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<title>Stuart Crawford - EzineArticles Expert Author</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stuart_Crawford</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:17:17 -0600</pubDate>
<image><title>Stuart Crawford - EzineArticles Expert Author</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stuart_Crawford</link>
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<copyright>Copyright 2012 EzineArticles.com - All Rights Reserved.</copyright>
<description><![CDATA[Stuart Crawford is a business leader in the Calgary Small Business Marketing community. He has taken his best practices of success in this market after growing his IT consulting firm IT Matters from 3 employees to 30 Employees in 8 years. Stuart focused on effective and affordable marketing strategies to grow his small business. Stuart is very involved with Informatin Technology and marketing community. He is a professional speaker and he can be seen at a number of leading conferences across North America. Visit is blog and sign up today to receive his news. Talk to Stuart today about Calgary ... ]]></description>
<lastBuildDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:55:01 -0500</lastBuildDate>
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<title>What Are 4 Tips You Can Use to Attain Small Business Success?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/6109035</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/6109035</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:55:01 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Every small business wants to be successful. It starts with heart, passion and commitment. What can your small business do now to achieve success down the road?]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Marketing The Cloud - How MSPs Can Market Cloud Services</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/6094286</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/6094286</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:44:49 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The Cloud is all the rage in small business today. How does the average managed service provider get the word out about the cloud and how can it help small business today.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>What Are The 13 Top Benefits Why Businesses Should Use Twitter?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/5916034</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/5916034</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:53:40 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The Web is all a Twitter with Tweets. With what you might say? You know, being able to set up on the popular social networking and microblogging website Twitter.com. So what are the benefits to a business should you decide to set up an account on Twitter; or for that matter, should you set up an account there at all?]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Don't Expect ALWAYS ON Internet</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/5747107</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/5747107</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:03:49 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The Internet is simply part of everyday life. As a Calgary Search Engine Optimization consultant our firm lives on the NET 24 hours a day. We have backup services and everything we need to stay operational. But we don't count on it.]]></description>
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<title>Online Couponing - Does It Make Sense for Your Small Business?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/5722240</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/5722240</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:32:56 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Is running an online coupon campaign right for your small business? Should they be part of your marketing budget and what is your plan around the success of this campaign? Many questions and not so many answers out there. Before you launch your first coupon campaign, do your homework. Talk with others who had success and failure, what can you learn?]]></description>
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<item>
<title>The Four Pillars of MSP Marketing</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4994673</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4994673</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:26:49 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[One of the goals of your Managed IT Services business is a maintain a healthy monthly recurring revenue model and to ensure your clients are receiving a tremendous amount of value from the services your managed services business provide. Getting your message out there continues to be a struggle for many MSPs out there. Marketing and sales is where many invest time to learn and do or they may even outsource their marketing to a trusted MSP marketing consulting.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Three Quick and Easy Ways to Make Google Juice in Your Business</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4780379</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4780379</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:07:33 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In our world of constant advertising and marketing, more and more of our small business clients are researching for new ways of attracting their ideal clients. Electing to attract the right type of business versus spraying the market place with message after message that in some instances maybe falling on deaf ears.]]></description>
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<title>What Internet Browser Does Your Business Use?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4741147</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4741147</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:46:26 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[There is no lack of Internet software applications available to business which allows them to easily surf the Internet these days. It is also very clear that many of the technology leaders are offering browsers that allow you to read this article on your screen, print it or email it to a colleague.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Two LinkedIn Security Settings You Must Set</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4725528</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4725528</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:41:29 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[LinkedIn is one of the industry leading social networks and online communities in use today across multiple businesses and industries. LinkedIn's focus on business-to-business networking and facilitating the sharing of ideas and strategies has won the trust of business professionals globally.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Will Twitter Eventually Be a Fail?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4164964</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4164964</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:13:21 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Twitter! If I had a dollar for everyone who asked me if Twitter is a tool they can use in their business I would be able to retire tomorrow and live very comfortably. I am on the fence right now with Twitter.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Are You the Modern Day Tweetie Bird?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/4095505</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/4095505</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:20:55 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Whenever you speak with a Calgary Social Media Consultant many of our peers in the industry will tell you about the importance of using Twitter in your business. This is a true statement, however we look at tweeting in a very different way compared to what we once did. One question you must ask yourself is this, are you tweeting with purpose or are you simply making or adding to the noise?]]></description>
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<title>Social Media is Simply Full of Crap</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3910816</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3910816</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:35:49 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Adoption of free social media services are allowing anyone to open a Facebook account, get onto Twitter and fill LinkedIn's groups with useless information. How does your small business filter out stuff your need to hear from all the garbage online today?]]></description>
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<title>Ideas in Meetup - Gateway For Spammers</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/3875232</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/3875232</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:06:12 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Meetup.com is one the leading online networking tools in use today. Recent changes have create a loophole for spammers to new flood members with unwanted ideas.]]></description>
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<title>Harnessing a Gusher of Referrals</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2477497</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2477497</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:14:35 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Is the craving for business starving you?  Account Executives, Salespersons and Business Development Specialists are all looking for the little magic blue pill of success.  Many are coming up short.  There is a gusher of leads and referrals available. You just need to go find it and harness its energy and resources.]]></description>
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<title>Put Your Own Mask on Before Helping Others</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2355698</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2355698</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2009 10:37:12 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Many business owners attempt to be "everything to everyone."  This is not a winning formula. In fact, the 'right' things to do include narrowing of solution offerings and becoming focused on core competencies. These will be the real winning strategies for today's service firms.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Servers, Servers Everywhere - But Which One is Right For You?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2202471</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2202471</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:30:18 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Microsoft announces Foundation Server.   Now, small Businesses with less than 15 employees are wondering what the right server technology is fit for business is now.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Is Twitter Ready For Prime Time With Small Business?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2168816</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2168816</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:17:17 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Twitter is all the rage with those active in the online world.  Sending out tweet after tweet, updating their twitter followers regularly on their status, where they are at, what they are doing, where they are going and who they are meeting.  The big question that many marketing professionals are asking today is.  Can Twitter will be effective as a prime time tool in mainstream marketing.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>It is About What You Like Or What the Client Needs?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/2157366</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/2157366</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:22:18 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Ideas for articles can come from the most inspirational places.  I recently decided to invest in a new laptop for my work with Bulletproof and use my Macbook that I bought last December for what it was designed for, to run the MAC OS. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Virtualization - Is it Being Adopted by IT Professionals Out There?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1894640</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1894640</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:17:46 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[There are a high number of IT Professionals acting as leaders in the virtualization world, practicing what they preach about the benefits of virtualizing our server environments and doing some wonderful things in the virtualization world. We have solutions built on Microsoft's Hyper-V, VMware and others that are starting to make to leave a big footprint in many of the world's well known and largest enterprise corporations who are looking at new ways to leverage these technologies as part of their overall disaster recovery and business continuity plan, maybe it is to offset a fraction of the costs related to large server farms and also looking to virtualized environments to save the environment as part of their green initiatives. Whatever the reason is virtualization just makes sense today.]]></description>
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<item>
<title>How Many Economic Downturns Have You Survived?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1816080</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1816080</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:26:04 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Is the day of reckoning just around the corner for many technology firms?  Is your business going survive 2009?  Experts are predicting 2009 is going to be a very rough year in the technology marketplace.  The federal government has stepped up to bail out a number of industries throughout the country and many banks are simply running out of cash to help out struggling businesses.]]></description>
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<title>Leveraging Social Media to Market Your Business</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1808742</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1808742</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:46:07 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Social media and networking is all the craze in the marketing world today.  Professionals and small business are moving over to social networking and online marketing in droves.  However, many IT Professionals today still do not understand the power of the Internet to market their business nor do they share this power with their client base so that they can become the expert in this field and help their clients.]]></description>
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<title>Partnerships Are a Difficult Ship to Steer</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1799205</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1799205</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:33:49 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Did this thought ever enter in your mind about a relationship or partnership?  How did I ever get into business with these guys?  How did I end up partnering with them?  What do I have to do to get out of this relationship?  These are normal thoughts that a lot of entrepreneurs, business owners and small business IT professionals deal with almost daily.  Partnerships can be a very difficult ship to steer.]]></description>
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<title>Marketing to Weather the Recession Storm</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1756949</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1756949</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:18:18 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Once an afterthought to many businesses, marketing is rapidly becoming important as sales pipelines dry up, the phones have stopped ringing, word of mouth referrals are no longer propagating and the unemployment rate starts to rise.  How does the average small business professional continue to build a business, keep their heads above water and weather this recession storm that is coming onto shore with a tsunami like storm surge?]]></description>
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<title>Is Your World Crashing Around You?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1745486</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1745486</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:58:08 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Who isn't being affected by all the craziness in our world?  With the global financial markets on a roller coaster ride on every single continent combined this with economic instability rampant everywhere, there has been a time where ensuring that all your bases are covered with more important and this includes ensuring your business data is completely protected.]]></description>
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<title>Preventing Customer Crankiness - 5 Tips to Prevent Unhappy Customers</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1504540</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1504540</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:26:35 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When you finish a long day at the office and jump in your car, do you expect it to turn on when you turn the key?  Of course we do.  We live in an always on world where many people including the customers that we serve have become totally accustomed to things just working, including their Information Technology solutions.  So what would happen if you elected not to perform your schedule maintenance on your car, it will eventually fail and more often than not, at the worst time possible.]]></description>
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<title>Thinking About Hiring Your Own Internal IT Staff? - Think Again!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1475749</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1475749</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:33:11 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Businesses today wrestle and grapple with the thought of hiring their own technology support staff to support their daily need for IT support without fully understanding the risks and the costs associated with having their own team of technology professionals. Business owners, C level execs and Managers are attracted to the idea of having a team or a consultant readily available within shouting distance down the hall, basically having an IT resource committed to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, many of today's business owners across the country are not aware of the total risks their business is exposed to by electing to bring their technology support in-house.]]></description>
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<title>Living in a Virtual World? - The Virtual Advantage</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1322419</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1322419</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:11:53 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Where do you see this world in the next five to ten years? How did the last five or ten years play out for you? Like you expected? The world as we know it is constantly changing, new economic factors are affecting the way we do business, the price of energy is creating second thoughts in the minds of a lot of people, demand on an individual's time combined with many other factors are shaping the way we look at our lives and our business.]]></description>
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<title>The 20 Minute Miracle to Improve Your Client Service</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1286406</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1286406</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:20:53 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Twenty minutes, that is all it takes to become "a knight in shining armor" in your client's eyes, adding stickiness in all of your business relationships. What do I mean by the twenty minute miracle? The twenty minute miracle is something that all successful IT Professionals perform automatically by habit and often without even thinking about it becoming key differentiator between the really successful IT firms and those that struggle to find success in our market.]]></description>
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<title>How Many Strikes Do You Throw?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1201977</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1201977</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2008 11:28:18 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Just like in Baseball, the number of strikes that the pitcher can throw in the strike zone is very critical the overall success of the baseball team on the field. The pitcher has the ultimate responsibility to ensure that strikes outnumber the balls thrown. In business, the pitcher is us, the business owner, the entrepreneur, the Business Development person or even an IT Professional.]]></description>
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<title>Client Satisfaction Is The Key To Success</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1199609</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1199609</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2008 10:18:28 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In business we are often taught in school and from peers to focus on profits and revenues as the key indicators to success in Small Business consulting (or at least that is how we are measured against others in our industry).  I am going too respectfully argue this point simply because if you are completely focused on having the highest revenues and in turn driving more profit to your bottom line you are losing sight of what I believe is the most vital and critical key performance indicator for any business large or small and new or old.]]></description>
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<title>Blogging is Big Businesses, Can You Make it Work for You?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1107815</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1107815</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:42:53 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[How many blogs do you read over the course of the business day?  There are many blogs on the Internet today.  Businesses are adopting blogging as a way to keep in touch with their client base more frequently, they are using internal blogs to share information throughout a corporation, and many IT professionals use blogging as a tool to share their expertise where other small business IT professionals where we can turn for information.  ]]></description>
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<title>Four Obsessions Of The Small Business IT Professional</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1097635</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1097635</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:23:17 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[IT Professionals are a strange and unusual bunch. I know I have been one for a number of years, almost 12 years working as an IT Professional in many different lines of work across many different industries. I started working with Banyan Vines based networks in the 1990's to Windows 2003 Servers a few years ago, prior to hanging up my screw driver. Now I primarily focus on working with Small Businesses so they can understand how technology works to benefit their business.]]></description>
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<title>Are The Customers Always Right?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1081252</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1081252</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:34:04 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[We have all heard the saying that we must have the right employees on our business bus, have you ever thought that you need to have the right clients on the bus as well.  Just like have the wrong employees on your team, the wrong clients can hurt your business and create a lifestyle that you do not enjoy.  ]]></description>
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<title>Decisions, Decisions, Decisions - Just Make Them!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1055036</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1055036</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:02:35 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Many small business professionals toss and turn in the middle of the night, losing valuable hours of much needed sleep worrying about making a difficult or in reality it may just be a not so difficult decision. We lose thousands of hours of sleep throughout our lifetime, thinking about even deciding to make a decision. More often than not, your loss of quality sleep on making decisions turns out nine times out of ten to be a non-event.]]></description>
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<title>Success Tips To Guide You Through Uncertain Economic Times</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1028486</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1028486</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:48:11 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Are you excited about what the future has in store for us?  Or are you one of those types that chose to run and hide when the hiccups occur?  There is a tremendous amount f change occurring in today's flat, global economy.  Where does the average IT professional turn who wants to flourish in business today?  What can we do to take our businesses to the next level when the market is a little foggy?  Is there a magic pill that will make it all come together?]]></description>
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<title>You Must Be Present To Win</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/1013884</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/1013884</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:52:59 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[How many times have you heard this at a seminar or trade show?  You must be present to win. Has this ever happened to you?  You bow out of a seminar earlier because you have an emergency at the office only to find out the next day from your peers that your name was drawn for some great prize and you weren't there to claim it. How do you feel knowing that you were chosen for this great prize only not to be there to collect?]]></description>
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<title>Are You Determined To Get Stuff Done?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/994934</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/994934</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:00:49 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Determination, one big word that says a lot and is rarely something that happens during the course of business or life in general. Why is this?  What stops the average person from getting the important things in their business done?  One word, determination, sometimes it is easier to pick the low hanging fruit than working on the items that will move you ahead in life.  ]]></description>
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<title>Empowering A First Class Business With First Class Clients</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/963553</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/963553</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:43:55 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When was the last time you looked at your business in the mirror?  What did you see?  Did you see a bargain basement type of consulting service or was the reflection back at your show the cream of the crop consulting business?  Over the past few months I have been studying many small business and purchasing services and goods on the cheap against paying top dollar for the best quality goods and services.]]></description>
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<title>Does Bad Mouthing Your Competition Get You Ahead?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/957705</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/957705</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:01:36 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The small business communities in any city across the world are normally very small, tight and communicate with each other frequently.  So when I hear of competition bad mouthing other small business IT professionals or consulting firms it is not a big surprise and not uncommon.  ]]></description>
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<title>What is Your Client Worth?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/938506</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/938506</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:58:02 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Let's face it excellent client service is at an all time low?  You just need to look around in today's high paced, low loyalty and skilled labour shortage economy to see that the levels of client service are hitting all time lows.  Gone are the days of someone investing the time to service your needs and creating the WOW factor.  It doesn't have to be this way, just if people slowed down and had the ability to focus on your needs.]]></description>
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<title>Are You A Butterfly Catcher?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/916872</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/916872</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:10:15 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[What do you mean by Butterfly catching?  Can you picture it in your mind, as the owners of your own small business consulting business, are you running around from idea to idea, just like a young child runs around catching butterflies in the garden?  We all do it; it is very natural for entrepreneurs and owners of small business to have ideas flying at them just like butterflies in the garden.]]></description>
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<title>Can Your Business Survive A One-Strike Society?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/879147</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/879147</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:55:17 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In today's world of instant gratification, short attention spans and lack of patience, the one-strike approach to dealing with business is becoming a main stream concern for many small business consulting firms. Add this onto the ongoing challenges associated with employee shortages and an ever increasing demand for services is stretching many Small Business Specialists to the breaking point.  We are definitely in a one-strike society!]]></description>
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<title>Strategies for Small Business Sales Success</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/861544</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/861544</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:11:20 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Does your small business practice understand the importance of sales?  What sales strategies have you developed in your business for sales success?  Many of us in the small business consulting business usually have a strategy built on word of mouth referrals that allows us to have a quick selling cycle, limited competition and provides us with an abnormally high closing ratio. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>What Are The Focus Areas in Small Business IT For 2008?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/839762</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/839762</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:27:05 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[2008 will be here before you know it, are you ready with what the market will throw at you in a couple of months.  With 2008 just around the corner, now is a good time to start the discussion of what needs to be the focus areas in 2008 for the small business IT professional and small business specialist.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Is Your Credit Card Information at Risk With Small Business and Retailers</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/769587</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/769587</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:44:10 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Is your credit card information at risk when you visit your local retailer?  We all would like to believe that our local retailer or favorite restaurant is keeping your personal and credit/debit card information secure and out of the hands of those who want to commit fraud against many honest people doing business today.  This is what I thought once I received my Visa bill one month to see $1,500.00 of liquor purchases and pizzas on my monthly statement. I was a victim of Credit Card fraud.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Is Procrastination Killing Your Business?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/757738</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/757738</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:27:34 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Are you in the habit of putting things off?  Saying to yourself that you will eventually get around to completing a task or are you the type to just get things done no matter what the task that needs to be done is.  Unfortunately an alarming number of small business owners are not the type to get things done without coming up with some excuse why they need to procrastinate on critical items in their business or simply taking care of a client. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Who Is Watching Your Business Network?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/754635</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/754635</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:31:45 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Has this ever happened to you?  You had a great weekend, maybe you worked a little on an important deadline.  Monday comes along; you make your way to the office to finish working on the largest contract in your company's history, only to find your computer network down.  Nothing is working.  Your business and perhaps your future are dead in the water.  No email, no Internet access and most importantly, that contract you have been working on for weeks is stored on your non-functional server.  How vulnerable do you feel at that moment?]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Is Your Lack Of Focus Hurting Your Small Business Practice?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/741628</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/741628</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 23 Sep 2007 12:31:31 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Focus! How many times have we been told this in our life?  Sometimes it is our own minds reminding ourselves of this "Focus on this deal, turn off the cell phone" or others that played an important role in our life, perhaps a little league coaches reminding you to "focus on the ball when at the plate"!  ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Do you Have the Recipe for Success?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/734011</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/734011</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:47:56 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[How many recipe books do you have in your kitchen?  I have quite a few and it doesn't make me a better cook, the reason why, normally I do not follow the directions as laid out in the recipe.  Are you doing this in your small business IT business?  Many small business owners struggle simply because they do not follow the recipe.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Who Is Your Master?  How A Mastermind Group Can Help You Grow Your Business</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/685242</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/685242</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Aug 2007 13:20:34 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In the small business computer consulting business there are no sole survivors or lone wolves!  You simply cannot survive in today fast paced, ever changing and global economy if you decide to attack it alone.   No one person has a monopoly on ideas, vision or the magic bullets.   This includes the services you provide to your own client base right threw to building your business.  You need to have the support of like-minded individuals who are open to sharing and committed to success, growth or learning to assist you along the way.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Our Clients Must Come First!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/681126</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/681126</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:52:26 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Clients!  Without them there would be no headaches, no demands, no issues, and no revenue coming into the business!  How many times do I hear it in the halls of small business during my travels in the market today?  "Those clients seem to get in the way of our running our business" stated one business owner that I spoke with recently.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Power of Forgiveness</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/680754</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/680754</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:40:57 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[We live in a crazy, high demanding lifestyle and overly connected world, during our day to day rat race that we call our lives, we may step on a few toes, anger a few associates, upset a friend and maybe do something that makes most men sleep in the dog house that evening.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Is Faith Important To Your Business?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/679701</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/679701</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:35:00 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[A year ago if you would have asked me, "Is faith important in your life and does it play an important role in your business life and how you do things?"  I would have told you to go fly a kite.  It was all about me back then, no real need to call upon any spiritual.  How things have changed in one short year.  Faith is now a centerpiece of my life, much more work needs to be done and I grow a little bit every day, but I am on the road to determining the rest of my life and growth in accordance to my faith, with the thanks of some great role models in the business.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Are Your Habits Limiting Your Growth?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/671327</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/671327</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:35:08 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[We all have habits.  Habits are something you do day in and day out without thinking, they just come naturally.  What type of habits do you exhibit in your life?  Are you a smoker?  Are you a gambler?  Are you a mentor?  Are you a leader?  These are all habits that we have in our life, some are good and some are not so good. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Do All Your Sales People Have The Information They Need To Close Business Successfully?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/665860</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/665860</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:13:18 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In sales meetings all across the globe, many businesses discuss how to win more business.  How do they have their hunters get in front of more prospective clients and have their farmers work on ensuring that everyone receives the products and solutions they require.  In reality, today's sales teams need more help when it comes to closing deals with prospective clients or even in your existing client base, so what about having a scout role in their company?  ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Marketing Your Small Business Specialist Practice Without Breaking the Bank!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/656158</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/656158</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:55:26 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The Small Business Specialist Community is a competitive landscape!  It is true that many of us are leaders in what we do, and openly share our achievements, thoughts, aspirations and best practices, however at the end of the day, we are business people and we all have mortgages to pay, pay for the food we eat, clothes we wear and perhaps have families to take care of.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Have You Found Your Purpose?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/652708</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/652708</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jul 2007 14:58:27 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[What is your purpose in life?  Is it to write a book?  Inspire people?  Help others?  Leave a lasting legacy?  Whatever it turns out to be, you must have a purpose in your life for whatever you are striving for, a direction, a meaning or anything else you would like to call it.  What is your purpose?  Do you have one?  Can you clearly tell others? ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Sharing Couldn't Be Easier - How Windows Sharepoint Services Will Benefit Your Small Business</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/632618</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/632618</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:29:03 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Sharing of business data in small business used to be a nice thing to have - however in today's business environment it is rapidly becoming a necessity in order to compete in the marketplace.  Never has the demand for collaboration inside your small business, across multiple locations, geographic regions or with partners and clients been needed as it is today.  Many small businesses continue to struggle with the concept of collaboration and how to do it effectively.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>It's 11 O'clock - Do You Know Where Your Laptop Is?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/619125</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/619125</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:13:46 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[It happens every day, in every Canadian city big or small, laptop computers vanish from small business and larger corporation at alarming rates.  Of course, these notebook computers are not vanishing - they are being stolen at all hours of the day from office towers, small retail shops and many other locations where our mobility work environments take us.  ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Dealing with Workplace Disappointment</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/609248</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/609248</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:57:17 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Workplace disappointment is a growing problem in today's small business IT marketplace, the inability for technicians to deliver quality and timely services to clients due to increasing demands and lack of quality talent in the available talent pool right through to vendors not coming through on promises in the channel is causing the level of disappointment to rise right through the ceiling.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>When Better Is No Longer Good Enough</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/557801</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/557801</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2007 09:28:01 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[For the longest time I was led to believe that you had to be better than the next guy to get ahead in life, well, this is not the case in the business world.  True, better a sports team can win championships, however, look deeper and you will find that they do things differently.  They may be playing defense differently or offering their players a different practice routine, the point is that the successful teams and companies find a unique niche will win.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>I Want to Break Free!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/555649</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/555649</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2007 08:48:45 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[For some reason today the hit song from Queen "I Want to Break Free" rang throughout my mind as I went about my normal day.  Not sure why, but in true writer's fashion there is some meaning behind this that I needed to put onto paper.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Is the Term Managed Services Over Used?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/553756</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/553756</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 06 May 2007 12:40:39 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Managed Services - what does that mean?  If I am a small business owner, what do managed computer services do for my business? ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Small Business Still Running Out to Retail Stores</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/545463</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/545463</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 29 Apr 2007 15:59:43 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Small Businesses in Canada are continuously running out to their local retail office store to purchase their computer supplies and accessories for their business.  This practice is great for those businesses that need an ink cartridge or some DVD's to backup their data, however, it is not the best practice for them to run out to purchase their next notebook computer or computer system.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Would It Matter in One Year?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/534705</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/534705</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2007 11:51:07 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Do you stop and wonder why you did something and then worry about it for hours or days afterwards, resulting in loss of sleep, anxious behavior or a serious hit to your productivity.  Human behavior defaults to that of worry when events to do not turn out the way they were planned, or we are doing something that we regret afterwards.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Successful People Are On Time!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/531944</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/531944</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Apr 2007 05:16:39 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I recently attended a Microsoft event at their corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington.  This event was a fantastic opportunity to meet with fellow leaders in the Microsoft partner community from around the world and spend quality time with each one of them.   The event was held over four days and we had a very tight schedule and the importance of timeliness was critical to its overall success.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Are you a NetWeaver or a Networker?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/519523</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/519523</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Apr 2007 06:53:10 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[What is one thing you love about networking?  Is it getting out and meeting others with the possibility of walking away with a pocketful of great leads?  What are some of the things about networking that you do not like?  Is it constantly being sold to or that no one really takes the time to understand what you really do and do not take the time to understand your business?]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>You Are No Good To Anyone Dead -  Health Tips For The IT Professional</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/516304</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/516304</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:45:32 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When was the last time you took a good hard long look at your overall health?  Was it days, weeks, months or even years ago?  Do you think that you are an iron man and can persevere through anything?  I was once in that state of mind, nothing could knock me down, maybe just pushed back a bit which allowed me to recover well.  Not anymore!]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>How is Your Lifestyle on the Road?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/509792</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/509792</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:45:03 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Traveling is a fact of life for any executive in the computer consulting business!  It doesn't matter if you are going down the street or across the country, traveling is just a fact of life.  The correct lifestyle decisions on the road will ensure you remain healthy, maintain your stamina, and are ready for any challenge.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Experience the Fun Factor</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/507258</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/507258</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:56:32 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Are you the type to sing in your car?  Play air guitar or air drums?  I am, mostly to lost classic hair bands on my satellite radio.  Having fun in what you do is critically important to the overall success of your business.  If you are not having fun doing what you are currently doing, why are you doing it?]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Are You Getting Sucked Back Out To Sea?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/506694</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/506694</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:32:56 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[What is stopping you from really getting what you want from your business?  This is a question I ask small business computer consulting company owners on a regular basis.  Many times business owners are like waves crashing onto a beach.  They approach a project much like a wave does, starting out many miles away from the coast or, in this case, project or idea.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Is Perfection Slowing You Down?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/504691</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/504691</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Mar 2007 08:51:46 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Perfection is what everyone is striving to achieve!  Well, perhaps the ones still wanting, but not achieving, success.  Perfection is a killer in the business world.  Perfection is one of the main reasons companies today have declining numbers, high turnover in staff and no growth overall.  Perfection is not possible!]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>What Are You Willing To Risk By Getting Out Of Line?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/504128</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/504128</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:39:50 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Do you like to stand in line?  At the local coffee shop or at the bank?  You could handle a short wait to get a latte or make a deposit into your bank account - or can you?  Next time you are in the local caf? or bank just look around.  How many people get frustrated waiting in a simple line for a coffee and then leave and never get that cup of coffee?]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Sometimes You Just Get A Headache</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/489391</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/489391</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:11:04 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA["Sometimes you just get a headache" is a phrase that will stick with me for the rest of my life.  These words were spoken from a very knowledgeable business leader in the Calgary market.  When I sat down with my mentor about life in general, a question was raised about knowing when the time was right to exit out of a business.  The answer was, "sometimes you just get a headache."]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Push or Pulling Too Hard? Don't Use Up All Your Energy Trying to Have Employees Follow Your Rules!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/482218</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/482218</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 09 Mar 2007 06:44:59 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Many small business computer consulting companies share a familiar headache and frustration-- how do you motivate or have employees follow the rules of your company?  Employees can be using your firm as a stepping stone to something bigger, a place to get their feet wet.  They are not there for the long run or to win the longest serving employee award.  It is time to stop dreaming that you will have employees that will be with you forever.  It just isn't going to happen.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Daylight Savings Time - It's New Effect on Canadian IT systems</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/479422</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/479422</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:44:23 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[This Sunday, March 11th, Canada and the other parts of the world will prepare not to spring ahead but take a leap forward.  Daylight Savings Time will hit us four weeks earlier that what we have been used to in the past due to a change passed in the United States to extend the period of the time that daylight savings time is in effect.  Daylight Savings Time will now be in effect from the second Sunday in March to the First Sunday in November.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Why Businesses Need to Start Archiving Email Now!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/466243</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/466243</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Feb 2007 08:07:51 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Electronic communications is the standard for many business transactions in today's small business organization; however, many small businesses still do not have adequate mechanisms for archiving correspondence with vendors, team members and customers.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>When Employees Check Out: Tips To Deal With The &quot;I Am Outta Here&quot; Factor</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/464143</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/464143</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 22 Feb 2007 09:17:56 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[When employees or team members decide it is time to check out and stop focusing on their jobs or their positions within the company, this causes some serious issues within your company.  The damage can be disastrous for your livelihood and for the others on your team that are depending on you.  What are some of the signs and ways that you can protect your company from the "I am outta here" mindset?]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Celebrate Your Achievements! No Matter How Small</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/459747</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/459747</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Feb 2007 10:53:41 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Do you ever stop to think how successful a hockey team would be if they did not celebrate each and every goal they score? Or any sports team every time they put a point up on the board?  You would sit in the stands and wonder what was up if they didn't.  Hockey teams celebrate all goals.  It doesn't matter if they are losing- they still celebrate each and every time they put the puck in the back of the net.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Where are the Instructions?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/452233</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/452233</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 13 Feb 2007 05:10:27 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In life, where are the instructions?  Many times we are told we need to "step out of the box" or "out of your comfort zone" to grow.  I heard a great line the other day about personal growth, it went something like this, "if you're green you grow, if you're ripe you rot."]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>How My Blackberry Set Me Free!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/444248</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/444248</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:20:04 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In today's world of instant connectivity and access from almost any spot in the world, mobile technologies have set the executive free.  Free to travel on business, take time away from the office, and yet still remain in contact wherever you need to be.  Take a look around next time you are in the airport, at a restaurant for lunch or even on the city bus.  You see business people connected via Blackberry (or some other version) technology everywhere.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Climb to the Vista.  Is Windows Vista for You?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/437190</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/437190</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:13:58 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Is Windows Vista for your company?  Many small businesses will be asking their IT people this question over the next few days, weeks, and months to find out if Vista is the best fit for their business.  Most IT consultants will be advising their client base to wait for Service Pack 1 which seems to be a standard response to any new software package or operating system release from most information technology consultants.  Is it the right answer?  Only you the business owner really knows if your business will benefit from upgrading to Vista or hanging tight with XP.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Persist to Achieve Pay Off In Your Business</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/435918</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/435918</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jan 2007 09:06:20 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Do you give up easily?  Do you decide to take the easy way out? When the others run off to the bar for early refreshments on a Friday afternoon, are you with them?  Or, are you the type that makes phone calls right up to the end of the day just before the weekend, hoping to catch a decision maker sitting at their desk.  If you are the type that leaves work early, takes the easy way out or gives up then perhaps you need a lesson in persistence.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Flying Solo - Good When Flying An Airplane - Not So Good When Running A Business</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/418730</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/418730</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:16:39 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[This past weekend I learned the importance of not flying solo in your business activities.  I took a weekend off to spend time with one of my sons, and we traveled to a small British Columbia town called Cranbrook to watch our hockey team from Calgary take on the Kootenay Ice.  Hockey is a long time escape from reality for me, especially when it involves getting out of town for an overnight trip.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Time to Abandon the &quot;Point-in-Time&quot; Backups</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/399964</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/399964</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 Dec 2006 10:00:48 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In today's world, data and electronic communications are critical to small business success.  If your data was to disappear, what would that do to your business?  What would a series of data losses cost your business?  What great ideas would be gone, never to come back?]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>You Know You Can Do It So What Is Stopping You? The Confidence Factor!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/399403</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/399403</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 30 Dec 2006 05:09:58 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[It is not unusual for clients to ask me a question about information technology that I know I do not have the answer for immediately.  My personality is such, however, that I respond by saying that I can find it.  This means digging in and supporting an application or setup when I have no idea what to do - that doesn't stop me, I get the information I need and get the work done.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Tips on Successfully Mastering the Vendor Factor</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/369535</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/369535</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:01:50 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Many consultants and business owners of today's Small Business IT companies understand the importance of growing quality relationships with their client base however it is equally important to create strong relationships with your vendors and other partners.  A successful, positive relationship with vendors and partners is just as critical as obtaining quality clients to today's Small Business computer consulting firm.  ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Three Things to Totally Achieve the Service Factor</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/364894</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/364894</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:59:49 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[There is an alarming trend in the IT service organizations in today's service world.  It is the lack of quality services provided by small business computer service and network organizations.  Could it be the shortage of skilled computer technicians?  Or is it really the inability for the leaders in these small computer support companies to see what is happening in their market?]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Time to Get Up and Just Do IT!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/352014</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/352014</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Nov 2006 13:44:36 -0600</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[What is stopping you from reaching your goals, your dreams, the successes you deserve in life?  All too often it is because the small business IT consultant just doesn't do IT!  Many consultants and owners of small business IT companies talk a great talk, and plan until they are blue face and then fail to execute.  They fail to just get up and do IT!]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Have You Ever Stopped to Measure - Your IMPACT Factor</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/337823</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/337823</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Oct 2006 15:52:13 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[I am consistently challenged throughout the day by the type of impact am I having on those around me.  Is a positive impact or having a negative effect?  I have to admit that my behavior is different with people that I have the time of day for and it shifts to the other end of the spectrum for those I do want to be around.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>How Clear Are Your Goals?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/332438</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/332438</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Oct 2006 10:26:58 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[It was a foggy mid-October day as I made my way into the office to commence my work day.  I was stuck in our normal morning commute and not able to see the buildings in Calgary's downtown core.  I began thinking to myself - do I know where my end destination is?  Absolutely, I could not see the building that holds my office however I still knew where to go.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Image, What Image?! - The Image Factor</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/329370</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/329370</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:26:40 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[What image are you projecting when you visit your clients?  How do you look when dealing with your clients?  What type of car do you drive? ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>The True Value of the Small Business Consulting Community</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/321825</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/321825</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2006 11:09:37 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The Small Business IT consulting community is a dynamic and exciting community to be active in at this time.  Many different opportunities are gaining some serious momentum in this underserved marketplace in Canada.  The Small Business marketplace will be the fastest-growing segment in the information technology market.  Currently, approximately 97% of the businesses in Canada have five hundred employees or less, which equates to a fantastic market to specialize in.  ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Why Wasn't I Awake - Dealing with the Morning Factor</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/315737</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/315737</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Oct 2006 08:32:11 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Have you ever heard of the old saying "the early bird gets the worm?"  This is so true in business today.  However, many entrepreneurs and business owners are struggling to find success. They are consistently working late into the evening, spending long hours at the office, using personal time to attempt to become productive, and burning the candle at both ends.   With this being said, they continue to struggle with getting their business going.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Does the Technology Really Matter?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/309460</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/309460</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Sep 2006 10:21:02 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Does the technology really matter in today's world?  Basically computer systems just work today, cell phones work almost anywhere now and with our mobile devices we are getting all of our office communications now while we are out and about.  So does the technology matter?  All the information flowing through cyberspace, through the airwaves, down the copper, does it matter how it gets to its destination?]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Why Did I Ever Get Into Business For Myself?  Dealing With The Why Factor!</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/297321</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/297321</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:53:07 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Have you ever stopped and thought about why you got into business?  What was the driving force behind your decision to lose the security blanket of having a regular paycheck, benefits and regular vacations?  Do you lay awake at night, worried about how you are going to feed your family, the unresolved client issues, or just the stress of an employee upsetting one of your best clients?  These are some of the questions entrepreneurs ask themselves on a regular basis when trying to figure out why they ever got into business for themselves.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Attraction Factor - Do you want to Attract the Best Clients?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/285856</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/285856</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Aug 2006 12:01:44 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Why do people become attracted to your business?  Why is it some days, new client opportunities seem to grow on trees and you ask yourself, what did I do to open these floodgates?  Is it just a fad or something that will last for a while?  I often think this well will dry up one day; however the flow never seems to slow down.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Drowning in the Sea of Email! - Tips on Dealing with the Clutter Factor</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/268542</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/268542</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Aug 2006 05:17:31 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Many executives, in corporations of all sizes, are wrestling with the abundance of communication coming in via E-Mail, and now with the unified communications in play, we are starting to receive our voice messages, faxes and other communications into our email applications.]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Getting your Message to Stick - Tips on Creating the Stick Factor</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/243780</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/243780</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 15 Jul 2006 11:44:26 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Sure sending out thousands of emails or fax broadcasts in a spray and pray approach may be a practice that your small business leverages as way to attract potential leads and eventually new clients.  ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>What Is The True Cost Of Internet Surfing At Work?</title>
<link>http://EzineArticles.com/215866</link>
<guid>http://EzineArticles.com/215866</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 09 Jun 2006 09:46:14 -0500</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[With the amount of information accessible on the Internet, combined with threats by viruses, worms, malicious code, spyware, and disruptions to service attacks - a threat to business productivity and profitability has always existed.  This threat goes unnoticed by many business owners, especially in the small to mid market space.]]></description>
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