Dave Bookbinder is a business valuation professional, having served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries.
Among the many types of intellectual property and intangible assets that Dave has valued are human capital assets.
Dave holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Temple University and a master’s degree in Finance from Drexel University.
Dave is an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Business Valuation with the American Society of Appraisers and also holds the designation of CEIV, Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations.
Dave is the author of a #1 best-selling book about the impact of human capital assets (people!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called: The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals. He writes about business and leadership at CFO University, TLNT.com, and Thrive Global, and he is a former contributor to the business section of The HuffPost. Dave also hosts a business talk show called Behind The Numbers.
Dave serves on the Enterprise Engagement Alliance’s Executive Committee for Accounting and Metrics to help oversee the development of an outreach effort and EEA curriculum program tailored for chief financial officers.
Dave’s teams have been recognized by a variety of independent organizations for excellence in Valuation Consulting. Dave was also personally recognized by SmartCEO Magazine with an award for Executive Management, and he is also a two-time recipient of the Morris Groner Award for Entrepreneurship. Dave is most proud of the multiple awards he’s received for fostering the Best Corporate Culture.
What is Behind The Numbers all about?
It is an axiom in business that “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.” Business performance and business valuation are measured by the numbers. But savvy leaders know that the “real stories” – the lessons learned; successes and failures; aren’t always reflected in the numbers. My guests go Behind The Numbers and dig deeper to understand what really matters in business. The goal here is to unlock the wisdom of each guest so they can share it with the audience. Many times, what’s Behind the Numbers are the people who are making a difference in the organization. It’s a common thread and a topic that’s dear to me. Any chance I get to provide ‘evidence’ that people are an organization’s most valuable asset, I’m delighted.
Tell us a little bit about your personal background – how, and why you started your podcast?
As someone who measures business value “by the numbers” I’ve learned that there is so much more to the story than just the numbers. It’s in understanding these lessons and insights that we can learn how to drive better numbers in business. I also happen to believe that people are an organization’s most valuable asset, and through my lens as a valuation professional, I want to create more awareness around the connection between people and the value of a business. I was lucky to be invited to host an internet TV show at RVN TV in Cherry Hill, NJ. The podcast is an audio version of that streaming tv show.
What was the biggest problem you encountered launching your podcast and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge was in getting guests to share their appearances. Many of them are not used to being in the spotlight, so I had to help them to understand that they are adding value to the audience and sharing is a way to broaden the reach of their insights.
What are some mistakes you made as a podcaster?
Early on I tried to come up with a clever way to open the show. So I experimented … and flubbed most of them. Once I got out of my own head on this, it just became natural to me. It can be intimidating, initially, in putting yourself “out there.” I set a goal of having fun with my guests, and if we can do that, we’ll have a great show that’s beneficial for all.
Do you have any other projects or businesses you working on?
I’m currently working on a follow up to my book, The New ROI: Return on Individuals. Hoping that will be out fairly soon.
Do you monetize your Podcast, or plan on monetizing, tell us how or how you plan to do it?
I don’t plan on monetizing personally. My show is recorded at the RVN studios in Cherry Hill NJ, and RVN does sell advertising for many of the shows that they air. I enjoy meeting new guests and sharing their insights – that’s my reward. I also feel that if it was about the money, it would detract from the focus on the content.
What are three books or courses you recommend for podcaster?
Can’t say I’ve read books on podcasting, but I’ve read a ton of articles on the topic. If you’re searching for a particular aspect, you’ll find plenty of material.
How do you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business and podcast?
Everyone has a story to tell if they’re willing to share it. My clients, prospects, and folks in my network are great resources for content – and it’s fun if we wind up working together too. Some guests wonder if they can add value to a topic that has already been discussed – and of course, they can! Different perspectives keep it fresh. It’s also fun when people reach out to be a guest because they’ve heard the show and found it appealing.
What is the one thing you wish you knew before starting your podcast?
I wish I knew if there was an ideal day/time to drop an episode. I still don’t know if there is. I’ve experimented with this and can’t really see any distinct patterns.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your audience?
Leveraging my guest’s network when they share their episode and getting on as many podcast distribution platforms as possible to reach a worldwide audience. There are so many distribution channels and it’s worth the effort to submit your feed to them. When sharing on social platforms, be sure to engage with your guest’s network who comment on the content – many will want to connect with you.
What is your definition of success?
My guest has fun; they are happy with the way the interview turned out, and they’ve imparted useful information to the audience. That’s a successful program.
If you had to start a brand-new podcast today, what are the steps you would take?
Line up a pipeline of guests in advance – contact anyone you think would be an interesting guest. Also, reach out to influencers that you think would never do your show – you may be surprised.. I’ve read that it’s wise to launch with more than one episode so that the platforms know you’re not a one-and-done. Politely insist that your guest be a key part of the marketing of their episode. If they aren’t interested in promoting their appearance, they aren’t going to help to grow the audience.
Lastly, invest the time to submit your show to every distribution platform that is available to you.
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new podcasters?
Don’t get hung up on the numbers (no pun intended here) – especially when so many people are spending less time in their cars or otherwise traveling, where they’d be listening to more podcasts. If you focus only on the download stats you might get discouraged – stay with it and be true to yourself and your guests. You have to take the long view here and keep showing up – as long as it’s fun, you’re doing great. You never know who will find you – or when they will find you. Stay patient.
What is your favorite quote?
“The value of a business is a function of how well the financial capital and the intellectual capital are managed by the human capital. You’d better get the human capital part right.”
How can readers get in touch with you?
Please connect with me on LinkedIn or head to NewROI.com, and of course, please check out Behind The Numbers.
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