Official website of Dave Berkus
- You are your company’s moral compass! 05/15/2025Here’s yet another story that you may identify with – or have yet to experience in your business life. It’s one of those that define your leadership for all to see, sometimes based upon decisions made in the moment – such as this one. A story of a CEO’s snap judgement call Years ago, when […]
- STOP and celebrate each victory! 05/08/2025Here comes another story. Of course. This one may be like one or more you have experienced in your company. It is a story about focus upon the customer, first. And about reinforcing the culture of the company in support of that important focus by senior management, and by all employees who see that leadership […]
- Here’s a simple corporate directive: 05/01/2025Consider these three letters as something to teach your management team and internalize yourself. Here they are: First, let me credit one of “my” CEOs of a company where I was chairman, Erik Hovanec for this one, whether he originated it or recast it from his past. As his chairman, I have watched him masterfully […]
- How could your growth call for more cash? 04/24/2025It sure is not intuitive. Here we must do a little math calculation together to make a point. Even if your business collects a full year’s revenue up front, you are still going to get hit with this. Here’s the math and a wake-up call: Assume that your gross margin from sales is 50% for […]
- Here’s a rule for companies with outstanding loans: 04/17/2025Here is one that is so important to the continued health of a growing company that it cannot be overstated. It’s a bit complex for novices. But hang in there as I explain a bit about accounting classification of assets and liabilities. Differences between types of assets and liabilities First, let’s be sure we know […]
- Have you made the mistake of hiring too soon? 04/10/2025Well, you may not be alone. Many executives and managers have made the mistake of using the financial and sales forecast to plan and execute hiring of new employees – so that they could be trained and up to speed when the demand arrives. The balance between preparedness and cost Although hiring early does add […]
- Demand pull – cost push. An important econ lesson for you! 04/03/2025Place your cash bets behind proven demand!. The term, “demand pull – cost push” was created by the great economist, John Maynard Keynes, to describe the two primary drivers of economic inflation. Demand pull: too much demand for a product or service and not enough supply cause competition for the product that drives prices higher […]
- How never to run out of cash! 03/27/2025The four basic dials to turn: There are four basic ways to increase the cash position of a company: 1) inject cash through borrowing or investment, 2) decrease spending or payments on debt, (3) increase efficiency of operations, and 4) increase revenues or advance payments from customers. …with one warning: Even before examining the tactics […]
- What if your business runs out of money? 03/20/2025Money in the bank is like oil in the car. Certainly, you have many ways you are pulled every day, both tactical and strategic. But when money is the issue, your time, energy and focus are drained from other important areas of your life or business. Running out of money is not always synonymous with […]
- The 18-month rule and a harrowing tale 03/13/2025It can take 18 months from initial concern about a critical employee to getting a replacement up to speed. Of course, I’ll tell another harrowing story here. But first. an old friend now departed, Dick Tanaka, gets credit for the 18-month rule. He observed that the process we follow to be humane in our handling […]
