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BNET Insights Most Recent
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Sales Machine
Top 10 Sales Tips from the Seinfeld Show
It's been over ten years since the Seinfeld show left the television airways, but it remains the undisputed classic television comedy. But here's a little known fact: did you know that you can learn a lot about sales and selling from watching Seinfeld clips? It's true! I've gathered 10 ten...
Nov 6, 2009 11:30 AM
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BNET Intercom
Productivity Rises...But So Does Unemployment
In an ideal world, increases in productivity will lead to higher corporate profits. Some of that extra money can then be used to higher more workers. But these days, both unemployment and productivity are rising.
Nov 6, 2009 10:29 AM
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Business Hacks
Wish Windows Would Reload Your Apps After a Reboot? There's an App for That
Free utility Cache My Work makes it a snap to choose which programs should run when you start -- or restart -- your PC.
Nov 6, 2009 8:02 AM
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The View from Harvard Business
A Market for Cadavers
Some things we just don't want to think about, like selling the remains of a loved one to the highest bidder. But market forces could provide an efficient way to solve a shortage in cadavers required by researchers and students. Is it time for capitalism to step in?
Nov 6, 2009 7:28 AM
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The Corner Office
Don't Make Your Customers Deal With Your Problems
Some small businesses almost effortlessly put customer's needs and problems first, while others let their drama and dysfunctions dictate how they do business. Like it or not, customers get dragged along for the ride. In a competitive market, that's no way to get repeat business.
Nov 6, 2009 7:10 AM
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Business Hacks
Translate a Restaurant Menu Using Your iPhone the Next Time You're in Paris
Here's an iPhone app that translates text from any one of 16 different languages. Just take a picture of a menu, sign, or some other document, and instantly see what it means in English.
Nov 6, 2009 7:00 AM
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Entry-Level Rebel
Is Gen Y Reconsidering Twitter?
Earlier reports claimed most Twitter users were older and many Gen Yers were simply not interested in the site. Now, in an apparent reversal, young people have begun flocking to Twitter. Why?
Nov 6, 2009 6:55 AM
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The Service Economy
Which Do Customers Really Prefer: Cut Prices or More Brands?
Price cuts are a good way to build sales and destroy the business. London's Evening Standard newspaper has been giving a masterclass in this suicidal art form. Over the last two years it has responded to the free sheets by halving its price, giving it away free on some days,...
Nov 6, 2009 6:32 AM
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Back to B-School
Will a Good GMAT Score Land Your Dream Job?
Remember how great it felt when you finished the GMAT test? After you got into an MBA program, you probably never thought about the test again. So how would you feel if you had to re-take the GMAT... after receiving your MBA acceptance letter?
Nov 6, 2009 6:00 AM
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Sales Machine
Talk to Gatekeepers with Authority
Gatekeepers are a persistent and annoying reality in Sales. Unfortunately, many sales pros make their interactions with gatekeepers more difficult by using their voice ineffectively. To get a gatekeeper to open the gate, you've got to sound as important as the person you're trying to reach. Here are four simple...
Nov 6, 2009 5:30 AM
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Entry-Level Rebel
A Free Crash Course in Design Thinking
The Institute of Design at Stanford offers a program designed to meld design thinking and business, but for those without the time and resources to go back to school, or for those looking just to get their feet wet on the subject, a new series of videos might be a...
Nov 6, 2009 5:23 AM
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Business Hacks
Be Productive When Working From Home
Here are five key ingredients to being an effective worker at home, whether you're doing it to escape the cubicle part time or as a self-employed entrepreneur
Nov 6, 2009 5:00 AM
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BNET Intercom
Global Warming Laws Could Make Al Gore First "Carbon Billionaire"
Many are growing skeptical over Al Gore's fast push for laws that could fundementally alter our economy. Perhaps that's because Gore stands to profit off of laws that regulate carbon.
Nov 5, 2009 6:02 PM
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Aussie Rules
Barter Off Your Spare Capacity | BTalk Australia
[podcast] Bartering your services is a poor second cousin to cold hard cash, but if you have spare capacity it might be a useful way to offset cash expenses. In Australia 20,000 companies now use Bartercard, accounting for the equivalent of $10 billion worth of transactions.
Nov 5, 2009 11:53 AM
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Sales Machine
The Next Great Sales Tool: Marijuana?!?
Today's New York Times contains an article explaining how some businesses are locating next to "medical" marijuana stores, as well as advertising to attract "medical" marijuana users. The businesses in the article sell "munchies" appropriate for the suddenly ravenous, but I know a trend when I see it. For millenia,...
Nov 5, 2009 11:20 AM
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The View from Harvard Business
You Know the Difference Between Cash and Profit. Right?
A new survey of managers reveals that most are bordering on financial illiteracy -- they don't know the difference between an income statement and a balance sheet, for starters. How about you? Take our poll.
Nov 5, 2009 10:04 AM
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Entry-Level Rebel
Mint Founder Aaron Patzer: How Gen Yers Can Sell Big Ideas
How can a young guy sell a big idea in a skeptical world? Mint.com founder Aaron Patzer, who recently sold his start-up for $170 million, explains the advantages and challenges of being a Gen Y entrepreneur and the lessons he learned starting and selling his business.
Nov 5, 2009 9:44 AM
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The Service Economy
How to Win Loyalty and Alienate People
"There's only one thing worse than being talked about, and that's not being talked about," said Oscar Wilde. What Wilde knew was that to stand out means running the risk of offending people. Finding ways to polarise public opinion has long been a tool for celebrity -- look at...
Nov 5, 2009 8:35 AM
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Business Hacks
Send Large File Attachments Right From Outlook
The drop.io file-sharing service keeps getting better, this time with a free Outlook plug-in that lets you attach files up to 100MB.
Nov 5, 2009 8:00 AM
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The View from Harvard Business
Your Company Can Avoid Layoffs
Even in the worst recession in recent times, some companies are practicing no-layoff policies. How do they do it? Are you ready to exchange your current job to sweep the grounds?
Nov 5, 2009 7:57 AM
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The Corner Office
Why Diversification Is No Panacea
How is a company supposed to reduce its risk when one customer can devastate its business? Some throw around "diversification" like it's an antidote to risk, but as a risk aversion strategy, diversification is no panacea. It carries its own risks, tradeoffs and hurdles that can be insurmountable.
Nov 5, 2009 7:05 AM
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Business Hacks
PC Insurance Policy: Create a Windows System Repair Disc
If some cataclysmic error prevents Windows 7 from booting, recover with a System Repair Disc -- here's how.
Nov 5, 2009 7:00 AM
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Sterling Performance
Who'd Run Britain for That Money?
Once you pay the leader of the government £194,254 for running an enterprise with a turnover of £700bn, any higher reward for a smaller job highlights the disparity in pay.
Nov 5, 2009 6:33 AM
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Back to B-School
Does Having More Information Change Consumer Behavior?
When New York City mandated last year that chain restaurants had to label the calorie content of items on the menu, many assumed that lower calorie options would gain popularity. However, a study from the Yale School of Management found that this hasn't necessarily been the case.
Nov 5, 2009 6:00 AM
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Sales Machine
Eight Insights That Make Selling Easier
I've been rereading Jeff Thull's book "Exceptional Selling". He's peppered the book with interesting observations and insight about selling, many of which have sparked me to think about key sales issues. Here are some of his gems, with my own interpretation of their deeper meaning: INSIGHT #1: Salespeople are guilty...
Nov 5, 2009 5:30 AM
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Business Hacks
5 Ways to Stay Comfortable On the Go with Laptop Ergonomics
Check out these five ways to minimize repetitive stress injury, eye strain, and back problems when using a laptop.
Nov 5, 2009 5:00 AM
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Aussie Rules
Is the Reserve Bank Fighting the Wrong Demon? | BTalk Australia
[podcast] Economist Steve Keen argues that rising interest rates are more to do with controlling the housing bubble than keeping inflation under control. He says rate rises and removal of the first home buyers grant will make Aussie house prices tank in early 2010. Of course, he's said that before....
Nov 4, 2009 11:55 AM
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Sales Machine
Is Intel Only Guilty of Outselling AMD?
Today New York’s attorney general Andrew Cuomo filed a federal antitrust lawsuit Wednesday against Intel, charging that Intel violated state and federal laws by abusing its dominant position in the chip market to squelch other CPU chip makers, especially Advanced Micro Devices. I haven't read the legal briefs, but I...
Nov 4, 2009 11:30 AM
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BNET Intercom
Is Industry Corrupting Academic Research?
Over half of academic life science researchers maintained financial ties with corporate America. However, it was also found that faculty with industry support "were more productive than faculty without such support on virtually every measure."
Nov 4, 2009 11:25 AM
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Sterling Performance
Don't Sugar Coat It: Are Small Businesses Moaners?
Lord Sugar accuses small business bosses of being moaners who have no right to complain about the credit crisis. Is he right?
Nov 4, 2009 10:49 AM
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Entry-Level Rebel
Your Sabbatical: A Pipe Dream No Longer?
A year is unrealistic. Two hours isn't really a sabbatical. So what can a business person in need of a career break do to turn their dreams of a proper refresher into a practical reality? One website gathers a toolbox of resources that may help.
Nov 4, 2009 10:11 AM
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The View from Harvard Business
What Transparency? Why the Financial Stability Act Fails
The Financial Stability Improvement Act of 2008 has a gaping hole in its hull. The list of systematically dangerous firms requiring special government regulation would be kept secret from the public. That's the same public who footed much of the government's financial response to the current crisis. Sorry, you can't...
Nov 4, 2009 9:38 AM
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Sterling Performance
Small Biz: How to Create a Splash for Almost No Cash
Targeting your sales messaging to present yourself as an expert and an innovator can be inexpensive and highly effective.
Nov 4, 2009 9:34 AM
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Business Hacks
Steer Clear of Malware on Facebook and Twitter
Social networks aren't as safe as you might think. Click one wrong link and you could be the victim of a drive-by malware infection. Here's how to stay safe.
Nov 4, 2009 9:00 AM
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Business Hacks
A Fast Way to Find Royalty-Free Images
Need a photo for your blog, brochure, or the like? Cyclo.ps lets you search eight stock-photo sites in one fell swoop.
Nov 4, 2009 8:00 AM
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Business Hacks
Turn Any Windows 7 Computer into a HotSpot, Extend Wi-Fi to Other PCs and Devices for Free
Here's the scenario: You're at a coffee shop, paying through the nose for Wi-Fi access for your laptop. You'd like to use your iPod's Wi-Fi, but that would mean paying the coffee shop twice. Or maybe your corporate network has secure wireless for your laptop, but doesn't support your iPhone....
Nov 4, 2009 7:00 AM
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The View from Harvard Business
Consumer Finance Taught for First Time to Harvard MBAs
In many nations, consumer spending drives the economy. So why don't most MBA programs teach consumer finance? That has started to change at Harvard Business School, where students begin by designing a budget for an average Boston family.
Nov 4, 2009 6:49 AM
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Entry-Level Rebel
How to Write a Sticky Cover Letter
Everyone knows you need to send a cover letter, but that means all the other applicants are sending theirs too. With so much competition, how can you make your cover letter stick in the mind?
Nov 4, 2009 6:35 AM
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The Corner Office
10 Aspects of Executive Presence
What constitutes executive presence, that indefinable quality that great leaders possess? Is it about poise and sophistication, use of body language or gestures? Can it be learned, does it develop on its own, or do you have to be born with it? And how do you know if you've got...
Nov 4, 2009 6:30 AM
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Sales Machine
When in Doubt, Do the Opposite
I was recently looking through Jeff Thull's new book "Exceptional Selling" and came across this little nugget of wisdom: When in doubt, do the opposite of what a salesperson would do. That's good advice, because in most cases acting like a "salesperson" is a great way to annoy a prospect. ...
Nov 4, 2009 5:30 AM
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Sterling Performance
GM's U-Turn: Gutsy or Myopic?
GM's decision to hang onto Vauxhall has naturally made the marque's 5,500 UK workers happy. But has GM made the right decision? Tony Woodley, joint leader of Unite (the union), said there was logic in selling off the two marques and GM's CEO, Fritz Hendrseon, said GM's health had improved...
Nov 4, 2009 5:21 AM
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Business Hacks
Take Control of Your Computer's Power Settings, Save Electricity and the Whales
In this exclusive Business Hacks video tutorial, learn how to change the function of the Start menu's power button and the power button on the computer case.
Nov 4, 2009 5:00 AM
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Back to B-School
Luck Plays Huge Role in Turbulent Markets, says LBS' Sull
Don Sull of the London Business School is a popular and familiar voice on the Back to B-School blog. He was recently cited by Fortune as one of the "ten new gurus you should know." In today's post, you'll get to know more about him and his new book, The...
Nov 4, 2009 3:48 AM
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Aussie Rules
Finding Your Ideal Networking Group
I recently caught up with Suzy Jacobs from The Athena Network in this short video interview. Suzy shares some good tips for those new to face-to-face networking and has some fine ideas when considering the best event to attend. Clearly networking is more than just thrusting cards into people's hands...
Nov 3, 2009 11:10 PM
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What Would Bing Do?
CEOs and Facebook: What's Too Much Information?
Did Joie de Vivre CEO Chip Conley make a tactical error when he posted shirtless photos of himself on his Facebook account?
Nov 3, 2009 4:12 PM
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BNET Intercom
FBI Wants Businesses to Rat on Their Customers
If you demand privacy or insist on paying with cash when patronizing a local business, then you could be a suspected terrorist. That's according to FBI flyers which have been sent to tattoo shops as part of its "Communities Against Terrorism" drive.
Nov 3, 2009 3:47 PM
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Aussie Rules
Recruitment FAIL!
Having seen just about everything when recruiting, here are some examples of what not to do. (These all really happened, folks.)
Nov 3, 2009 3:12 PM
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Aussie Rules
What Influence Do Marketers Have? | BTalk Australia
[podcast] A new survey shows that marketers are satsified with the influence their department has on the success of a business. Does that mean companies are realising the importance of the full marketing mix, or is it because some marketers don't realise they should be driving more than just communications?
Nov 3, 2009 12:11 PM
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Sterling Performance
uSocial: Eyeballs for Sale
What to make of uSocial.... It's already gained notoriety by 'selling' Twitter followers and Facebook friends. Now it's offering to help unknown YouTube users raise their profile, too. "Using several of our methods, we can get totally unknown video in front of the eyes of potentially millions of people, which...
Nov 3, 2009 11:45 AM
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Sales Machine
Memo to Ford Sales: Quit While You're Ahead
Ford Motor company amazed the business world yesterday by achieving nearly a billion dollars in profit -- despite a down economy that clobbered its US-based competitors. However, the sales professionals who work for Ford are fooling themselves if they think happy days are here again. The truth is that there's...
Nov 3, 2009 11:30 AM
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