. It is customary for you to provide lunch or dinner. The meetings should be 2-4 hours in length and are typically mid-day or after normal hours. Meals can range from pizza, sandwiches, tacos, really anything that would work well for a working meeting.
This is one of the two biggest mistakes small business owners make. I hate the term "Self-employed" because it infers you are creating an employment or job situation for yourself. While this is technically true, I much prefer the term business owner. As such, you should pay yourself from the...
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This is one of the two biggest mistakes small business owners make. I hate the term "Self-employed" because it infers you are creating an employment or job situation for yourself. While this is technically true, I much prefer the term business owner. As such, you should pay yourself from the beginning the wage that would be paid to someone who is handling the responsibilities you have. It the very beginning this is going to be hard to figure out. AÂ great starting point is 50% of your Gross Profit.
I highly recommend getting a copy of Profit First by Mike MIchalowicz. It is a great, great book and is gaining tremendous traction with small business owners. I was so impressed with it, I went on to obtain a Profit First Professional Certification. This book, along with Michael Gerber's EMyth Revisited is essential reading BEFORE you embark on a self-employment/small business.
As for her trial gig, the compensation should be calculated and paid in the same way. If the business cannot support another person, it is either a unpaid or discounted internship, or should not be undertaken. Working for free gives a false sense of success.
