Category Archives: Growth!

The coffee and wine school of innovation.

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Dave Berkus

Here’s one for debate around a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Most innovation occurs when creative people are relaxed and thinking about other things.  Coffee, wine, quiet time, showers… How it occurs in large companies… We all … Continue reading →

Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Growth!, Positioning | 4 Comments

Are you killing innovation in your company?

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Dave Berkus

First, let’s recognize the problem. Here’s one for executives of any company with next generation products in mind.  As your business grows more complex and there are more employees to manage and more customers to care for, slowly you will … Continue reading →

Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Growth! | 1 Comment

Are the “FIVE WHY’S” in your arsenal?

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Dave Berkus

This is a trick headline.  There can be three “whys” or twenty, depending upon the issue and the responses.  To make the point, the word “why” has to be one of the more powerful words in your vocabulary.  Asking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Growth!, Protecting the business, Surrounding yourself with talent | 1 Comment

Will you BURN the next manager you hire?

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Dave Berkus

It seems to be a rule, not an exception. Many senior managers and early entrepreneurs create their own mess with this one. The first professional senior manager that an entrepreneur hires to share the growing workload does not last more … Continue reading →

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

Can you be an adaptive business leader?

Posted on July 8, 2021 by Dave Berkus

The title of this insight happens to be the name of a CEO roundtable organization I belong to and have been a member since 1989 (Adaptive Business Leader Organization – or ABL).  The organization, like Vistage, manages roundtables of CEOs … Continue reading →

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Is your CFO a bookkeeper or a strategist?

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Dave Berkus

Here’s one that most small company founders and CEO’s miss until it may be too late.  What is the role of a chief financial officer in growing and protecting the company? How about co-strategist? I recently coached a CFO in … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Growth!, Hedging against downturns, Protecting the business | 3 Comments

Three qualities of a great leader

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Dave Berkus

There are lots of ways to measure a great leader. Here are three that should resonate with you as leader and with those who follow you. These qualities are applicable whether you are leading your company, a board, or a … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Surrounding yourself with talent | 3 Comments

Hit the hardest issues first!

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Dave Berkus

Reorder your priorities for maximum impact. There are two reasons to consider reordering your priorities to attack your most critical issues first, before the easiest ones to knock off the list. First, you are fresher at the start of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Surrounding yourself with talent | 1 Comment

Can you stretch the truth to make your point?

Posted on June 3, 2021 by Dave Berkus

How easily it happens… Sometimes it is easy for someone to make a statement that, in the enthusiasm of the moment or to make a point, crosses the line between fact and fiction.  Sometimes it seems to you to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Protecting the business, Surrounding yourself with talent | 2 Comments

Do you really need a board of directors?

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Dave Berkus

First, the short answer No matter what your size, if you intend to grow your business into more than just a lifestyle workplace, you should create a board of directors.  If you take money from knowledgeable investors, you will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Protecting the business | 4 Comments