Is "humble" the same as weak?
Dave Berkus
CogLab UC Berkeley
Hello CogLab,
Businesses live and die by profit, derived from revenues. Here's something to think about when calculating the value and durability of any business. Please read on...
Tuesday, January 27th, 2026
Is "humble" the same as weak?
The strongest leaders I've worked with in 50+ years share something: they ask more questions than they answer. They admit what they don't know. They listen to people three levels below them without defensiveness.
Weakness is pretending. Weakness is the executive who nods along in meetings then second-guesses decisions in private. Weakness is surrounded by yes-responders because you can't handle pushback.
Humility is different. It's knowing your blind spots matter more than your strengths. It's correcting course fast because ego isn't in the way. It's attracting talent that could replace you because you're secure enough not to need protecting.
The markets punish false confidence. They reward leaders who know what they don't know and aren't afraid to say it.
Your team can smell the difference. So can your board.
You can find more of Dave's insights by clicking this link to berkus.com.
EVENTS, TV and VIDEOS
Dave's YouTube channel:: "Startup Masterclass from Dave Berkus"
Dave's TEDx talk: "Smiling at success, laughing at failure."
The"Berkus Method" of valuing early stage businesses
SELECTED BERKONOMICS POSTS
* You are watched, mostly when decisions are tough.
* The lion and the ant: A managerial lesson.
* OUCH! If only I had learned this before losing millions.
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED BOOKS BY DAVE:
The three BERKONOMICS books for entrepreneurs, CxO's, management and their board
members and investors. Each is divided into 101 easy to read insights with
Dave's stories from his 50+ years of experience on both sides of the business
aisle.
Available as a Kindle book and as a soft cover book on Amazon's bookstore.
Check out all 31 variations of the 13 books, audio books, and Kindle publications from the Berkus Press by clicking the box below:
Click here to check out Dave's AMAZON store
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