Category Archives: Protecting the business

A tale of two CEO’s and the management of pain.

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Dave Berkus

This is the tale of two CEOs, one of them unfortunately….me.   It’s a story of how people handle unusual situations when selling to the top – an executive of a prospective customer.  And the stories couldn’t be more different. … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, General, Protecting the business | 1 Comment

Can you negotiate without emotion?

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Dave Berkus

Here’s the problem. Negotiating an agreement, especially one that involves personal gain, is tough for the person personally involved.  There is too much to lose to be objective, to be willing to walk when terms go upside down. What if … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Protecting the business, Surrounding yourself with talent | Leave a 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

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

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

Your time is as valuable as your money.

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Dave Berkus

Enterprise time as a measurable commodity. Let’s examine the challenges to a CEO in making use of enterprise time, one of your most valuable and often misused assets.  Enterprise time, as opposed to personal time management, is the sum total … Continue reading →

Posted in Protecting the business | 3 Comments

The tender issue of stealing time

Posted on May 6, 2021 by Dave Berkus

It’s a big issue within any company.  With easy access to Internet shopping, games, social networks and more, employees can find many ways to focus on personal issues while at work, detracting from productivity and demonstrating a disrespect for the … Continue reading →

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Could you achieve ten percent net income each month?

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Dave Berkus

How planning is done today Most entrepreneurs and managers, when modeling their business operations using a spreadsheet, start with expected revenue by month.  Then they calculate cost of sales, and then project their expenses, to find the bottom-line profit or … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth!, Protecting the business | 1 Comment