Dave Berkus
Dave Berkus is a noted speaker, author and early stage private equity investor. He is acknowledged as one of the most active angel investors in the country, having made and actively participated in over 87 technology investments during the past decade. He currently manages two angel VC funds (Berkus Technology Ventures, LLC and Kodiak Ventures, L.P.) Dave is past Chairman of the Tech Coast Angels, one of the largest angel networks in the United States. Dave is author of “Basic Berkonomics,” “Berkonomics,” “Advanced Berkonomics,” “Extending the Runway,” and the Small Business Success Collection. Find out more at Berkus.com or contact Dave at dberkus@berkus.com
Latest
The 5 Tactical Skills of a Great Executive
Think of those leaders from your past or present whom you respect most. Compare their leadership style with these five skills.
3 Qualities of a Great Leader
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.
Two Reasons to Attack Critical Issues First
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.
Don’t Make Assertions That Will Later Prove Untrue
Sometimes it is easy for someone at the top of an organization to make a statement that, in the enthusiasm of the moment or to make a point, crosses the line between fact and fiction.
Why Bother with a Board of Directors?
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 required to create a board as a part of the investment process.
It’s About Time!
Enterprise time, as opposed to personal time management, is defined as the sum total of resources available to a company expressed in terms of time – time to develop, to debug, to produce, to deploy, to respond to issues, and to make changes in plans that are not working.
Extending Your Runway
Use your board to help you to navigate through control over these five resources. If you don’t have a viable, relevant board, build one no matter what your size and stage of development. One thing is usually sure: an entrepreneur cannot successfully do it all alone.
Stealing Time
It’s a big issue within any company. With easy access to Internet shopping, games, social networks and more, employees are able to find many ways to focus on personal issues while at work, detracting from productivity and demonstrating a disrespect for the time paid for by their employer.
Two Very Powerful Words: Great Job!
The best managers we all know are the ones who take the time to praise good work in public, before an employee’s peers. For all of us, we should remember that the best possible way to honor great work is to do so immediately.
“Over-Welcome” Your New Employees
A CEO friend of mine who manages her one hundred person remote workforce as a virtual company told me her story of how she welcomes new employees as she grows her firm. Strike that. She over-welcomes her new employees.