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<channel>
	<title>Getting Personal About Business </title>
	<atom:link href="http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn</link>
	<description>Business Mentor</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:27:36 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
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		<item>
		<title>Talk Show Truths</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/30/talk-show-truths/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/30/talk-show-truths/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:27:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Collaboration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conflict]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dr. Phil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Getting along]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Assessment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Working with others]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=429</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ordinarily, business people do not find the morning talk shows and gabfests to be places of enormous business insight. More often, these shows are mildly entertaining and perhaps expose a side of humanity that most viewers find even more outlandish than their own. However, every now and again; there are moments of wisdom that one [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/30/talk-show-truths/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Traveling the Six &#8220;C&#8217;s&#8221; of Trust</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/18/traveling-the-six-cs-of-trust/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/18/traveling-the-six-cs-of-trust/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:39:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Caring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Character]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clarity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commitment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Competence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trust]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=425</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the larger misconceptions among business owners, entrepreneurs, and even customers is that business decisions are primarily made on a logical basis. So, the effort in the selling environment is to share data, facts, questions and answers, etc. back and forth to create a matrix of quantitative assessment criteria. And if it is success and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/18/traveling-the-six-cs-of-trust/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is PETA More Than a PITA?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/09/is-peta-more-than-a-pita/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/09/is-peta-more-than-a-pita/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:23:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Branding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[company strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ingrid Newkirk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[means justify ends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[objectives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vision]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=420</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While catching up on documentaries recently, I came across a video of a few years ago titled, &#8220;I Am an Animal.&#8221; The video is an insight into the motivation and tactics of Ingrid Newkirk, the co-founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in accomplishing the goals and strategies of the organization.  While Ingrid and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/09/is-peta-more-than-a-pita/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Structure Rewards Correctly</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/03/structure-rewards-correctly/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/03/structure-rewards-correctly/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:58:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bonus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compensation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[incentives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outcome]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outcomes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reward]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[salary]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=415</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When thinking about building business in the new year, many business owners will consider tinkering with the compensation structures offered to their sales people.  However, there are some caveats to consider when planning how to best create a successful reward and incentive plan that motivates salespeople.  Being ignorant of these warning can lead to less [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2012/01/03/structure-rewards-correctly/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Holiday Hints</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/12/15/holiday-hints/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/12/15/holiday-hints/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:54:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chanukah]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hannukah]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=410</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This time of the year presents some interesting decisions for businesses to make in terms of what to acknowledge, say, leverage, or ignore.  With so many different constituencies to consider (employees, customers, suppliers, and even competitors), the holidays are fraught with opportunities to stumble.  Employees Employees often come to expect that they will be recognized during [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/12/15/holiday-hints/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>RFPs are an Invitation to Failure</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/11/30/rfps-are-an-invitation-to-failure/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/11/30/rfps-are-an-invitation-to-failure/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:07:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leads]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[proposals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Request for proposal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RFP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=403</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is no surprise to any B-toB (business to business) professional that the business is becoming more competitive and that opportunities are harder to come by with each passing year. So, it is understandable that when the mail brings a solicitation to respond to an RFP (Request for Proposal), that many pounce at the chance to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/11/30/rfps-are-an-invitation-to-failure/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>So You Are A CEO &#8211; Now What?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/11/16/so-you-are-a-ceo-now-what/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/11/16/so-you-are-a-ceo-now-what/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:28:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chief executive officer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[executive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[owner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self employed]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=399</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Corporate employees making the transition to being self-employed due to layoffs, following their passions or dreams, starting a new business in their spare time to supplement their income, or for any other reason will often take great pride in referring to themselves as the &#8220;CEO&#8221; of a business. With visions of grandeur dancing in their [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/11/16/so-you-are-a-ceo-now-what/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Three Ms</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/11/07/three-ms/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/11/07/three-ms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:44:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=392</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Melvin Cooper, Mensch, Mentor, Leadership, Love, Business, Lessons, Malloy, Jeffrey Butler]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/11/07/three-ms/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Slow Down to Go Fast</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/31/slow-down-to-go-fast/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/31/slow-down-to-go-fast/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:47:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buy cycle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales cycle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=387</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Customers attending any industry conference, trade show, networking event or even a sales presentation are often wise to arrive in battle armor. Sales people seem to have become increasingly aggressive about their approaches. It is as if the collateral damage they leave in their wake is inconsequential because they have been told that sales is [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/31/slow-down-to-go-fast/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Are the Daily Deal Discount Sites Worth it?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/24/are-the-daily-deal-discount-sites-worth-it/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/24/are-the-daily-deal-discount-sites-worth-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:16:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coupons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer Loyalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Discounts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GroupOn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LivingSocial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trial and Repeat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Whole Foods]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=383</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[During the recession, many of us discovered and began to use services that offered large discounts for restaurants, retailers, service providers, etc through website offers. In some instances, the discounts were limited to only the first &#8220;x&#8221; users who consented to pay upfront through the website offering. The frequently mentioned sites are; GroupOn, LivingSocial, and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/24/are-the-daily-deal-discount-sites-worth-it/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>It Starts With the Customer</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/18/it-starts-with-the-customer/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/18/it-starts-with-the-customer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:42:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[needs identification]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[objectives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[telemarketing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=375</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The experience is one that gets replayed over and over in homes, offices, and anywhere your cell phone is turned on.  You are busy focused on one task or another and the ring of your phone interrupts your train of thought.  In fact, as I am writing this article, a series of calls came in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/18/it-starts-with-the-customer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Searing Pain</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/10/a-searing-pain/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/10/a-searing-pain/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:11:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Best Buy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online purchases]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sears]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=371</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Using the benefit of the Columbus Day holiday, I went in search of a vacuum in the hopes of finding a sale on home appliances at local retailers. I was in a buying mode, and really did not want to wait for a delivery to arrive with my vacuum in a few days after placing [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/10/a-searing-pain/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Best Practices Are Not</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/03/best-practices-are-not/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/03/best-practices-are-not/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:08:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Best practice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[competitive positioning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strategic planning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=367</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In speaking with clients there is a pervasive theme that many seem to subscribe to in setting goals, strategies, and objectives. The &#8216;holy grail&#8217; for these clients is the determination and definition of industry, &#8220;best practices.&#8221; Unfortunately, aspiring to incorporating the industry&#8217;s best practices is a losing strategy that is focused on the wrong basis [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/10/03/best-practices-are-not/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Peaceful Easy Feeling</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/09/26/peaceful-easy-feeling/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/09/26/peaceful-easy-feeling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:25:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ambience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CT]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family run business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[local business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vineyard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[winery]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=365</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the hardest things to create for a business is the sense of culture or community amongst the customers and the staff. Sure &#8211; some businesses focus on creating networks of hundred or thousands of people that &#8220;like&#8221; them on a social network, or create databases of names of visitors to websites &#8211; but [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/09/26/peaceful-easy-feeling/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Physician, Heal Thyself</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/31/physician-heal-thyself/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/31/physician-heal-thyself/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:14:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arrogance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Doctor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dr.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medical]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[running a business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=354</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There was a recent article that appeared on MSN&#8217;s homepage that would make an for-profit owner shake his or her head in bewilderment at the quotes for attribution of those interviewed. The URL to the article is http://health.msn.com/health-topics/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100279644&#38;imageindex=1, but the following summarizes the gist of what was reported. Dr. excuses for why they run late [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/31/physician-heal-thyself/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Market to Me, Not Yourself</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/23/market-to-me-not-yourself/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/23/market-to-me-not-yourself/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:59:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Continental airline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[differentiation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[executive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[messaging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[passenger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=349</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is a confusion that seems to be pervasive among senior executives.  Far too many executives seem to be delivering self-congratulatory marketing messages to bolster their own egos &#8211; but not share any advantages or messages that impact the existing or potential customer.  The latest example of this was shared in a post written by [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/23/market-to-me-not-yourself/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Diamond in the Swamps of Jersey</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/16/a-diamond-in-the-swamps-of-jersey/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/16/a-diamond-in-the-swamps-of-jersey/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:32:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer engagement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[front line]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=345</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When people think of New Jersey, they often think of Turnpike exits, the smell of the refineries, the Sopranos, the cast from &#8220;The Jersey Shore&#8221; and the musicians who have come from that state &#8211; Frank Sinatra, Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen. Often, the state is used as a punchline and is reduced to a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/16/a-diamond-in-the-swamps-of-jersey/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bank vs. Credit Union</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/01/bank-vs-credit-union/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/01/bank-vs-credit-union/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:56:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bank]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit union]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortgage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[savings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=341</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the most critical decisions an entrepreneur makes is often one that is not given a whole lot of thought.  The determination of where to form a financial relationship that includes; checking account, savings, investments, loans, etc. is of vital importance and worth understanding the options. Differences between Banks, Credit Unions and Savings Institutions [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/08/01/bank-vs-credit-union/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Do, Manage, Consult, or Coach</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/07/25/do-manage-consult-or-coach/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/07/25/do-manage-consult-or-coach/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:25:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consult]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Do]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employee development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[executive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[training]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=337</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ The role of the executive is different than that of the subordinate and should be evaluated on the basis of what expectations the organization has for that role, and not of the subordinates' roles.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/07/25/do-manage-consult-or-coach/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Netflix&#8217;s Not so Near Miss</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/07/17/netflixs-not-so-near-miss/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/07/17/netflixs-not-so-near-miss/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2011 02:58:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer insight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[goodwill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[price increase]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pricing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=331</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Netflix may ultimately reverse or reduce their price increase plans; but for now - they agitated customers and have led to defections en masse.  Whether they can recover remains to be seen. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/07/17/netflixs-not-so-near-miss/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Who Will Buy &#8211; Me?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/07/06/who-will-buy-me/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/07/06/who-will-buy-me/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:27:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[associations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corporate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[expert]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[expertise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[presentation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[speaking]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=326</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Fans of musicals will remember the scene where Oliver walks the street with roses in his hands hoping to make a sale as he tentatively sings, &#8220;who will buy&#8230;?&#8221;  Of course, as he tries to implore the various people he passes on the street to purchase the flowers, he competes with all of the other [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/07/06/who-will-buy-me/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Smooth or Deep?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/27/smooth-or-deep/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/27/smooth-or-deep/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:32:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[deep]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[on-boarding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smooth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=321</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[While perusing the Sunday New York Times, an article jumped out at me for a quote it contained (and apparently, I was not the only one as a daily blog that tracks the grocery industry also thought it was noteworthy).  The quote was made by John Rowe, CEO of Exelon, a Chicago-based electric utility company): [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/27/smooth-or-deep/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Going with the Flow</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/21/going-with-the-flow/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/21/going-with-the-flow/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:54:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneurs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mihály Csíkszentmihályi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Positive Psychology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seligman]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=317</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The nature of the business owner and a source of pride for them is that they are relentless in their desire to see the weaknesses in current products and services available in the market (including their own products and services) and exploit an advantage they believe their offering can provide.  In order to maximize the identification [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/21/going-with-the-flow/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>LeBron Lessons</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/13/lebron-lessons/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/13/lebron-lessons/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:29:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business process]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Choke]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clutch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pressure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teamwork]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=313</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The NBA Finals have now concluded and the water cooler conversations offering post-mortems have begun.  The Miami Heat had acquired LeBron James during the off-season and then added Chris Bosh as well to their long-tenured star &#8211; Dwayne Wade and there were those that were prepared to call off the season before it even began [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/13/lebron-lessons/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Driving Market Share</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/07/driving-market-share/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/07/driving-market-share/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:56:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[merchandising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shopper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shopping]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=304</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When marketers look at how to drive business or volume to their business, they often look at two different paths.  The first is to get someone to switch their purchases  from a competitor.  The second is to create a new customer or consumer.  When one looks at how those two intersect, you create four different [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/07/driving-market-share/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Don&#8217;t be Tone Deaf</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/01/dont-be-tone-deaf/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/01/dont-be-tone-deaf/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:07:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[impressions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing buzz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tone deaf]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=300</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is no doubt that with the advent of social networking sites, blogging, e-mail, and the ease and speed with which companies and executives can communicate with customers, suppliers, and employees the chances for stubbing one&#8217;s toe by making a communication mistake increases tremendously.  Making this even more precarious is the politically correct environment that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/06/01/dont-be-tone-deaf/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Who is Driving The Bus?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/27/who-is-driving-the-bus/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/27/who-is-driving-the-bus/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 May 2011 14:55:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Contract]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer Relationship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Landlord]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lease]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Negotiation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tenant]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=296</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the best-selling business book, Good to Great, by Jim Collins &#8211; a key phrase and concept that is introduced and reinforced is the importance of management remaining in control and having the right person with the appropriate skills steering the bus (directing the future of the business). While the visual of a bus careening [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/27/who-is-driving-the-bus/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Not All Advice Should Be Followed</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/23/not-all-advice-should-be-followed/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/23/not-all-advice-should-be-followed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 May 2011 16:57:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Closing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye on Sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Negotiation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=291</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the outcomes of enhanced bandwidth, negligable costs of setting up websites and blogs, and proliferation of online media sites hungering for content is that it is real easy for nearly anyone to post their ideas online for people to read.  For the most part, experts tend to use online outlets responsibly and to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/23/not-all-advice-should-be-followed/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Diagnose, then Prescribe</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/17/diagnose-then-prescribe/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/17/diagnose-then-prescribe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2011 13:39:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advantages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diagnose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prescribe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales process]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=287</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ask any salesperson or business owner about the importance of having an elevator speech (those 30 second or 1 minute descriptors of what someone does for a living capable of being delivered while one is sharing an elevator ride from the lobby up to the destination floor) and you will get nearly universal agreement about [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/17/diagnose-then-prescribe/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Don&#8217;t Delete This!</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/11/dont-delete-this/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/11/dont-delete-this/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 14:06:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[e-mail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[email]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frustration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prospecting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SPAM]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=283</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Everyworkday morning there is a business ritual that occurs in every office.  For some, it happens even before the first cup of coffee has been consumed.  It is the official start of the day for many &#8211; the checking of emails.  Unfortunately for many of the senders of the emails, it is quickly followed by [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/11/dont-delete-this/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Sale Deconstructed</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/05/a-sale-deconstructed/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/05/a-sale-deconstructed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 16:21:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[need]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vision]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[want]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=279</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every business requires it.  It is the oxygen that feeds the organization&#8217;s soul.  We are talking about sales.  A company without sales is a company that is destined to fail.  No customers equals no business.  The cause and effect is really that direct and simple.  And yet, nearly every company is focused on how to improve [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/05/05/a-sale-deconstructed/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>You Lost Me at Hello</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/04/26/you-lost-me-at-hello/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/04/26/you-lost-me-at-hello/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:27:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Admissions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[College]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationship]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=275</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This past week had my son and me criss-crossing the Northeast looking at various colleges in preparation for the application process in the early Fall.  The way the schools approached the wooing of students to their campusto enroll had many parallels to business and pointed out many of the current issues confronted by both educational institutions and for-profit [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/04/26/you-lost-me-at-hello/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is it all about Profit?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/04/14/is-it-all-about-profit/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/04/14/is-it-all-about-profit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:43:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accounting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Balanced scorecard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corporate measurements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HCHP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[profit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=271</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ask nearly any business owner what is used to identify corporate success and the answer will be profit.  Afterall, the business is referred to as a &#8220;for profit&#8221; business as opposed to anon-profit or charity.  Could there be a different answer? The Goal It is assumed that if one is going to start or participate in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/04/14/is-it-all-about-profit/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Lost Customer</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/29/a-lost-customer/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/29/a-lost-customer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:41:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[attitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employee training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fairway Markets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Premium Pricing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stew Leonard's]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=267</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Connecticut has much to preen about with a beautiful shoreline, rolling verdant hills, and the state&#8217;s pride and joy &#8211; UConn sports. One thing that is not particularly strong in the state is the differentiation between grocers. If one were blindfolded and could not remove it until they were in aisle 5 of nearly any [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/29/a-lost-customer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Failure Happens &#8211; Now What?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/18/failure-happens-now-what/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/18/failure-happens-now-what/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:24:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[failure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[opportunity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Start-up]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=262</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The statistics are sobering.  Start-ups have a high failure rate.  According to an article written in Harvard Business Review (http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6591.html) that addressed failures of start-up businesses, failure occurs between 30 and 40% of the time if it is defined as losing all assets and 90-95% of the time if defined as not receiving the expected ROI  [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/18/failure-happens-now-what/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>It Isn&#8217;t that Complicated</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/10/it-isnt-that-complicated/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/10/it-isnt-that-complicated/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:24:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career focus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=255</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When asked to choose between detail and complexity versus simplicity and clarity, most of us choose the route of the simple.  Perhaps it is our short attention spans, our sense of being time-impoverished, or our feeling of being overwhelmed by the increasing number of tasks or commitments we all juggle in the span of teh [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/10/it-isnt-that-complicated/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Resilience is a Group Exercise</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/04/resilience-is-a-group-exercise/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/04/resilience-is-a-group-exercise/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:14:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[barnes & noble]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blockbuster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[borders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reslience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[toughnness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=250</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every business owner has heard the mantra that there is nothing constant but change itself.  A quick review of the last two decades points out one very salient example; in the 1990&#8242;s, books were sold in Mass Merchandising stores (Kmart, Wal-mart, and others).  That entire department of products then became the domain of book retailers [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/03/04/resilience-is-a-group-exercise/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Civility Counts</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/31/civility-counts/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/31/civility-counts/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:37:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corporate culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[decorum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Manners. civility]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[values]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=246</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Of late, there has been much spoken and written about the shrill and antagonistic tone taken by politicians and the media in an effort to have their message heard and rise above the din of other noise and static inundating voters, viewers, subcribers, etc. Unfortunately, the typical &#8220;Man in the Street&#8221; has been so turned [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/31/civility-counts/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>When You Make A Mistake</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/24/when-you-make-a-mistake/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/24/when-you-make-a-mistake/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:01:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apologies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[error]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loyalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mistake]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reparations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=242</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is bound to happen at some point. Stay in business long enough and there is no way around it. In spite of your best efforts, the best you can hope for is to minimize or reduce the number of times it occurs, but it will happpen. What is the &#8220;it&#8221; we are referring to? [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/24/when-you-make-a-mistake/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Think Like A Customer</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/10/think-like-a-customer/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/10/think-like-a-customer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:22:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loyalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new product development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=238</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Not every business requires sales people, not every business demands that resources be allocated to production or manufacturing, and it is not even essential that a business have a physical plant or address. However, for any business to succeed, there has to be one necessary condition above all others &#8211; a customer willing to make a purchase. And [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/10/think-like-a-customer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Do You Have a Key Employee?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/03/do-you-have-a-key-employee/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/03/do-you-have-a-key-employee/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:39:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business continuation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compensation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[incentives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[key employee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Randy Edsall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[succession planning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=234</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As 2011 begins with the optimism, exuberance, and excitement that a new year brings, many local football fans are having to come to terms with the head coach of the UCONN football team leaving for a different university. While not entirely a surprise, as Coach Edsall has been mentioned in numerous coaching vacancy discussions over [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2011/01/03/do-you-have-a-key-employee/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Go Ahead, Be a Grinch</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/12/22/go-ahead-be-a-grinch/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/12/22/go-ahead-be-a-grinch/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:25:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grinch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Negativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Positivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[results]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=229</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As you sit around the holiday fireplace this year and feign being happy with the gifts you will never use, pretend not to mind the cost of the dinner on the table, or act interested in hearing the same stories over and over from the forgetful relative, you may get the vague feeling that you are [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/12/22/go-ahead-be-a-grinch/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Social Media and Business</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/12/15/social-media-and-business/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/12/15/social-media-and-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:57:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Time Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zuckerberg]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=225</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Time Magazine has announced that Mark Zuckerberg, a 26 year old entrepreneur and creator of Facebook, is the &#8220;Time Person of the Year.&#8221;  With much fanfare and gallons of ink devoted to the creative genius of the idea, business platform, and usefulness of the application; one out of every twelve people ON THE PLANET now [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/12/15/social-media-and-business/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Cash, Credit, or Concern?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/12/07/cash-credit-or-concern/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/12/07/cash-credit-or-concern/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:26:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cash]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[installment plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[payment processing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[payment terms]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=218</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Given that this is the holiday season and the economy has not been as robust as many would have hoped it would be after the tinkering by the Federal Government to avoid a crisis, a strange confluence of activity is occurring. People are feeling compelled to spend on gifts, parties, and holiday celebrations, but are [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/12/07/cash-credit-or-concern/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>To Party or Not</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/29/to-party-or-not/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/29/to-party-or-not/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:53:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[celebration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[client]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gift-giving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[party]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=202</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This time of the year is when many companies wrestle with how to acknowledge the season and how to show their appreciation for both their employees and their customers or clients.  The issue of HOW to behave will be addressed in numerous articles, tv stories, blogs, and the like; but WHETHER to hold a party [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/29/to-party-or-not/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The New Truths About PR (Part 2)</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/17/the-new-truths-about-pr-part-2/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/17/the-new-truths-about-pr-part-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:47:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepeneurs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=200</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the previous column, David Meerman Scott shared some ideas about how business owners can leverage the new media options to maximize their business performance. In this second and final column, Mr. Scott concludes answering additional questions. As a reminder, he will be speaking at the FCPRA in Stamford, CT on November 22nd (register at [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/17/the-new-truths-about-pr-part-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The New Truths About PR (Part 1)</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/14/the-new-truths-about-pr-part-1/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/14/the-new-truths-about-pr-part-1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:20:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Meerman Scott]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New rules]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEO]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=192</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the most disconcerting things that can happen in business is that once the owner believes they have figured out what to do, what works, and how to do it; the capabilities and requirements change.  The &#8220;rules of the game&#8221; shift and what once was seen as progessive is now outmoded or replaced by [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/14/the-new-truths-about-pr-part-1/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Does Nostalgia Sell?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/12/does-nostalgia-sell/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/12/does-nostalgia-sell/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:35:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer expectations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loyalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nostalgia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[quality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shopping experience]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=188</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, many of us begin to reminisce about the smells, tastes, and memories of going back &#8220;home&#8221; (whether home is a few time zones away or just down the street). In the haze of our recollections, we tend to romanticize our experiences and heighten the more positively prominent aspect of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/12/does-nostalgia-sell/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Working Out Without The Sweat</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/03/working-out-without-the-sweat/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/03/working-out-without-the-sweat/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:39:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business transformation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CAP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[meetings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Process Improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Workout]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=184</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As we approach the holidays, many of us are concerned about not indulging in bad dietary habits and then having to live with the guilt of weight gain. To combat the excesses of holiday eating, many of us will have to endure the sweat, pain, and fatigue of working out.  Contrarily, businesses have a chance to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/11/03/working-out-without-the-sweat/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Salary = Success</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/27/salary-success/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/27/salary-success/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:03:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[income]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[salary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=177</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are currently in the long-term  ripple effects of the recession and many small business owners have had to close up shop and pursue other opportunities.  The empty storefronts up and down Main Street, USA are testament to just how hard it is to succeed in today&#8217;s current economic climate.  Still other business owners have [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/27/salary-success/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Will Health Insurance Hamstring Entrepreneurs?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/20/will-health-insurance-hamstring-entrepreneurs/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/20/will-health-insurance-hamstring-entrepreneurs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:12:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[costs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[expenses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthcare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Obamacare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[privatization]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=173</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Of all of the politically contentious issues being debated in Connecticut right now between the candidates running for office, Barack Obama&#8217;s healthcare initiative is perhaps the one that is the most polarizing. As small business owners and entrepreneurs, this issue is one that brings into focus the collision of idealism and practicalities. What follows is [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/20/will-health-insurance-hamstring-entrepreneurs/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Getting a Handle on the Economy</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/12/getting-a-handle-on-the-economy/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/12/getting-a-handle-on-the-economy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:30:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business results]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[order backlog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[survey]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=169</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Entrepreneurs are as glued to the media&#8217;s reporting of economic indicators as anyone else.  Of late, the pronouncements made that the economy is healthy and growing are more often drowned out by those that speak to the continuation of doom and gloom.  While it is the state of things that most of us do not care to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/12/getting-a-handle-on-the-economy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sales Tracking Essentials</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/07/sales-tracking-essentials/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/07/sales-tracking-essentials/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:16:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forecast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pipeline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[report]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[revenue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales call]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales funnel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=165</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Any good business owner knows that it is essential to keep a close eye on sales and sales performance.  While the rest of the company&#8217;s efforts may be aligned and working productively, without a strong sales effort; the chances of success are nil. One sales management consultant, Suzanne Paling has written a helpful guide for [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/10/07/sales-tracking-essentials/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Pain to Train</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/30/pain-to-train/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/30/pain-to-train/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:14:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business performance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employee development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[performance improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[revenue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ROI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[training]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=163</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the recession is allegedly over and the economy staggers back to a &#8220;new normal,&#8221; many companies are having to confront the issues surrounding whether or not to train their employees. During the recession, many companies eliminated or significantly reduced the amount of training they provided. Under the belief that training was an expense that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/30/pain-to-train/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Folly of Feedback</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/22/folly-of-feedback/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/22/folly-of-feedback/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:44:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[continuous improvement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corrective action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feedback]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[openness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=159</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Business people are no different in their work lives than they are outside of work in that we all want to be appreciated, complimented, and recognized. In fact, we solicit that and often ask others to provide us with their perspectives and opinions of our performance, behavior, and results.  What sometimes happens though is that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/22/folly-of-feedback/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>You Are Your Record</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/14/you-are-your-record/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/14/you-are-your-record/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:02:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bill Parcells]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loyalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Performance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reputation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=146</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Although it is far too common for industry analysts, business pundits,consultants,  managers, and entrepreneurs to look for lessons in pro sports and try to apply it to their business with less than consistent results, there is a glaring example that is worth discussing in our local market.  The New York Jets have self proclaimed themselves [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/14/you-are-your-record/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Talent Spiders on the Web</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/09/talent-spiders-on-the-web/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/09/talent-spiders-on-the-web/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:30:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hiring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new hires]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[software applications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sourcing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spiders]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taleo]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=153</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the most frustrating activities for both employers and employees is the hiring process.  It is a process marred by stumbles, trips, and false impressions.  Just like going on a blind date, the hiring company wants to make a good impression to seduce the candidate to want to join the company and the prospective [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/09/talent-spiders-on-the-web/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Nurse, Purse or Worse</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/01/nurse-purse-or-worse/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/01/nurse-purse-or-worse/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:58:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business purpose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[income]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[job satisfaction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life purpose]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rewards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business owner]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=150</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Small business owners are a rare breed. They are willing to invest their own thoughts, labor, equity, expertise, and all of their hopes, dreams, and aspirations into a business without any guarantee of success.  In return, they anticipate that the business will succeed and provide back to them the satisfacation and rewards they seek. However, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/09/01/nurse-purse-or-worse/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Is Stew Still Right?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/16/is-stew-still-right/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/16/is-stew-still-right/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:18:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[discontent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employee dissatsifaction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shopper expeirience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steven Slater]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stew Leonard's]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=147</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A week ago a JetBlue flight attendant received quite a bit of attention for doing what so many employees have dreamed of doing. Steven Slater lived out the fantasy of the old Johnny Paycheck song, &#8220;Take This Job and Shove it.&#8221;  The reports of the incident have become well-known by now.  In spite of the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/16/is-stew-still-right/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Back to School For All</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/13/back-to-school-for-all/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/13/back-to-school-for-all/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:57:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[competency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employee development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[skills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[training]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=142</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The weather here in Connecticut is still rather summery, but the commercials have already begun to run for the sales occurring on back to school supplies. Many kids are trying to slow down time to savor their summer for a bit longer, but quite a few parents have the wisdom to know that returning to [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/13/back-to-school-for-all/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>How to Prevent a Repeat</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/09/how-to-prevent-a-repeat/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/09/how-to-prevent-a-repeat/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:19:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[firearms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[firing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[security]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[termination]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=138</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The recent news has filled with the tragedy that occurred at the beer distributorship in Manchester, CT.  A disgruntled route driver was accused of having stolen from the company and reselling it on his own.  As the story seem to be unfolding, the driver&#8217;s employment was terminated and he then requested a drink of water [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/09/how-to-prevent-a-repeat/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>A False Favre</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/05/a-false-favre/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/05/a-false-favre/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:27:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Favre]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[honesty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loyalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trust]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=134</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The annual circus around will Brett Favre come back or not is in full bloom. The rumors, speculation, and hypothesizing are being given the kind of time and attention more often reserved for true news stories that impact our daily lives much more personally and dramatically than whether a Football Quarterback who is on his [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/08/05/a-false-favre/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Running the Relay Race</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/28/running-the-relay-race/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/28/running-the-relay-race/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:06:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[partners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[partnerships]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=130</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many businesses began with two or more people excitedly agreeing to put their trust, faith, skills, and future successes in each other&#8217;s hands. Plans are made, decisions are reached, enthusiasm and excitement at what the future holds fuels late nights, weekends, and vacation time spent building the business. However, the real test of a business, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/28/running-the-relay-race/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Customer Service Continuation</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/22/customer-service-continuation/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/22/customer-service-continuation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:54:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[service]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=127</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On June 11th, 2010, I wrote about an incident that had occurred where a major retailer stumbled in responding to a customer raising an issue with their customer service.  Now, nearly 45 days later, it is time to revisit that scenario and see what has transpired since then. Quick Review Just to refresh memories, a [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/22/customer-service-continuation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Business is not Immune to ID Theft</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/19/business-is-not-immune-to-id-theft/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/19/business-is-not-immune-to-id-theft/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:50:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ID theft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[identification theft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[protect confidentiality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[security]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=122</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most of us have received unsolicited phone calls, emails, and even paper mail warning us of the dangers of identity theft.  The outcomes are dire.  Bills being run up on credit accounts, legal situations arising requiring defending actions that we are unaware of, and the cost and expense of proving that the actions of others [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/19/business-is-not-immune-to-id-theft/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Business is not a Hobby</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/08/business-is-not-a-hobby-2/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/08/business-is-not-a-hobby-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:51:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hobby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[start-ups]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=119</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An out of state friend and I decided to get together after not seeing each other for over a year. While enjoying New Haven pizza, he began to tell me a tale of woe related to his Father’s business. According to my friend’s story, the father has been developing a real love for nature and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/08/business-is-not-a-hobby-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Public Power uses Social Media Effectively</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/07/public-power-uses-social-media-effectively/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/07/public-power-uses-social-media-effectively/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:46:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public power]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[utility]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=108</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Of all of the &#8220;hot topics&#8221; discussed in the business pages of newspapers, journals, industry publications, on blogs, in electronic bulletin boards, etc, none seem to be more topcial than the use of Social Media as a component of a company&#8217;s marketing efforts. However, for all of the theory, salesmanship, and enthusiasm around the potential [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/07/07/public-power-uses-social-media-effectively/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Serious Side of Fun</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/06/29/serious-side-of-fun/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/06/29/serious-side-of-fun/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:08:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[party]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[party planning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=111</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Businesspeople are always on the hunt for ways to have fun at work to spice up their dreary office jobs, repetitive assignments, and projects that score high on the boredom scale. However, there are businesspeople whose job it is to provide fun for others. Those in the hospitality industry cannot survive on the business generated [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/06/29/serious-side-of-fun/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>When Negatitivity is a Positive</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/06/16/when-negatitivity-is-a-positive/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/06/16/when-negatitivity-is-a-positive/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:33:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business building]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[negative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[positive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=104</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most business people can easily rattle off reasons why customers should purchase from their business rather than from the competition.  The ease with which most entrepreneurs can slip into discussions of their; experience, business model, qualifications, testimonials, etc. is almost second nature.  While it is important to be able to answer that question convincingly and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/06/16/when-negatitivity-is-a-positive/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Everyday Counts in Customer Service</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/06/11/everyday-counts-in-customer-service/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/06/11/everyday-counts-in-customer-service/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:44:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frustration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[responsiveness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=101</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A close friend of mine recently shared a horrific experience she had with a major retailer that manufacturers their own product brand Her experience should serve as a wake-up call to EVERY company that thinks that customer service, repair, technical support, or other “after the sale” functions are less important than sales and marketing She [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/06/11/everyday-counts-in-customer-service/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Sales Myths</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/28/sales-myths/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/28/sales-myths/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 May 2010 19:15:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=93</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Of all the misconceptions that arise when entrepreneurs or business owners think about starting their own company; no area is more misunderstood than the sales function.  Many business people have a mistaken impression of what it takes to succeed in sales.  Furthermore, what passes for sales training often promotes ideas about the process that are doomed [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/28/sales-myths/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>Finding Improvement Ideas</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/25/finding-improvement-ideas/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/25/finding-improvement-ideas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 May 2010 15:15:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CEOs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[innovation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[managemenet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[strategy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=90</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the most difficult things for a business person to do; and even harder for a successful business person to perform, is to take stock of their own internal company&#8217;s processes, methods, and strategies and crtically assess whether there is room for improvement or the introduction of new ideas.  After all, the business person [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/25/finding-improvement-ideas/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Product Promotion Pause</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/17/product-promotion-pause/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/17/product-promotion-pause/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 May 2010 13:44:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=87</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When running a business in tough economic times there are challenges that are even more critical to meet than at other times. Among the most essential challenges are: Acquiring new customers Holding on to existing customers and reducing the chance that they will choose to purchase with a competitor Getting existing customers to purchase from [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/17/product-promotion-pause/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Having What It Takes</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/07/having-what-it-takes/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/07/having-what-it-takes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 May 2010 18:28:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[launching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Start-up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[what to expect]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=83</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Of all the questions posed about business, start-ups, entrepreneurialism, and deciding whether to embark on working for oneself; none is asked more frequently than how to determine if someone has what it takes to go into business for him or herself.  It seems that any time two people get together to talk, the conversation will [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/07/having-what-it-takes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Are Niches Ditches or Riches?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/04/are-niches-ditches-or-riches/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/04/are-niches-ditches-or-riches/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 May 2010 18:59:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[niches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prospects]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=76</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is uttered so often now, it is almost a cliche, it is critical that a business be focused on serving a particualr niche or perhaps a very manageable (small) number of niches to succeed.  Try to cast a net too wide or address too broad of a marketplace, and the business will suffer from [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/05/04/are-niches-ditches-or-riches/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Defining the Customer</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/29/defining-the-customer/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/29/defining-the-customer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:17:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=77</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Two recent stories were shared with me this past week that had me shaking my head at the confusion around which entity was the customer and which was the service provider. One was a for-profit institution that should know better. The other is a non-profit that had better quickly learn better or there may be [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/29/defining-the-customer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Twitter Dee Twitter Dumb</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/27/twitter-dee-twitter-dumb/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/27/twitter-dee-twitter-dumb/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:35:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=72</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the things that businesses are having to come to grips with is the advent of &#8220;social media&#8221; or the ability of critics, shoppers, competitors, employees and even business owners to produce their own communicative content (marketing) at no (or next to no) cost through sites like Twitter. The Site Users of the Twitter [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/27/twitter-dee-twitter-dumb/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What Wing Experts Know</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/23/what-wing-experts-know/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/23/what-wing-experts-know/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:48:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=68</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If there is one thing that is for certain, there are many Connecticut residents that crave the spicy Buffalo Chicken Wing. For some, it is best served as an appetizer before an entree arrives at the table. For others, it is the perfect party food that easily allows people to mingle and still eat as [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/23/what-wing-experts-know/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Time for the Turtles to Stick their Necks Out</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/19/time-for-the-turtles-to-stick-their-necks-out/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/19/time-for-the-turtles-to-stick-their-necks-out/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:44:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advantage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[competition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recession]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stick neck out]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[turtles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=62</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The recession caused many businesses to stall any forward progression they had established leading up to that point.  The confluence of the impending election, the collapse of the ability of small businesses to rely upon the availability of credit, and the strong divide over health care coverage and what that might portend for employers and entrepreneurs; [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/19/time-for-the-turtles-to-stick-their-necks-out/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>College Grads Take Heed</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/08/college-grads-take-heed/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/08/college-grads-take-heed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:38:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[challenges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[commencement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[graduates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Job hunting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[skills]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=58</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is the season when commencement addresses take shape, the restlessness of soon to be graduated students takes over, and old fogeys attempt to share their insights on what it takes to succeed in life, love, and for purposes of this column; business. Adding My Voice The lessons gleaned from having worked for the last [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/08/college-grads-take-heed/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Are you Blind or Refuse to See?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/07/are-you-blind-or-refuse-to-see/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/07/are-you-blind-or-refuse-to-see/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:08:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blind]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[costs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=54</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The media was all aflutter today on a couple of different stories that all had a common theme &#8211; businesses squelching opportunities to succeed in spite of customers being very clear about what it would take for them to succeed. Airlines &#8211; Open Your Eyes! Let me explain. The airline industry has been hit hard [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/07/are-you-blind-or-refuse-to-see/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Are You A Slacktivist?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/06/are-you-a-slacktivist/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/06/are-you-a-slacktivist/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:05:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[slacktivist]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=51</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There is a movement afoot that is occurring at the intersection of social media and people&#8217;s desire to do things that make them feel good about themselves.  That corner of the world is where activism and being a slacker meet.  Unfortunately, it seems that every town has one of these corners, and in the cyber [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/06/are-you-a-slacktivist/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seek to Offend?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/02/seek-to-offend/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/02/seek-to-offend/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:28:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advertising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[controversy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[messaging]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=48</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Conventional wisdom maintains that it is in the best interests of a business to be as broad in appeal as possible and to avoid willfully angering any potential or prospective customers.  One of the best retailers in the world is Fairfield County&#8217;s own, Stew Leonard&#8217;s (www.stewleonards.com) renowned for among other things, the rock that greets [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/04/02/seek-to-offend/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Business Is Not A Hobby</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/03/26/business-is-not-a-hobby/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/03/26/business-is-not-a-hobby/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:11:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fundamentals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hobby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[logistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=45</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It happened again. A colleague of mine approached me seeking insight and assistance on how to start a business based on an interest she has had for over ten years.  With all of the enthusiasm and excitement that many hobbyists have, it is still not sufficient to expect that just having a passion for something [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/03/26/business-is-not-a-hobby/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Post Office Prescriptives</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/03/09/post-office-prescriptives/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/03/09/post-office-prescriptives/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:58:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[8-track]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buggy whips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Obsolesence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[post office]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=40</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the perils of beng in business is that a perfectly good business idea that has proven to be sucessful over time can suddenly become irrelevant.  This point was brought home by the recent news that the U.S. Post Office was going to consider eliminating Saturday delivery of mail (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/us/03postal.html and for the most part, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/03/09/post-office-prescriptives/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Timeshare Tensions</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/26/timeshare-tensions/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/26/timeshare-tensions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:44:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=37</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Hilton hotel chain is most closely associated with short term stays for either business professionals or leisure travelers intent on using the hotel for visiting the local area near the hotel.  Generally, the traveling public views a hotel stay as a single transaction and is shopped for based on only one or two variables: [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/26/timeshare-tensions/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Branding Vegas Style</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/25/branding-vegas-style/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/25/branding-vegas-style/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:27:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Branding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customer experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Las Vegas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[point of difference]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=33</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the largest trade shows in the country is orchestrated by a Newtown, CT based organization, the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Each year, they put together an industry conference that attracts over 60,000 attendees from backgrounds as diverse as military, law enforcement, people interested in self defense and protection, hunters, and competitive shooters. Their [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/25/branding-vegas-style/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Customer Complaint Handling</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/12/customer-complaint-handling/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/12/customer-complaint-handling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:32:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business owner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[complaints]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ROI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/12/customer-complaint-handling/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The average business owner has a love/hate relationship with their customers. On the one hand, they recognize how vital the customer is to the sustaining, growing, and building of the business (or at least if the business owner is sane, that is self evident!). On the other hand, customers often want to receive the product [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/12/customer-complaint-handling/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Results or Activities?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/09/results-or-activities/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/09/results-or-activities/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:34:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[manager]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[results]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/09/results-or-activities/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the mantras that many business executives, consultants, coaches, and academics use when trying to motivate clients, executives and employees is, “Only results count.” What they are intending to communicate is the importance of focusing on the outputs of efforts and that outcomes are what determines success or failure of a business. At first [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/02/09/results-or-activities/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Trade Show Selling</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/28/trade-show-selling/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/28/trade-show-selling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:24:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[customers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prospecting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade show]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/28/trade-show-selling/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is the dream of almost every executive purchasing a booth at a trade show. The doors to the exhibition hall open and prospects start streaming in with checkbooks in hand, questions about products bubbling from their lips, and their excitement and desire to make a purchase at the trade show practically visible from two [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/28/trade-show-selling/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Customer Is King</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/26/customer-is-king/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/26/customer-is-king/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/?p=27</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If there is one truth that has been proven over and over again in retailing, it is that the customer is king. Suppliers and retailers alike, worship at the altar of the ultimate decision-maker in the hopes of securing a purchase. If that is so evident and obvious – then why won’t suppliers and retailers [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/26/customer-is-king/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Business, 20/20 Hindsight and NBC</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/14/business-2020-hindsight-and-nbc/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/14/business-2020-hindsight-and-nbc/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:09:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leno]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lessons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Letterman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Market research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[O'Brien]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[succession planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[television]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/14/business-2020-hindsight-and-nbc/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There has been much written, discussed, and joked about the recent debacle occurring at NBC&#8217;s late night programming. For those not keeping track, the prized jewel of late night television for half of a century has been the Tonight Show property. The most recent steward of that show is Conan O&#8217;Brien,who inherited it from Jay [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/14/business-2020-hindsight-and-nbc/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Personal but not Confidential</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/12/personal-but-not-confidential/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/12/personal-but-not-confidential/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:52:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CASPIAN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Loyalty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RFID]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trust]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TSA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/12/personal-but-not-confidential/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the outgrowths of the expansion of technology in society is the tradeoff between sharing of personal information about ourselves and the ability of businesses to better serve us. In a society where protecting one&#8217;s right to privacy is believed to be of tremendous importance, there is tremendous consumer cynicism and distrust of requests [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/12/personal-but-not-confidential/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>To Sir, With Love</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/08/to-sir-with-love/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/08/to-sir-with-love/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:56:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cover letter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[executive]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[honorifics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Job hunting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[resume]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/08/to-sir-with-love/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the decisions salespeople, job hunters, and those seeking to speak to business leaders they may never have met confront is how to refer to the person when writing or calling them. Most of us have been taught to show respect and address elders and people in positions of authority by some honorific. It [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/08/to-sir-with-love/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Being The Best You</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/being-the-best-you/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/being-the-best-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:58:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Carey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[executive development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[personal improvement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/being-the-best-you/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every business person has had the experience of looking back on their past actions or reflecting on how their behavior did not represent their peak of performance. While the reasons are understandable given the; stress, tension, frustration, and time constraints within which many actions are taken – the result is still an outcome that is [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/being-the-best-you/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>None So Innovative As Mom</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/none-so-innovative-as-mom/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/none-so-innovative-as-mom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:20:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clothing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneurial]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mompreneur]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/none-so-innovative-as-mom/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention and that the thought is father to the deed, but those words have never been truer than when applied to parents striving to provide their children with the essentials in this economy. Faced with children that quickly outgrow clothing well before the garments usefulness [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/none-so-innovative-as-mom/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Marketing Message Maneuvers</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/marketing-message-maneuvers/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/marketing-message-maneuvers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:43:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[baby boomers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[consumer research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hispanic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lesbian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[minorities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Target marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[under 30]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/marketing-message-maneuvers/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the economy tightened, many business owners were confronted by the reduction in customer count and the effect of the double jeopardy of smaller sized sales to their existing customers, Seeking to combat that outcome, many businesses tried to proactively market to new customers from different segments of the population than they previously had targeted. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/marketing-message-maneuvers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Talk Amongst Yourselves</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/talk-amongst-yourselves/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/talk-amongst-yourselves/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:40:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business insight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buzz marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gossip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Market research]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/talk-amongst-yourselves/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Perception being what it is, if asked what they think of gossip in business settings, many people would be quick to point out the negatives and hurtful outcomes that are likely to occur. However, if those same people were asked what they think of creating buzz, viral marketing, or word of mouth efforts; and their [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/talk-amongst-yourselves/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>ESTablish Your Image</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/establish-your-image/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/establish-your-image/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:27:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[competitive advantage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[differentiation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reputation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/establish-your-image/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the most important determinants of marketing and sales success is the image prospects and customers have about the company and what represents. While, there is much to be discussed and learned about the graphic, pictorial, and textual representations a company uses to market itself through; logos, stationery, signage, websites, brochures, etc. – the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/establish-your-image/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Phoning It In</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/phoning-it-in/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/phoning-it-in/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:21:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[speaking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Telephone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[voicemail]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/phoning-it-in/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A spirited discussion occurs among entrepreneurs whenever the topic of selling surfaces. The conversation will often include the merits of selling over the telephone over the need to be face-to-face with a client. Some entrepreneurs believe that they have a better chance of closing a sale when they can actually be together with the prospect [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/phoning-it-in/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Selling OUT of a Sale</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/selling-out-of-a-sale/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/selling-out-of-a-sale/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:16:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[objectives]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[preparation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[presentation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[selling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/selling-out-of-a-sale/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It happened again. A client came to me and wanted me to help them salvage a sales call that had gone terribly wrong. It is as if they wanted me to give them a “morning after pill” for sales calls or turn back the clock and offer them a do-over. The best I could offer [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/selling-out-of-a-sale/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Transparency, Behavior and Experience</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/transparency-behavior-and-experience/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/transparency-behavior-and-experience/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:14:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[differentiation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[purchase experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transparency]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/transparency-behavior-and-experience/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Business owners work extra diligently to create the best products and services they can to attract shoppers, clients, and customers. They compete on the basis of having built a better mousetrap, a more effective solution, a cheaper version of something, a more enhanced option, or offering something that is not readily available from competitors. Unfortunately, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2010/01/05/transparency-behavior-and-experience/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>To Friend, Link, or Ignore</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/22/to-friend-link-or-ignore/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/22/to-friend-link-or-ignore/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:08:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life blalance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LinkedIn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[networking]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/22/to-friend-link-or-ignore/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Being a business person in contemporary society often means blurring the distinction between being at work versus away from work. For many entrepreneurs that work out of their home, the challenge to return to a work assignment or project is often magnetic &#8211; no matter what the time of the day or night the urge [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/22/to-friend-link-or-ignore/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
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		<title>Contract Conundrum</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/16/contract-conundrum/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/16/contract-conundrum/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:50:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agreements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business deals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contracts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[proposals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/16/contract-conundrum/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Recently, two colleagues of mine called me to discuss their independent business opportunities that had stalled and wanted advice on what steps to take to get things back on track. After talking to them, it appeared that the mistakes were not in their abilities, their products or services, or even their pricing. What had caused [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/16/contract-conundrum/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Deceiving Appearances</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/15/deceiving-appearances/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/15/deceiving-appearances/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:19:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[appearances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[perceptions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/15/deceiving-appearances/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We have all heard about the perils of and been cautioned against judging a &#8220;Book by its Cover.&#8221; And yet, we all do it continuously. Research shows that tall people are viewed as being more authorative and are paid more than their shorter colleagues. People who are heavier are seen as less reliable, untrusthworthy, and [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/15/deceiving-appearances/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Say What?</title>
		<link>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/15/say-what/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/15/say-what/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:51:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>David Zahn</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business communication]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[meetings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sports]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/15/say-what/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a veteran of business meetings, conference calls, emails, and telephone conversations it is always amazing to me how often the words we use to express ourselves serve to confuse and not clarify the message we intend to send. How often have the following been said without regard for whether the listener(s) share the same [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://blog.ctnews.com/zahn/2009/12/15/say-what/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

