Category Archives: Protecting the business

Any advice can be worthless, or worse.

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”slideInUp” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”bad-advice” description=”bad-advice2″ id=”3352″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”thumbnail”/] Ever get bad advice? Sure. We all have in our past. Ever take that advice without question because the person giving it was an investor, a superior in … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Protecting the business, Surrounding yourself with talent | 3 Comments

I won’t serve on a board without D&O insurance!

Posted on March 17, 2018 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”slideInLeft” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”Insurance-” description=”Insurance-dice-small” id=”3347″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”medium”/] I’ve been sued as a board member too many times over the past twenty-five years of board service.  Five times. Does that shock you?  It does me.  Entrepreneurs … Continue reading →

Posted in Protecting the business | 6 Comments

How to cheat legally on your tax return.

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”zoomIn” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”tax-plan” description=”tax-plan” id=”3288″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”thumbnail”/] When do you cross the line between honesty and dishonesty in tax planning?  Is it ethical to allocate income between periods to take advantage of tax breaks?  Can … Continue reading →

Posted in Protecting the business | 2 Comments

Accounting: What kind of bean counter do you need?

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”slideInLeft” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”bean-count” description=”bean-counter1″ id=”3279″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”medium”/] Accountants are trained, certified and usually quite experienced in financial analysis, both creating and reviewing data.  Bookkeepers are often trained on the job although sometimes more formally and … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Protecting the business, Surrounding yourself with talent | 7 Comments

Can your lawyer destroy a good business deal?

Posted on January 18, 2018 by Dave Berkus

Over the years in business and as a member of over forty boards, I have received good advice from corporate attorneys and on occasion bad advice as well.  There is a line that should be drawn in a relationship between … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Protecting the business | 12 Comments

What if you come across juicy competitor information?

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”flipInX” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”competoito” description=”competoitor-analysis” id=”3255″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”medium”/] Many of us belong to industry associations and find ourselves at conferences and trade shows with time to spend with competitors.  Some of these are old friends; some … Continue reading →

Posted in Positioning, Protecting the business | 3 Comments

Avoid “The tyranny of the new office” syndrome.

Posted on November 30, 2017 by Dave Berkus

[wdm_image_effects effect=”no_effect” animation=”bounce” shape=”no_shape” color=”#000″ social=”” title=”new-office” description=”new-office” id=”3210″ show=”hover” counter=”0″ size=”medium”/] One of the most obvious observations I make with growing company CEO’s is that planning for a new office is done with an optimistic view of the future, … Continue reading →

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

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

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