Category Archives: Finding your ideal niche

Fail fast!

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Dave Berkus

Professional investors want to live by this rule. With the first round of funding, there should be milestones to be achieved.  If they are not achieved within the expected time, the reasons must be analyzed and acted upon to avoid … Continue reading →

Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Ignition! Starting up | 1 Comment

Entrepreneurs: Do it your way.

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Dave Berkus

Yes, this is a takeoff from Frank Sinatra’s song, where he did it his way and got away with it.  You’re building a company from your vision and a passion, and lots of people are going to tell you that … Continue reading →

Posted in Depending upon others, Finding your ideal niche, Growth!, Ignition! Starting up | Leave a comment

Is success a goal or a byproduct?

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Dave Berkus

               Look this up sometime in your browser: “Success is a byproduct, not a goal.”  You will find it attributed to tens of originators.  I first heard this in an episode of Friday Night Lights, when sage Coach Taylor began … Continue reading →

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The trend is your friend.

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Dave Berkus

Too many startup businesses, especially in the technology world, are built upon brand new concepts that have not yet been proven in the field with products from other companies that have revenues flowing.  As a rule, creating a product that … Continue reading →

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Find your rock in Ensenada. An encore.

Posted on November 19, 2011 by Dave Berkus

This week, for the first time, we republish an earlier post.  With readership up three-fold since that posting in April, 2011, and with many great reader comments then, it is only natural to send you to the original post with … Continue reading →

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Faster is sometimes more valuable than better.

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Dave Berkus

And doing both well usually wins the day.                     This is one of those arguable insights, where both sides win.  Dell is a great example of emphasis upon fast, creating a customized computer in 48 hours or less, bringing in assemblies … Continue reading →

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Cast your net where the big fish swim.

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Dave Berkus

This is one of those “My dad used to say” homilies.  You’ve probably heard the accompanying “It takes just as much effort to sell a small deal as a big one” over the years. The truth of this is more … Continue reading →

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Find your “teacher-customer.”

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Dave Berkus

Your customers know what they want more than you do.  Find one to teach you.                   This insight came from personal experience and from a good friend who advanced the notion of the “teacher-customer” years ago.  I internalized this phrase, … Continue reading →

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Everything changes from concept to release! (And another story…)

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Dave Berkus

                  You can take “everything changes” as a rule, not an exception.  You’ll recognize the truism, “No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy” first stated by German Field Marshall von Moltke in the 19th century.  This variant of … Continue reading →

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New idea or product? Don’t rest until you test!

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Dave Berkus

     So you have a great new product or service that you and your associates love.  Early adopters should climb all over each other for a look.  But what have you done to test the concept against the realities of … Continue reading →

Posted in Finding your ideal niche, Positioning | 1 Comment