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	<title>Booked Solid University &#187; Michael&#8217;s Articles for Amex Open Forum</title>
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	<description>Small businesss owners become successful entrepreneurs and small business success stories with small business coaching.</description>
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		<title>Top Ten Reasons Thinking Big in Business is Better</title>
		<link>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/amex-open-forum/top-ten-reasons-thinking-big-business/</link>
		<comments>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/amex-open-forum/top-ten-reasons-thinking-big-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:04:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Port</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Michael's Articles for Amex Open Forum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how+to+think+big]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael+Port+article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[think+big]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Think+Big+Manifesto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thinking+Big]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bookedsolidu.com/?p=3697</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>My <a title="Michael Port article on thinking big" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/top-10-reasons-thinking-big-is-better-in-business-michael-port" target="_blank">latest article at Open Forum</a> on The Top Ten Reasons Thinking Big in Business is Better. Here&#8217;s how it starts&#8230;</p>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Hands down&#8230;bigger is better. No, not always. Not in the gas-guzzling SUV sort of way. But when we&#8217;re talking about the super-fly thoughts that are traveling through your mind, yes, bigger is better.</p>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You want to be big in business? Then bring big thoughts front and center. It&#8217;s your mind that will change your business (and the world). When you think big, you&#8217;re large and in charge. Here are 10 little-known facts about big thinking. Big thinking encourages you to&#8230;.</p>

<p>Continue reading <a title="Michael Port article on thinking big" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/top-10-reasons-thinking-big-is-better-in-business-michael-port" target="_blank">the top ten reasons thinking big in business is better.</a></p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My <a title="Michael Port article on thinking big" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/top-10-reasons-thinking-big-is-better-in-business-michael-port" target="_blank">latest article at Open Forum</a> on The Top Ten Reasons Thinking Big in Business is Better. Here&#8217;s how it starts&#8230;</p>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Hands down&#8230;bigger is better. No, not always. Not in the gas-guzzling SUV sort of way. But when we&#8217;re talking about the super-fly thoughts that are traveling through your mind, yes, bigger is better.</p>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You want to be big in business? Then bring big thoughts front and center. It&#8217;s your mind that will change your business (and the world). When you think big, you&#8217;re large and in charge. Here are 10 little-known facts about big thinking. Big thinking encourages you to&#8230;.</p>

<p>Continue reading <a title="Michael Port article on thinking big" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/top-10-reasons-thinking-big-is-better-in-business-michael-port" target="_blank">the top ten reasons thinking big in business is better.</a></p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/amex-open-forum/top-ten-reasons-thinking-big-business/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Power of the Word</title>
		<link>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-marketing-advice/power-word/</link>
		<comments>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-marketing-advice/power-word/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:52:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Port</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Michael's Articles for Amex Open Forum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Leadership Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Marketing Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Sales Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bookedsolidu.com/?p=3688</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>My latest <a title="Michael Port article - Power of the Word" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/power-of-the-word-michael-port" target="_blank">article</a> for American Express&#8217; OPEN Forum. Here&#8217;s a preview.</p>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I had a meeting today with a guy who wanted to discuss a possible business collaboration. Basically, he had a pitch for me, and we spoke for about 20 minutes. I offered about five sentences, and he filled the rest of the time with puffery&#8211;for his idea, the people involved, and me. What&#8217;s puffery? It&#8217;s flattery and exaggerated praise, especially when used for promotional purposes. It&#8217;s my new favorite word. Pizza Hut is using it in their commercials to point out that the &#8220;better-tasting pizza&#8221; claims of the Papa John&#8217;s organization are no more than puffery. Apparently, Papa was forced to admit as much in a federal court. Yikes.</p>

<p><a title="Michael Port article - Power of the Word" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/power-of-the-word-michael-port" target="_blank">Continue reading</a> the article at OPEN Forum.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My latest <a title="Michael Port article - Power of the Word" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/power-of-the-word-michael-port" target="_blank">article</a> for American Express&#8217; OPEN Forum. Here&#8217;s a preview.</p>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I had a meeting today with a guy who wanted to discuss a possible business collaboration. Basically, he had a pitch for me, and we spoke for about 20 minutes. I offered about five sentences, and he filled the rest of the time with puffery&#8211;for his idea, the people involved, and me. What&#8217;s puffery? It&#8217;s flattery and exaggerated praise, especially when used for promotional purposes. It&#8217;s my new favorite word. Pizza Hut is using it in their commercials to point out that the &#8220;better-tasting pizza&#8221; claims of the Papa John&#8217;s organization are no more than puffery. Apparently, Papa was forced to admit as much in a federal court. Yikes.</p>

<p><a title="Michael Port article - Power of the Word" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing/article/power-of-the-word-michael-port" target="_blank">Continue reading</a> the article at OPEN Forum.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-marketing-advice/power-word/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>6 Keys to Creating Customer Connection</title>
		<link>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-marketing-advice/6-keys-creating-customer-connection/</link>
		<comments>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-marketing-advice/6-keys-creating-customer-connection/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:56:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Port</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Michael's Articles for Amex Open Forum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Marketing Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Sales Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Systems Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business+success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer+connection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer+loyalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneur magazine article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[getting+customers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael+Port]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael+Port+article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales+article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales+cycle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Leadership Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bookedsolidu.com/?p=3632</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>My latest article at American Express Open Forum on the <a title="customer connection" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/managing/article/6-keys-to-creating-customer-connection-who-what-where-when-why-and-how-michael-port" target="_blank">6 Keys to Creating Customer Connection</a>.</p>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;">&#8220;All sales start with a simple conversation. It may be a conversation between you and a potential client or customer, between one of your clients and a potential referral, or between one of your colleagues and a potential referral. An effective sales cycle is based on turning these simple conversations into relationships of trust with your potential clients over time. We know that people buy from those they like and trust, and you&#8217;ll begin to earn this trust when you&#8217;re able to answer the following key questions&#8230;</p>

<p><a title="customer connection" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/managing/article/6-keys-to-creating-customer-connection-who-what-where-when-why-and-how-michael-port" target="_blank">Read the complete article</a> about how to create connection with customers.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My latest article at American Express Open Forum on the <a title="customer connection" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/managing/article/6-keys-to-creating-customer-connection-who-what-where-when-why-and-how-michael-port" target="_blank">6 Keys to Creating Customer Connection</a>.</p>

<p style="padding-left: 30px;">&#8220;All sales start with a simple conversation. It may be a conversation between you and a potential client or customer, between one of your clients and a potential referral, or between one of your colleagues and a potential referral. An effective sales cycle is based on turning these simple conversations into relationships of trust with your potential clients over time. We know that people buy from those they like and trust, and you&#8217;ll begin to earn this trust when you&#8217;re able to answer the following key questions&#8230;</p>

<p><a title="customer connection" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/managing/article/6-keys-to-creating-customer-connection-who-what-where-when-why-and-how-michael-port" target="_blank">Read the complete article</a> about how to create connection with customers.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-marketing-advice/6-keys-creating-customer-connection/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>6 Small Business Systems That Will Save Your Life</title>
		<link>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-leadership-advice/6-business-systems-save-small-business-life/</link>
		<comments>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-leadership-advice/6-business-systems-save-small-business-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:52:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Port</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Michael's Articles for Amex Open Forum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Leadership Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Systems Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael+Port+article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small+business+systems]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bookedsolidu.com/?p=2866</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>My latest small business<a title="small business systems" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/managing/article/everybodys-doing-it-michael-port" target="_blank"> article</a> for American Express Open Forum.</p>

<p>Everybody&#8217;s doing it. Are you?</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My latest small business<a title="small business systems" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/managing/article/everybodys-doing-it-michael-port" target="_blank"> article</a> for American Express Open Forum.</p>

<p>Everybody&#8217;s doing it. Are you?</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-leadership-advice/6-business-systems-save-small-business-life/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Customer Service Sells (No, Really, It Does)</title>
		<link>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-marketing-advice/customer-service-sells/</link>
		<comments>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-marketing-advice/customer-service-sells/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:52:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael Port</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Michael's Articles for Amex Open Forum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Leadership Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Marketing Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Sales Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Systems Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Port]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purchasing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sell]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.bookedsolidu.com/?p=2737</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>One of my articles for American Express Open Forum. This might seem obvious but <a title="customer service sells" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/managing/article/customer-service-sells-no-really-it-does-michael-port" target="_blank">customer service sells</a>. But, not in the way you might think.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of my articles for American Express Open Forum. This might seem obvious but <a title="customer service sells" href="http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/managing/article/customer-service-sells-no-really-it-does-michael-port" target="_blank">customer service sells</a>. But, not in the way you might think.</p>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.bookedsolidu.com/small-business-marketing-advice/customer-service-sells/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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