Cheryl Bergian, Owner and Attorney
Cheryl Bergian Law Office
1712 Main Avenue, Suite 202
PO Box 2152
Fargo, ND 58107-2152 US
701-232-5051 (Office)
Hometown: Jamestown, ND
Jamestown High School
Mississippi University for Women
University of North Dakota (B.A.)
University of North Dakota School of Law (J.D.)
Cheryl Bergian is an attorney with 35+ years of experience, practicing in North Dakota and Minnesota. She concentrates in personal and small business bankruptcies, but also provides services for estate planning (Wills, Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives), probate, and guardianships/conservatorships.
Cheryl serves on the North Dakota Supreme Court Task Force on Guardianship Monitoring, the Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response Group (Cass County, North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota), and the Minnesota Bankruptcy Court Practice Committee. She’s also a member of The Executive’s Club of Fargo-Moorhead.
Cheryl is a life-long resident of North Dakota, is “from” Jamestown, but has lived in Fargo since 1986. She enjoys reading and pets (two rescue dogs and one rescue parakeet).
Active in the Metro Community Band (flute and piccolo), as well as in local political organizations. I’m a regular attendee of “The Tell”, engaging in telling true stories based on a theme each month.
1. Looking back at your career, what decision truly changed the course of your business—or your life as a leader?
I do believe that constant curiousity was integral to the arc of my career, including monitoring technological developments in my industry, and truly understanding the power of software (and hardware), as it became available. Without the curiosity, and desire to continue to learn, I would not have been able to take advantage of opportunities to thrive, in a changing environment.
2. If your business disappeared tomorrow, what problem in your industry or community would go unsolved?
There would be fewer bankruptcies filed, until other attorneys entered the practice area.
3. What’s one “business rule” you follow religiously, no matter what?
Ensure that my employee knows that I value her time and contribution to my legal practice, while meeting expectations of near perfection on a daily basis.
4. What’s one “business rule” you tend to ignore—or break—because it just doesn’t fit reality for you?
I am very resistent to the current communication expectations outside of my scheduled office hours. I’ve observed other attorneys responding to emails, etc. while at family activities, and it’s not a communication expectation that I will meet, in my legal practice.
5. What’s something your business had to stop doing in order to actually move forward?
I have been very intentional in evaluating which clients I choose to work with, and declining to continue representation when I believe that that decision is necessary.
6. Think about your blind spots. Which one challenged you the most, or are you still working on today?
I will continually be working on more effective and efficient communication regarding work for clients.
7. What’s a lesson you learned the hard way—something no book or mentor could have prepared you for?
Managing more than one employee is not is my wheelhouse – I’ve attempted it twice, and failed both times.
8. Which early belief about leadership or business turned out to be completely wrong, in your experience?
Expecting employees to contribute to the success of the organization, despite personal inconvenience.
9. What’s one boring, unglamorous habit your business does consistently that you credit with long-term success?
Answer the telephone by an actual person, without a “phone tree”, and return telephone messages (and emails) on a timely basis.