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<title>Ed Rigsbee - EzineArticles Expert Author</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ed_Rigsbee</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:37:27 -0600</pubDate>
<image><title>Ed Rigsbee - EzineArticles Expert Author</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ed_Rigsbee</link>
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<copyright>Copyright 2012 EzineArticles.com - All Rights Reserved.</copyright>
<description><![CDATA[Ed Rigsbee, Certified Speaking Professional, is one of America ?? 1/2 s most prolific authors on the subject of Business Growth from Strategic Alliances, he is a consultant and advisor to world class clients such as Toyota, 3M, Dun & Bradstreet, BE Aerospace, George Fischer Signet, Mead, Siemens, Roland, Best Buy, and others. Located in the greater Los Angeles area, and a native Angeleno, Ed travels internationally to instruct and assist organizations in the art and science of building strategic alliances to improve their total effectiveness and profitability. As a strategic alliance practitioner and consultant, Ed will help you develop and implement ... ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Member Recruitment With an Eye on Assimilation</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/5418082</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/5418082</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:02:15 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[As I read comments on member-get-a-member ideas by association membership directors at a LinkedIn Group discussion, I can't help from wondering if they are even considering member retention. An important thought for association and society executives is; do you want the instant gratification of a membership spike or the satisfaction of sustainable organic growth?]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Leadership: New, Old, or Just What Works?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/5287932</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/5287932</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:13:30 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Ultimately, regardless of our situation as leader, manager, supervisor, or employee, we are all looking for a return on investment (ROI) as to our time and energy. If you invest a few moments reading this article, I guarantee you a return. You will receive at least one idea that you can implement immediately. Like you, I have put in countless hours of windshield time listening to leadership and employee motivation gurus on tape, CD, and MP3. Unlike you perhaps; I personally know many of these influencers. Like you, I have attended numerous conferences, sat in on a myriad of keynotes, seminars, and workshops. Unlike you perhaps; I have also been the speaker at many of these, around the globe, meetings. I believe there are a number of ageless truths that are applicable to anyone who attempts to successfully lead others. Good ideas are ageless, while continually emerging flavor-of-the-month leadership and management strategies fade without concern or impunity.]]></description>
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<title>Association and Society Member Recruitment in a Down Economy</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/5085484</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/5085484</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:58:42 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The trade associations and professional societies, especially ones that serve mature industries have been hit particularly hard the last couple years with their membership rosters. Unfortunately, the old member value delivery and recruitment formulas seem not to be working like they once did. First, let's explore the belonging aspect. While there are numerous reasons to belong to an association or society, most fall into one of two categories: career/business improvement and industry/profession affiliation.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Public Speaking With a Purpose - Part 5</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4903594</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4903594</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:43:51 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[There are four basic categories of visuals you can use in presenting your ideas in an effort to influence others: self, props, electronic projection, and audience member. Consider each a tool for influence.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Meetings - The Lost Art of Social Contact</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4849648</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4849648</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:03:24 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Technology enhanced meetings can be a wonderful thing when the technology drives attendee engagement and learning enablement. Doing more with less and increasing the attendees' return on registration, travel, and lodging investment (ROI) serves everyone. However, when technology becomes the controller and the audience becomes the controlled, the value of technology quickly diminishes.]]></description>
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<title>Industry Supporters and Value Seekers - An Executive Director's Dilemma</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4596337</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4596337</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:03:55 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I have one important question to ask you. How much more could your organization do for its members if the yearly sustainable real-dollar value of membership was known?]]></description>
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<item>
<title>The ROI Missing Link - For Associations and Societies</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4581944</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4581944</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:58:19 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Meeting ROI and Member ROI are two completely different issues; however for associations and societies they are quite related. Recently, I have sat in on ROI webinars and read a number of articles on meeting ROI. Most of the work that I have experienced has been around particular formulas. The math is the easy part.]]></description>
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<title>Sipping From a Fire Hydrant</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4286793</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4286793</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 15 May 2010 06:41:27 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[How do I stop the insanity? Monthly, I get about 60 trade magazines mailed to my office. Daily, I receive about 10 electronic newsletters in my email in-box. And, social electronic networking-between Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter, I'm bombarded hourly. How about you?]]></description>
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<title>Motivate Today's Employees With Recognition</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4251499</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4251499</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 May 2010 12:00:02 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Are you wondering how to motivate your employees? Do you fear that today's employees are sometimes un-motivate-able?]]></description>
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<title>Association Executive Focus - Core Membership Or Financial Results?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4194677</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4194677</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:03:06 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I'm distressed. I receive about a dozen meetings industry and association related magazines each month.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #16 - Overcome Relationship Road Blocks</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4199498</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4199498</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:11:29 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Great personal and romantic relationships are hard enough, without putting your head in the sand in dealing with some of the basic road blocks to successful relationships. If you are looking toward long-term relationship success, keeping an eye open as to some of the basic road blocks is a superior success strategy.]]></description>
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<title>Alliance Governance - Embrace the Diversity</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4116901</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4116901</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:16:59 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I like to call alliance success, "Partnering for Profits." Unfortunately, a frequent alliance success pitfall is attempting to make your partner in your image-do things the way you do, think the way you think, and follow the same methodology. While it may appear in the short-term, to ease the rocky road of alliance governance, what it really does is minimize the value your partner delivers in the alliance relationship.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #15 - How to Get More Sex</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3922541</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3922541</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:59:27 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[So You Want More Sex? Sex is one of the "Big Three" in romantic relationship demise. I refer the three as the "Relationship Failure Triad." I'm talking about sex, money, and kids. These three elements are at the near-core of most relationship malfunctions. Before I get to the triad, the core is love-of-self; either too much or too little.]]></description>
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<title>Should I Start a Strategic Alliance Or Joint Venture?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3917283</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3917283</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:49:52 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Strategic Alliance or Joint Venture; which is right for you? There are numerous reasons, benefits, and pitfalls available to you whichever path you select. The key is to have an understanding of both your and your partner's long-term desires. You can jump into and out of a strategic alliance quickly but the joint venture takes much more time to start and could be difficult to end.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #14 - In Relationships - Plans Change - Stuff Happens - Get Over It</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3869166</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3869166</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:23:15 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[This idea is important anytime. However, with St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, I thought it prudent to share a story from just a couple years back. My wife, Regina, and I were planning to celebrate St. Patrick's Day at an Irish friend's house-one that actually built an authentic Irish pub in his home-go figure. Driving to the party, Regina offered to be the designated driver-allowing me the freedom to really get into the mood. It sounded good so we agreed.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #13 - Am I Paying Attention Or Off the Mark?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3822476</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3822476</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:09:16 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[You've been there, you know what I'm talking about; your special someone just will not open up and tell you why they appear not to be themselves-so you think. This is a hugely difficult dynamic. You ask yourself, "Do I push for answers, or just keep quiet?" How do you know if there really is a problem? It seems as such; their behavior has changed just slightly. They're just not quite as attentive as usual. ]]></description>
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<title>When Sponsor and Member ROI Clash</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3814478</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3814478</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:40:13 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I recently had a discussion with an executive director of a construction industry association. The discussion revolved around giving members more value. Through my querying about this association's member ROI activities, I discovered that this association was putting on seminars and charging non-members the same price as members. Challenging this association leader, I pointed out that this practice is truly a membership disincentive rather than a vehicle for delivering member ROI.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #12 - Stop the Insanity - Build Outrageously Successful Relationships</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3664970</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3664970</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:20:39 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Relationship conflict - I'll take much less, thank you. Isn't that what most people generally say? However, are your actions and words consistent? Wow, do I have your attention now? Let's face it; everyone wants a reasonable return on their relationship investment (ROI). In order to receive any return, investment is the first important secret. Just how much investment have you made lately?]]></description>
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<title>Transforming Your Commitments Into Reality</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3644574</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3644574</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:31:38 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In a tough economy, it is quite easy for sales and business development persons to blame the economy for their lack of prospecting and follow through. It is equally as easy for business owners and leaders to hunker down into sluggishness and immobility. Put more bluntly; just blame your shortcomings on the economy, everyone else does. What keeps you from doing what you say?]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #11 - Appreciativeness - It's a Good Thing</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3609846</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3609846</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:04:28 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Appreciating others is something we need to keep in the forefront of our thinking. While showing that appreciation can sometimes be elusive; personal awareness of the challenge goes a long way toward the resolution. Everyone wants relationship ROI; in order to get, you must give.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #10 - Is Sex the Glue to a Relationship?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3579836</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3579836</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:45:52 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The question gets asked quite frequently, perhaps you have even asked the question? Is sex the glue to a relationship? If you are 20 and are experiencing raging hormones, you would most likely answer; absolutely! However, if you are 60 your answer might be something like; sure it is important but not the kind of glue that holds relationships together for the long-term. While age should not be a determiner of sexual activity, it is of priority.]]></description>
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<title>Add-On Sales</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3564646</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3564646</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:26:20 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[There is a reason why McDonald's enjoyed total revenues of $23.5 billion in 2008. Could it be that there are more than 31,000 McDonald's restaurants around the world in 118 countries? That is partly the reason, however I believe the fact that they sell 9 million pounds of their delicious French fries per day is an even more important element. What they really do well is ask, "Would you like fries with that?"]]></description>
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<title>Acquisitions Vs Alliances - The Basics</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3548783</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3548783</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:53:32 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In your effort to decide between acquisitions vs alliances there are several important considerations. While the benefits to your organization might greatly differ between the two, so goes for the cost of failure. To help you succeed, first defining the terms might prove extremely helpful to you in your decision process.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Success For the Holiday Season</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3327190</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3327190</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Nov 2009 21:39:34 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[During the traditional Christian holiday season; Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year-there are some honest relationship challenges. Let's start with the relative from Hell, you know who I talking about. You would rather crawl on your hands and knees over 5 miles of broken glass than to see them yet another holiday. And to make the situation even more excruciating, this relative from Hell is an in-law.]]></description>
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<title>Association Suppliers and Exhibitors - Will They Buy?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3265938</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3265938</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:02:19 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Who is selling your association, an experienced pro, or a clerk? Did you hire a communications major fresh out of college with no practical experience or do you have a grey beard? I recently received this email solicitation from a sizable trade association. I've got to tell you, it hurt me deeply as I navigated the mediocre. I kept thinking, "And they sell with this kind of copy?"]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #9 - Surviving Under the Sheets</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3266945</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3266945</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:05:01 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[If your romantic relationship is based solely on sex, it can be guaranteed that it will not survive the long-term. If your romantic relationship is sex-less, it also will not survive. There has to be a middle ground! How you perceive your partner has a lot to do with the amount of sex there will be in a relationship. What I mean to say is this-there is a very fine line between love and hate. Add to that, the fact that there is a massive valley between either love or hate and apathy, things can get quite confusing.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #8 - Accept the Compliment</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3196724</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3196724</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:40:29 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Has this ever happened to you? A friend offers you a compliment on your clothing and you say, "This old thing?" Rather than accept the compliment, you devastate your friend's attempt to show you that they care about you and discourage them from offering you future compliments. Even if the outfit is in fact old, you could just as easily have said, "Thanks, it is quite old but one of my favorites." The result? You would have allowed the other person to be able to feel good about what they said. Any you would have felt good as well.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #7 - Be Lovers, and Friends Too</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3182820</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3182820</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:37:15 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Ultimately, in building a fulfilling long-term relationship, each participant has to be willing to receive, give, and help the other to improve-I didn't say shove personal improvement down their throat. Rather, each has to be there for the other, especially in your partner's time of weakness or vulnerability to extend a helping hand. It is rare that both will grow at the same pace, so the "more growth" partner must understand and accept their role until the tide has turned-and it will. Every day will not be blissfully wonderful. However, every day will be another piece of the relationship foundation.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #3 - Speak to Be Understood</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3178283</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3178283</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:49:38 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Communication is an interesting phenomenon, there is the sender and there is the receiver--and rarely does the exact message sent get received in accordance with the sender. Nothing new here--sure, I know. However, the real issue is do you give a rat's behind about the other? If you do, you'll go to the effort to get them to feed back what you sent so you can determine if the message was received anywhere close to what was intended.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #2 - Understanding Our Hard Wiring</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3178195</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3178195</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:48:58 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[It is safe to say that most would agree on the idea that women are hard-wired to nurture. However, few would say the same for men. As such, nurturing for men must be learned. Nurturing was generally not part of a boy's elementary and secondary school education. Add the complications of young woman's expectations of young men, and we have plenty of "defective" guys running around out there.]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #6 - Remember the Little Things</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3178790</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3178790</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:56:40 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Sure, you have heard it said time, and again...It's the little things that will kill you. Funny thing is...it's true! In relationship building, it's in the attention to details. Guys, ever make the fatal mistake of not noticing the fact that your honey got a hair cut? Sure death!]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #5 - Needy &amp; Clingy People in Your Life - Why?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3178732</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3178732</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:56:35 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[If you are the kind of person afflicted with the "Savior Complex" then a needy person is your saving grace. You can do so much for them, denying yourself, and feel oh so good about yourself...until...they heal, and no longer need you. ]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #4 - Don't Listen to the Negative Voices</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3178707</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3178707</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:55:11 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In a relationship, unfortunately, the negative force generally is victorious over the positive. This "truth" is almost always the case. If one wants the relationship to fail and one wants it to succeed, you can be assured that the relationship will fail. How does it affect you?]]></description>
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<title>Relationship Glue Tip #1 - Getting What You Want From Others</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3177855</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3177855</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:17:15 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Relationship Bank Deposits, you'll find is one of the important elements of building and developing successful relationships. Interestingly enough, too many folks want to make relationship bank withdrawals before they make deposits. I realize that this is of course, not you, however it is something important to watch in nurturing long-term relationships. Following the age-old idea of giving first and receiving later (I know, instant gratification is today's standard for so many), allows you to bank some relationship points for a relationship rainy day. This idea is crucial because you know that there will be conflict some time down the road.]]></description>
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<title>How Trade Associations Can Serve Members</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3169322</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3169322</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:36:02 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[There are two basic kinds of association leaders, first there is the person that truly desires to serve their industry and there is the second that desires to serve themselves. Over time there have been fewer of these that truly desire to serve and more that want to control or gain personal value. This is where the association paid staff must exert strength to minimize the damage that the glory and power seeking leader can cause.]]></description>
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<title>Can You Call Yourself a Leader?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2861041</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2861041</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:17:19 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[During any era, especially these tumultuous economic times, some leaders fail to lead; and elsewhere, leaders emerge. Leading in good times is so much easier than leading in difficult times where the leaders' mettle is tried. In leading others, rather than being about authority, it should be more about inspiration. Every leader in these times must ask him or herself, "Do I inspire those around me?"]]></description>
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<title>Will the Real Leader Please Stand</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2756550</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2756550</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:23:14 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Today's organizational leaders have much working against their success. Sometimes leaders can be their own worst enemy. However, this is not cause to crawl under a rock and hunker down for the duration of these difficult times. Sure, the press almost daily is exposing yet another dishonest corporate executive, especially in the financial industries, but that's not you. Business enjoyed a good half-decade run, following the 911 recovery, and here we are again up to our, rear-ends in alligators.]]></description>
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<title>Our Sow, Does She Have Too Many Nipples?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2552420</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2552420</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:40:07 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When I mention our sow, of course I mean the United States Government. I believe we can truly thank our elected federal officials for doing such a fantastic job of bringing home the bacon...]]></description>
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<title>Responsibility? You Have Got to Be Kidding</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2545791</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2545791</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:03:25 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Some Americans say it is the responsibility of the super-rich to be socially conscious by frequently demonstrating their benevolence. Why is this so-who made that rule? Simply by virtue of their ability to create wealth or possibly because of their birth; they are mandated to redistribute wealth-why?]]></description>
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<title>Public Speaking With a Purpose - Part 4</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2525590</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2525590</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:25:31 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In speech preparation, one frequently asks, "How close can you place the mirror to my audience members?" or "Which side do I place my notes on the lectern if I'm using PowerPoint and my computer is also on the lectern?" or "Am I easy to listen to?" Another issue is how to find your own voice in public or professional speaking? All the above are covered in this article.]]></description>
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<title>Mediocrity Drives Me Crazy</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2525557</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2525557</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:22:32 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Since I live in a metaphorical glass house, I'll be the first to admit that I screw up-a lot. And, making a mistake is a far cry from simply being lazy. I'll never forget the comment that my boss, Ray Kahn, made to me sometime in the late 1970s; "If you aren't making mistakes, I don't need you because you are not taking risks. However, if you keep making the same mistakes, I don't need you because you are not learning." These are very powerful words, and they have made a difference to me my entire adult life.]]></description>
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<title>Excuses - We Love Them</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2517584</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2517584</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:08:56 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Excuses rein supreme within the under achiever's personal stand for both business and life - this doesn't have to be. While I personally blame my three older sisters for all the problems in my life, the universe doesn't care. All that matters to the universe is my definitive action.]]></description>
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<title>Public Speaking With a Purpose - Part 3</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2517643</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2517643</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:39:48 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The first roadblock to effective public and/or professional speaking is overcoming your fear. After you have successfully dealt with fear, the next step is to embrace your audience by making every speech an event. Make your presentations more powerful by frequently painting mind pictures for those in your audience. The more you can do to both use your expertise, while at the same time making yourself comfortable--the better your presentation will be received and utilized.]]></description>
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<title>Public Speaking With a Purpose - Part 1</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2373292</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2373292</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2009 15:09:43 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Public speaking and professional speaking are very different animals. My recommendations below will help you, regardless of being a public speaker or a professional speaker. Use; Audience Engagement, Crashing Preoccupation Barrier, Mind Pictures, Deep Personal Inner Exploration, and a Powerful Close.]]></description>
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<title>Public Speaking With a Purpose - Part 2</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2373387</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2373387</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2009 14:21:19 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In speech giving, frequently your level of self-confidence will be directly proportionate to the quality of both your speech and its delivery. The two important elements of self-confidence are preparation and practice. Excellent speech preparation includes: mastery of topic (even if you just did the research), flow of thought and/or persuasion, the quality of your PowerPoint (if you select to use it), planned emotional peeks and valleys, planned emotional releases through humor, and correct length of time. Only amateurs go over their time!]]></description>
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<title>Strategic Alliance Results Vs Excuses</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2363180</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2363180</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 09:08:33 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The wrong business relationships can cost you dearly-prevent the devastation of ineffective business relationships, before they go bad. Tough times can bring out the worst in partners, so it is tome to take a closer look at the results you want from an alliance. You built your alliance to expand your business, increase your profitability, and do it while decreasing costs. Imagine developing alliances that really do deliver more market power, increased productivity and profits, and doing it in a down economy.]]></description>
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<title>Partnering For Profits - The Art &amp; Science</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2363140</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2363140</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 09:07:16 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Lately, I have put a fair amount of energy into talking to you about the science of making strategic alliances work. As we approach the end of the year and get close to the holidays, talking about the art of alliances is appropriate. In my presentations on "Alliance Alchemy" I share my formula of steps and behaviors for developing successful and profitable alliance relationships. The first of these behaviors is that of bridge building, also known as focusing on getting things done rather than obsessing on being right. The basic idea is decide in times of conflict if you want to operate from "I'm Right!" or if you are willing to come from a place called, "I'm trying to learn."]]></description>
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<title>Strategic Alliance Short Course</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2363089</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2363089</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 08:33:07 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Perhaps, now more than ever, it's time to give your organization a crash course in alliance management? As you already know, facing the current difficult economic realities is no fun. Goods and services demand has slowed or reversed; resulting, are many organizational failures. Increased competition and consolidation naturally follow. CEO edicts; "Do more with less" have become common place. Can organizations realize more value from their alliance relationships? I absolutely believe so.]]></description>
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<title>Searching For Supply Chain Added Value</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1796531</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1796531</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:20:45 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Early in my sales career I learned the stock joke about sales people; they did the least and got the most. The same joke was told about the middlemen, the wholesale distributors. Through the 1970s distributors were rewarded for whom they knew, for getting placement. This was because distributors could do the job (product placement and fulfillment) better than most manufacturers. Times were good; distributors were getting fat and happy.]]></description>
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<title>Your Journey to Emotional Ownership</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1796541</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1796541</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:42:17 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Pain and pleasure are such close cousins. In life, it's painful not to experience pleasure. Too often though, it's the holding on for dear life to familiar pain that keeps us from having what we say we really want.]]></description>
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<title>In Tough Times, Want Loyalty? Give Loyalty!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1796587</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1796587</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:59:41 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Every supplier, B2B and B2C, is desperately looking for customer loyalty. What about those suppliers that want the last ounce of "advantage" both coming, and going? You know who I talking about, don't you? After you do a major overhaul in the area of supplier treatment, you can use your newly found strategic sourcing understanding to develop better relationships with those customers you feel are capable of partnering.]]></description>
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<title>Organizational Effectiveness - It's Not Your Rice Bowl</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1796564</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1796564</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:50:59 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In your organization, are there persons that stick their nose in the business of others? Sure there are! When these persons, as I call it, get into others' rice bowl, the result is usually two fold. First, they do not have time to do their own work well. Second, they greatly upset the person in whose rice bowl they invade, thereby inhibiting organizational productivity.]]></description>
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<title>Internal Partnering - Is it Really Possible?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1540192</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1540192</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:30:48 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Most organizations of size employ alliance managers to facilitate their external strategic alliances. Yet, too frequently little attention is paid to internal partnering. When it is, generally it is the HR department that is charged with the task of improving interdepartmental relationships. And, too frequently, HR does not have the authority to do what needs to be done. Recently, I was doing work for a manufacturer of considerable size.]]></description>
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<title>How Much ROI Value Does American Society For Quality Deliver to Its Members?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1492560</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1492560</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:07:13 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The quick answer is a bunch! However, that is not the kind of answer that quality professionals generally desire. Today, armed with three years of data, I believe I have a substantive answer to this question.]]></description>
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<title>Interdepartmental Partnering Made Effective</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1486411</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1486411</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:48:55 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Having challenges with internal departments unwilling to collaborate? Is this lack of cooperation costing your organization time, resources, and money? If so, it's time to put the "Lords of Lesser Corners" under the microscope. While I really do not think "Lords of Lesser Corners" needs much additional description, nonetheless we should be clear on the concept. These Lords, persons with some amount of authority in your organization, be they men or women are the emotionally small people in your organization that seems to never be confident in themselves or their department. Their standard method of operation is protectionism.]]></description>
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<title>Valued Customer Or Just a Piggy Bank?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1486394</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1486394</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:47:46 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Successful interdepartmental partnering will keep your customers coming back. However, lousy interdepartmental partnering will send them running. In order to transcend beyond just customer service to develop truly satisfied and loyal customers, everyone must work together. In your organization, a particular department or a single person in a department can devastate your hard earned customer loyalty efforts.]]></description>
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<title>Getting What You Want From Others</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1486458</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1486458</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:43:58 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Getting what you want from others is easier than you think. I believe the single group of people, which do the best job of getting what they want from others, is children. Children are cute, persistent, and frequently down right demanding. And this works for them. However, for adults, there is a different set of rules. Apply the rule of delivering value first and getting what you want is so much easier.]]></description>
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<title>Your Customers - Have You Asked Their Opinion Lately</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1486379</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1486379</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:43:40 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When I checked out of the resort, the woman at the front desk never asked me about my stay; wonderful, good, bad, or indifferent. This is the best time to query guests-asking for their honest feedback about their stay. However, nobody cared to ask me. Had she, I would have mentioned the cob webs hanging from the ceiling, the fact that the bathroom was in desperate need of repair, that I had to call to request maid service, and that none of the resort's materials were in the room, not even a pen and paper-good thing I did not need to order room service.]]></description>
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<title>Personal Responsibility - What Happened?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1486450</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1486450</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:42:56 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The ability to communicate one's opinion is a right; at least it is in the USA. But, what about one's responsibility to communicate? Unfortunately, it is not a requirement. I believe every individual has the personal responsibility to communicate directly, sincerely, and honestly in situations of conflict. But, today so many want to play it safe and defer troublesome conflict by using a referee.]]></description>
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<title>Leaving Footprints - Your Organizational Legacy</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1486432</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1486432</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:58:58 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The question that I'd like to pose to you, the corporate executive, "Why are you really at your job; is it really the money-really-or might there be a deeper purpose?" Money is good and power is alluring, however your legacy is what really matters. Sometimes upper level executives get so wrapped up in the now that they forget about the later. Good chance you already have all the money you need, so why stick around?]]></description>
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<title>Presentation Skills For Business Leaders</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1150145</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1150145</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2008 13:04:48 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Speaking in public, professionally or on a volunteer basis can be a wonderfully fulfilling experience, enjoy your journey. The simple pause is your friend, especially when you are communicating in the workplace. Most professional speakers will agree that the pause is a powerful tool for making a presentation memorable.]]></description>
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<title>Association Member Retention - Meeting Sponsor Or Strategic Partner?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1140337</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1140337</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:16:25 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Some trade associations treat their supplier members like lepers while others consider their associate members to be potential strategic partners. How do you approach this dilemma? The paradigm for some associations is that of continually figuring out how to squeeze the last possible dime out of their suppliers while others seek long-term partnership. In the meetings industry publications you'll read about how to generate more profit from your meetings; mostly by selling more exposure opportunities to your supplier members. This by the way is a good thing as long as you keep the two way value proposition in mind.]]></description>
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<title>Association Member Engagement - Sacred Cows in an Economic Downturn</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1140301</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1140301</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:15:50 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[What better time to grind up sacred cows into hamburger than during an economic downturn? Why; because the sacred cow protectors in your organization are experiencing lowered resistance when times are not so good. It is much more difficult for them defend their pet projects, products, and services that have reached their sunset when placed under the tight economic microscope.]]></description>
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<title>Member Retention - Valuing Your Contrarians - How to Harness Their Vigor to Grow Your Association</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1140279</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1140279</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:14:58 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[A recent meetings industry headline stated, "ASAE Adds Diversity Officer." The article stated, "...the American Society of Association Executives and the Center for Association Leadership announced that a 20-year veteran...has been named director of diversity and inclusion." I have a suspicion that finding ways to offer inclusiveness to contrarian association members is not necessarily top-of-the-list for ASAE's new Diversity Officer. Perhaps it should be? Diversity is a term that should be viewed through several lenses.]]></description>
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<title>Member Recruitment and Retention - Does Your Association Do It?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1140262</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1140262</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:14:34 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Are your members engaged? Some call themselves the disenfranchised! Within a trade association or professional society's membership; the disenfranchised are also referred to as the grumblers, the fringe, the disconnected, the malcontent, and the contrarians. Warning: this article is bullet-hole riddled with cliches; however that was my disposition the day of writing. Nonetheless, this article is absolutely worth the read for all association and society paid staff and volunteer leaders.]]></description>
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<title>Member Recruitment - Even Membership Evangelism Needs a Little Push</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1140245</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1140245</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:14:17 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[While the term evangelism is generally used in conjunction with religion, past evangelicals have proven to be exceedingly effective marketers. Case in point; Apostle Paul is considered by many to be the world's most effective marketer. Evangelism, simply put is the selling of an idea. In this article I'm going to focus on how paid association staff and executives can help their volunteer members to spread the association membership word to colleagues, competitors, and suppliers. And, why it is in the members' best interest to make the effort.]]></description>
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<title>Member Recruitment - Association Members Must Become Evangelists</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1140236</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1140236</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:13:50 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[If you expect your trade association or professional society to serve you well; you must become an actively engaged evangelist for your association. You must bellow it from the rooftops; the value you receive from your membership. You must tell all your colleagues, competitors, and suppliers why they too should become members. It is your job to drive a continual membership recruitment campaign. More members, among other things, mean a louder voice in legislative matters, more programs to help you improve your business, and better affinity programs.]]></description>
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<title>Member Recruitment - Sure Fire Method For Trade Associations and Professional Societies</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1140214</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1140214</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:13:24 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[For trade associations and professional societies, identifying the value your members want can be a bit like threading a needle in the back of a Jeep, while crossing granite boulders, at 40 miles per hour-but it doesn't have to be-this article does offer answers. Associations and societies exist to serve the interests of the participants or stake holders in their industry or profession-it is that simple.]]></description>
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<title>Can Associations Serve the Industry, and Its Members?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/769738</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/769738</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:52:59 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Trade associations and professional societies that primarily focus on legislative matters can run the risk of neglecting its membership. Does that mean that focusing on influencing politicians is a bad thing? Not as long as the organization's members don't get left behind. Unfortunately, this is just what happens, much too frequently.]]></description>
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<title>Retail Niche, Finding Yours Really Is Possible</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/758717</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/758717</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:54:29 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[As a retailer, whom do you serve? Think a bit before you answer. Determining what makes you special as a retailer is not always easy. Finding customers who value what you offer is difficult at best. Enjoying your place in the sun, known as customer approval, is especially demanding in these uncertain times.]]></description>
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<title>Linked and Blended Organizations - Strategies for Success</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/744226</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/744226</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:25:25 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Today's business environment is bursting with organizational blendings. Early on, you must create a management structure that blends all linked locations into a single manageable entity. Also you will want to enjoy the strengths of your larger organization without losing responsiveness to your assimilated customer base and employees. To better focus on the opportunities rather than be bogged down with the challenges, use the ideas in this chapter to increase your chances of success.]]></description>
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<title>Partner Shift in the Future to Access Your Collaborative Advantage</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/744136</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/744136</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:03:01 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Collaboration is important for your future. Let's look at your future expectations by viewing the past. How did you celebrate a recent event of importance to you? Was it what you thought it would be? Was there any feeling unfulfilled? ]]></description>
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<title>Mergers &amp; Acquisitions Can Result from Strategic Alliances </title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/743315</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/743315</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:17:52 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Alliances frequently result in mergers and/or acquisitions. Partnering relationships, such as joint ventures or strategic alliances, can sometimes lead to a merger or acquisition situation. After companies work together for a period of time and get to know one another's strengths, weaknesses, and synergistic possibilities, new relationship opportunities become apparent. One could argue that a joint venture or strategic alliance is simply the getting to know each other part of a courtship between companies and that the real marriage does not occur until the relationship has been consummated by a merger or acquisition.]]></description>
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<title>The Psychology of Employee Motivation</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/739860</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/739860</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:35:23 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA["I wish I could get my employees to (do something, show some initiative, make a decision, etc.)!" Have you ever had this thought? This statement or something quite close, is what I hear so often from business owners. If you would like to do more, with fewer employees, or get more from the persons you currently employ - read on.]]></description>
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<title>Employee Recognitions - 63 No-Cost &amp; Low-Cost Suggestions</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/739816</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/739816</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:16:22 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In difficult economic times, throwing money at a challenge is generally not your best bet. But, putting a little energy into a challenge will always serve you well. What water park can honestly state that they have no employee challenges?]]></description>
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<title>The Boomerang Effect In Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/739621</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/739621</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:48:29 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Like the boomerang, getting customers to return, takes skill and practice. Today, your customers want more than just service. They want to be satisfied that they received a great total value package from you. This idea applies to all levels of the distribution channel from procuring raw materials to purchases by consumers and end-users. Do this, and you'll earn their sustained loyalty. By employing my P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S. model, you too can create customer satisfaction at such distinguished levels that loyalty will be the natural outcropping of your efforts.]]></description>
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<title>Eliminate Your Customer's Emotional Obstacles to Buying - Build Your Retail Success Triad</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/739661</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/739661</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:31:30 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Improve your selling skills? If you have known that one or more of personal or business issues are important to your life, why haven't you done something about them? I'll tell you why. You have intellectually known things you must do to improve your life of business but you have no emotional ownership in the issue. Where does the emotional ownership come from? ]]></description>
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<title>Show Your Retail Customers Just How Much You Value Them - 25 Ways To Do It</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/735642</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/735642</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:56:46 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[For today's specialty brick and mortar retailer, one that desires to compete with the national big boxes, the most important activity is delivering value to your customers. One of the important ways to do this is by subscribing to the philosophy: Our customer's have earned the right to our respect simply by walking through our door!]]></description>
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<title>Add-On Retail Sales For a New Era of Success</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/735650</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/735650</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:53:49 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Are you getting enough retail specialty business? Would you like to increase your both your sales and profits? "How can we increase our sales?" This is your question. The answer to this common asked question is for all the people in your organization to move beyond simply doing their assigned job and becoming partners with your customers. ]]></description>
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<title>Strategic Alliances for Supply Chain Success</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/433478</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/433478</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2007 14:50:58 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[No matter the industry, there has always been conflict in the supply chain. That, I believe, will continue to be true. More times than I can remember, I have presented my keynote presentation titled, The New Era of Manufacturer/Distributor Cooperation at either manufacturing or distribution association meetings. In doing my research for these presentations, the supply chain partners usually claim that they communicate well with each other. Unfortunately, that rarely proves to be the case. Through collaborative relationships, supply chain partners can improve.]]></description>
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<title>Strategic Alliances for Cost Savings, Financial Stability and Buying Parity</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/433411</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/433411</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:29:38 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Three important money areas where developing strategic alliances will serve your organization well are: Cost Savings, Financial Stability and Buying Parity. To increase the health and potential growth for your business, consider alliance relationships to improve your cost savings, financial stability and buying parity.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Strategic Alliances for Productivity Increases</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/433388</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/433388</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:17:14 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I believe you too will want collaboration in your corporate culture. Will strategic alliances help you increase your productivity? I believe they will. First, this philosophy must be developed in the executive suite and carefully delivered throughout the organization in a method that will allow middle management and line workers to see the benefits they will receive. Otherwise, sabotage will your organizational norm.]]></description>
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<title>Strategic Alliances for Innovation, Technology and Training</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/433375</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/433375</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:16:11 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Strategic alliances in your future? To compliment your core strengths shores up your core weakness and improves production capabilities to better serve customers; an exchange of technology might be considered. An example of this type of alliance is the alliance of Kinko's Service Corp. (copy centers) and Xerox Engineering Systems to establish a nationwide network for faxing large-format documents. This service was especially valuable to architects, contractors and advertising agencies before file transfer protocol became practical. Kinko's gets a revenue boost and Xerox gets additional placement and unit sales.]]></description>
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<title>Strategic Alliances - The Reasons and Benefits for Development</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/433350</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/433350</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:14:05 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The reasons for strategic alliances become apparent when you understand the benefits. This applies to businesses and organizations of all sizes. Your reason for developing an alliance could be for research, production, marketing, distribution, or management. Your increased capability for success through alliance relationships will encourage your continued embracing of the practice. The same holds true, regardless of whether you enter strategic alliances as an individual or organization.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Strategic Alliances to Increase Market Share</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/433363</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/433363</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:08:08 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Your imagination and ability to implement are your only true obstacles. Few, are the businesses that do not desire to increase their market share. Unfortunately, very few know how to achieve this lofty goal. Below are a number of ideas that should prompt your thinking in areas of developing strategic alliances to increase your market share.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Successful Collaboration - Overcome Misinformation Based Pitfalls</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/432987</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/432987</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2007 09:36:11 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[You could easily be guilty of underestimating the complexity of coordinating and integrating corporate resources, and overestimating your partner's abilities to achieve the end result. Self-doubt and not believing you have the skills and tools to create an alliance can crop up here. Eventually, Partnering success depends on management's abilities, skills, commitment, aspirations and passions in assembling the pieces of the puzzle. When unequal dependence in a relationship occurs, the partner with the least dependence could be less likely to compromise and put energy into the relationship.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Hiring a Professional Speaker and Getting the Best Deal - Understand What They Want</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/432959</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/432959</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2007 09:08:10 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Sure, you want the best possible speaker for whatever your budget might be. A dynamic or informative speaker generally is a stellar investment in the success of your meeting. But, sometimes your budget is not enough for the speaker you want. What's the solution? Hire a less expensive speaker-squeeze the speaker you want for a better price-think beyond conventional wisdom?]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Successful Collaboration - Overcome Values Based Pitfalls</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/432991</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/432991</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2007 09:01:13 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When one of the alliances partners does not completely embrace the principles of Partnering, big challenges occur. This can include top-level executives or even supervisory and functional employees in departments, divisions or regions within a Partnering organization. As an example, DuPont believes that if a contractor is looking just to maximize his profits, on just one job, then Partnering with that contractor is not for DuPont because they know there will be problems in the relationship.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Associations Deliver Value, But They Don't Know How Much</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/404438</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/404438</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jan 2007 04:48:49 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Trade associations and professional societies are wonderful industry or profession collaborations and deliver high value to their members. After a decade and a half, speaking at association and society conventions and board meetings, I can safely make the above statement. And I believe I can also safely say that most society and association staff and volunteer leadership do not have a clue as to the real dollar value their organization delivers to its members.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Generate Sales Leads For Your Clients Through Cross-Pollination</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/321236</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/321236</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:42:08 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Today's business-to-business, products and services, dealer/distributor can unfortunately by seen by many as simply a commodity - easily replaced by another. If you allow your customers to have that perception of you, it is your own fault. But why might so many people think you are simply a commodity? It is because you have not provided any value to your clients beyond that which your competitor delivers. It's time for your creativity to kick in. It is time to do something different.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Cross Promotions For Small Business</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/321229</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/321229</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:28:07 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[You can grow your business through effective community based cross promotions. Leverage your core strengths with that of others and keep your marketing costs in check. Cross-promotion strategies can range from highly sophisticated with formalized contracts like with the major airlines and certain telephone long distance carriers, to promotions as casual as stuffing your bags with flyers or coupons from another merchant in your community and having them do the same for you. Or, perhaps putting promotional messages on one another's register receipts?]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Collaborative Marketing - More Results With Less Work</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/321207</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/321207</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 08 Oct 2006 19:03:49 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[A popular reason for companies to come together is to reciprocally promote one another. Ideas are as simple as a local pharmacy and dry cleaner promoting each other with specials or coupons, to regional promotions, to national promotions. Cross-promotions can be developed with competitors or between organizations from different industries. The key is simply this - do you have similar customers? Almost everywhere you look, you can see one organization cross promoting with another. Recently, a cross-promotion advertisement in a San Francisco newspaper for Pacific Bell also involved Round Table Pizza, Hollywood Video, Nokia and the Special Olympics.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Strategic Alliance and Partnering Success Through Conflict Management</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/321142</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/321142</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:57:42 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In times of conflict you can take one of two positions. First the position is that of having your heels dug in and believing you are RIGHT. The second position is where you care enough to understand what is motivating the other person's behavior. My recommendation, as you might have guessed, is the second.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Competent Collaborations - Making Your Alliances Work</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/321130</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/321130</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:44:39 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Is the synergy worth the energy? The reason I ask this question is because, developing successful and profitable alliances is rarely easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it successfully. Many alliance consultants, and myself included, have determined that about 50% of the alliances created in the United States fail for one reason or another.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Strategic Alliance Success Through Identifying the Predictable Pitfalls</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/321177</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/321177</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:22:53 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Caveat Pars, partners beware! Partnering, as with any activity, has its unexpected challenges and pitfalls. Actually, this is probably more so than in traditional adversary relationships. In adversary relationships you must always watch your back. In relationships based on trust or what is perceived as trust, one can be lulled into a false sense of security. While you need to protect yourself from these dangerous situations, you do not want to create them by exhibiting the wrong attitude. To keep your alliances healthy, conflict should be dealt with immediately. This is your best chance for moving forward in any relationship. But, improperly challenged, conflict can be the death sentence to an alliance.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Strategic Alliances - Ten Tips to Developing Outrageously Successful Partnering Relationships</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/321159</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/321159</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:19:46 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[If you want to develop a successful strategic alliance, it takes more than desire. Alliance implementation is frequently the challenge.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Successful Strategic Alliances - Three Key Activities To Prosper</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/321164</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/321164</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:08:49 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Collaboration, strategic alliance and partnering are business terms not to be taken lightly as they represent more power than you realize in helping your business to grow. In the August 2005 issue of Industry Week, there was an article titled, Collaborating To Grow. Mentioned in the article, was a March 2005 survey of U.S. executives taken by KPMG LLP. It appears that sixty-four percent of the responding executives plan to increase the use of strategic alliances during the next two years. What was not covered was how they were going to make these intended alliances successful.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Associations Deliberating the Conference Conundrum</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/316184</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/316184</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 03 Oct 2006 06:37:07 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[What do today's conference attendees want? First, explore the basic types that attend conferences, especially when travel is required. The old paradigm conference attendee is a bit like the good ol' boy-attending his industry meeting regardless of the time of year, location or quality of the meeting. He just wants to meet with his buddies, network a bit, golf and drink. The conference is his well earned get-away.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Project Association Member Value</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/316189</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/316189</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 03 Oct 2006 06:33:08 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Does a professional or trade association exist to serve its members, to serve the profession or industry, or does it exist to perpetuate itself? Sure, you you're your answer based on your experiences. Unfortunately though, I have come to believe that there are simply too many people involved in association leadership today that believe in the latter. Many of these leaders do not consciously realize they do believe that the reason for an association is to perpetuate itself. Yet, their actions in this area speak so loudly that few listen to their patter.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Association Executives - Can You? Will You?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/316224</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/316224</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 03 Oct 2006 06:17:19 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[It's hard to watch something die a slow agonizing death, including an association. Over the last decade I have presented at the meetings of scores of associations. Because I highly customize my presentations, I have had the opportunity to interview hundreds of association board members as well as rank-and-file members. My observations-as in any industry, some do well some plow along and some disappear.]]></description>
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