Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is the first book I’ve written but have many articles under my belt. I’ve been an entrepreneur for 20 years and I’m currently tackling the problem of cash flow for small businesses through our forecasting tool, Dryrun.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Pandemic Cash Flow deals with the number one killer of business, cash flow shortfalls. Simply put, cash flow issues kill nearly on third of all businesses. 70% of those businesses were profitable when they ran out of cash. In so many cases, a cash flow shortfall is predictable, manageable and avoidable, yet there is very little concrete help for business owners. Worse, business owners rarely have a finance background. In fact, one study revealed that over 80% of business owners had a basic or failing level of financial literacy.
Of course, there are articles all over the web that preach the dire nature of cash flow issues, yet at best, they tell the reader to ‘get a spreadsheet.’ No direction, nor ‘recipe,’ no help.
Pandemic Cash Flow not only dives into the issue in depth but it provides a framework processes and explanations leading to actionable results.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write in sprints but I’m not sure if that’s unusual . When I sit down to write, I work at a speed that is about as fast as I can type. First, creating an outline of the chapter and content I need to cover. Then, for at least a couple of hours, it simple flows out until I hit a wall of mental fatigue. I can’t seem to write any other way.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have a long, long list of business book I’ve read but only a few that I tend to go back to over and over again. “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries is on that list, as is “Traction” by Gino Wickman.
What are you working on now?
Pandemic Cash Flow is so new that I’m working on promoting the book. Of course, much of my day is spent working to build Dryrun as the world’s leading cash flow forecasting tool. I’ve already got another book idea taking form in my mind, although I think it will be awhile before I dive back into writing.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is my first attempt so I have no experience to offer at this point in time.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Start today and schedule time to write. It’s a marathon.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Write a book.”
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading two books by John Warrilow, “Built to Sell” and “The Automatic Customer.”
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to move from process and strategy to sharing the stories in the trenches of small business. Of course, the stories will have a connection to cash flow but the goal is to both let entrepreneurs know they’re not alone in their struggles, as well as ‘pulling back the curtain’ for accounting pros so that they can better understand their client’s struggles.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
“How to Build a Boat,” and “Navigation for Dummies.”
Author Websites and Profiles
Blaine Bertsch Website
Blaine Bertsch’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account