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	<title>Marcia Pledger :: Small Business Matters</title>
	<link>http://marciapledger.com</link>
	<description>Entrepreneurs ~ Etiquette</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:49:16 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Good intentions mean nothing without follow-through with new contacts</title>
		<description><![CDATA[What’s the point of networking if you’re not going to follow-up? I’m not talking about the 15 to 20-second introduction that ends with a business card exchange.  Depending on the service offered on that card, there might not be a reason to pull it out again until you need it. But if you’re networking [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://marciapledger.com/?p=261</link>
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		<title>Passed over at work? Self-reflection might be in order</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Hurt. Anger. Astounded. Downright upset. When emotions turn negative following a failed bid for a bump up in status in the workplace, it’s easy to make the mistake of destroying your “team player” reputation.
But emotions are pointless and unproductive if you don’t know what led to your manager’s decision. There’s a chance that your actions [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://marciapledger.com/?p=256</link>
			</item>
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		<title>The way you leave a business relationship can cost as much as you gain: Ask Lebron James</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Who says courtesy doesn’t count? More than a week after Lebron James announced “The Decision&#8221; to leave Cleveland for Miami as a free agent on an hour-long special on ESPN, the world renowned basketball star is still being ridiculed. Similar to leaving a job, or a personal relationship, some rabid fans would have been upset [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://marciapledger.com/?p=249</link>
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		<title>Ask permission first before posting photos of friends and colleagues online</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The subject line in your e-mail account says a friend commented on a
photo of you on Facebook. You click to open it and the message is brief:
“Wow. That’s all I can say.” You don’t remember taking a
“wow” photo. So before you bother to open the list of similar
e-mail subject lines of comments on a photo, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://marciapledger.com/?p=242</link>
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		<title>Are you results driven?: How many times has personalities prevented a deal from closing?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Just about every deal has the possibility to close &#8211; but they don&#8217;t.
Being focused on results is critical. But you can&#8217;t ignore or underestimate the role that emotions play in business.
In theory, business is about providing a service and getting compensated. But is that all there is in getting a deal closed?
The biggest deal can [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://marciapledger.com/?p=234</link>
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		<title>Networking issues? Take a lesson from cruise ship passengers.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you&#8217;ve ever been a cruise, you know that it&#8217;s like living in a big fantasy land vessel &#8211; at least for several days. Sunshine, tranquil views and crashing waves, make it easy for people to step out of their comfort zones and walk up to people to start conversations. Not only is it expected, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://marciapledger.com/?p=228</link>
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		<title>Audience distractions are annoying to speakers and attendees</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you ever felt like everyone was staring at you in disgust, even though they weren&#8217;t? That&#8217;s how I felt last week when I forgot to put my cell phone on vibrate and it rang loudly in a small room at an event. Thankfully I moved so fast that it didn&#8217;t ring twice. But it [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://marciapledger.com/?p=224</link>
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		<title>It&#8217;s Best to Seek Permission Before Making a Sales Pitch by E-Mail</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s great when a client seeks you out for your expertise, service or products, but everyone has to market &#8211; especially in this economy. Why shoot yourself in the foot with poorly thought out e-mail marketing sales pitches?
    As a writer, I personally prefer an e-mailed story pitch, followed by a call. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://marciapledger.com/?p=220</link>
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		<title>If you mean business &#8211; dress the part</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;re constantly making impressions &#8211; good or bad, sometimes even before we open our mouths. You got it, one of the first things people notice is the way you dress.
I&#8217;m blown away at how casual people get with all sorts of versions of business casual. Business casual should not be misinterpreted as personal leisure clothing. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://marciapledger.com/?p=212</link>
			</item>
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		<title>Courtesy goes a long way in keeping customers</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Nobody wants to feel taken for granted, especially when they&#8217;re spending money with your company. But how quickly some people forget that everybody has choices, and customer&#8217;s deserve respect.
  Earlier this week, I watched a cashier stop ringing up a customer&#8217;s multiple items, in order to ring up her co-worker&#8217;s two items. The co-worker, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://marciapledger.com/?p=208</link>
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