Author Archives: Dave Berkus

Sign short term leases early on. Move as you grow.

Posted on November 23, 2017 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”zoomIn” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”avoid-LT-c” description=”avoid-LT-commitments” id=”3205″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”medium”/] Avoid long-term commitments. It is statistically true that at least half of the young companies funded by angel or venture investors will not survive three years from funding … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Hedging against downturns | 1 Comment

Are you uncomfortable with home-based workers?

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Dave Berkus

Do home-based employees work with the same dedication and productivity as those in office cubicles next to each other? That depends upon the management as much as the employee.  I have a friend who is a CEO of a recruiting … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Hedging against downturns | 2 Comments

Niche marketing works. Here’s how.

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”slideInDown” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”niche-mark” description=”niche-market” id=”3189″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”thumbnail”/] How many of us throw away marketing dollars because our paid efforts reach an audience that is much larger than the target or niche audience we need to … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Positioning | Leave a comment

Are you ready to take on an office lease?

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Dave Berkus

Rent your first office with caution.  Several years ago, I became involved with a Southeast Asian company looking to expand into the United States.  During the discussions with the CEO about hiring North American managers, he made it clear that … Continue reading →

Posted in Hedging against downturns | Leave a comment

How to make a small problem into a big one.

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Dave Berkus

Allowing small problems to escalate into big ones is simple.  Just ignore the signs for long enough and the job is done.  It takes far more energy to review regularly the key performance indicators you’ve established for each individual and … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Protecting the business | Leave a comment

Even a taste of ownership motivates employees.

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”bounce” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”customer-s” description=”customer-satisfactio” id=”3157″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”thumbnail”/] How about employees all the way down the line and through the corporation? How do we align them to the goals and strategies of the enterprise?  Obviously for … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Surrounding yourself with talent | 4 Comments

Why cash is only one measure of employee happiness

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”zoomIn” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”cash-compe” description=”cash-compensation” id=”3151″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”large”/] In 1981, Herb Cohen wrote and published “You Can Negotiate Anything”, an excellent guide to great negotiating.  I’ve read and reread the book a number of times and … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Surrounding yourself with talent | 1 Comment

Would you pay a high achiever more than yourself?

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”diving” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”MONEY” description=”MONEY” id=”3145″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”large”/] Recently I was asked to review an offer letter for a senior director of business development. The CEO was concerned that he was offering far too much in … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Growth!, Surrounding yourself with talent | Leave a comment

Careful about equity and options in early stage businesses

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”slideInDown” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”.” description=”.” id=”3137″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”medium”/] This post is longer than usual.  For those negotiating equity allocations it covers some of the most complex issues to address in the process.  I just couldn’t reduce … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Protecting the business | 2 Comments

Fire fast, not last.

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”effectc1″ animation=”fadeIn” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”.” description=”.” id=”3127″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”medium”/] Here is one that takes a real leap for a younger manager or CEO to believe.  After hiring someone with all the attendant enthusiasm followed by the training … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Protecting the business | 3 Comments