Category Archives: General

Fewer words, greater effect.

Posted on June 8, 2023 by Dave Berkus

I have a good business friend, an experienced manager and teacher with a Harvard MBA, whose creativity and intelligence are admired by many.  But he dilutes his effectiveness with wordy PowerPoint presentations.  It has become a long running joke between … Continue reading →

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Nothing good happens after midnight!

Posted on April 13, 2023 by Dave Berkus

Here’s another one from my Dad, a very wise man. He gave me this advice right after I received my driver’s license years ago.  It took years to understand the importance of this prophetic statement. Taking this advice literally: Gun … Continue reading →

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So, what’s a company board good for, anyway?

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Dave Berkus

Some of you have gotten along forever without a board of directors, or used your spouse as the “other” board member from the start.  But there are some very good reasons to build a great board composed of some outside … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 4 Comments

Well, now we know how bankers control our business lives!

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Dave Berkus

Let’s get right down to it.  Your banking relationship can be like a great marriage or a bad trip to the DMV.  In most cases it is strictly your choice.  But the results of that choice will reverberate for what … Continue reading →

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About personal use of corporate assets

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Dave Berkus

Here’s the IRS take on the issue: It is no secret that the IRS carefully looks below the surface for personal use of company assets (including cash) in its corporate income tax audits.  This insight addresses more the impact of … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Hedging against downturns, Protecting the business, Surrounding yourself with talent | 1 Comment

You name the price; I’ll name the terms.

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Dave Berkus

I admit that my dad taught me this when I was just a fifteen–year old kid starting a business and negotiating with suppliers for the first time.  But I learned it again and again in my various business lives. Here’s … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Positioning | 1 Comment

HIRE for talent. RENT for experience.

Posted on August 11, 2022 by Dave Berkus

Want the best way to create your core competency quickly and inexpensively?   Think like a startup, with little resources, a limited window of time, and few dollars to spend on expensive experts. Divide the hiring decision into two boxes. This … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 1 Comment

Employee vs. contractor: Here we go again.

Posted on July 14, 2022 by Dave Berkus

Why revisit this issue now? Several years ago, I wrote an extensive article on the ten most important tests of a company in classifying a person as an independent contractor.  See https://berkonomics.com/?p=662 for that important insight.  But things have gotten … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, General, Protecting the business | 4 Comments

How to solve your most critical problems

Posted on June 23, 2022 by Dave Berkus

First, the challenge Let’s say you have been told by your board, by your chairman, CEO, or direct leader to solve three problems you identify and report back within a month showing progress – or that you have solved these … Continue reading →

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How good a leader are you?

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Dave Berkus

There are many roads to Rio, so they say.  But there is one overwhelming method of appraising the effectiveness of a business leader. Outcomes. We can invent lots of metrics to measure progress for a leader, including revenue, profit, employee … Continue reading →

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