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	<title>Christopher Foundas: Project Manager &#38; IT Consultant</title>
	<link>http://christopherfoundas.com</link>
	<description></description>
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		<title>Beyond the Degree</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I believe it was "The Power of Focus" (Canfield, Hansen, Hewitt) that presented the idea of regular weekly reading. The idea is simple enough: if you watch five hours of TV a day, cut out two hours and replace it with a non-fiction book. Over the course of four years, you'll have built the equivalent knowledge of a second Bachelor's degree. Sounds crazy, right?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/08/beyond-the-degree/</link>
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		<title>TimeBridge helps you get more meeting for your minute</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I only just discovered this tool (thanks to Pixetell's recent tweet) and I have to say it has me drooling. If you've ever tried scheduling a meeting in large organization full of busy people, then you know what a pain in the rump trying to put together a meeting can be. Oh sure, everyone has their calendar shared, and you can see exactly when they're available. But statistically speaking, the more people you have to include in the meeting, the fewer options you have to choose from.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/08/timebridge-helps-you-get-more-meeting-for-your-minute/</link>
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		<title>Inspiration from Seventh Generation</title>
		<description><![CDATA[You've probably seen or heard something about Seventh Generation, a company that has been a market leader in green household supplies. Items such as environmentally conscious paper products, chlorine free diapers, and a variety of plant based cleansers. What really intrigued me about it is the origin of the name.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/08/inspiration-from-seventh-generation/</link>
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		<title>Know when to use I.E. vs. E.G.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I'm sure we learned this in grade-school, or something like that. I don't know, I only really remember noticing it when I went to college, and some of my professors had a knack for using one way more than the other. So being bored and inquisitive the other day, I decided to look them both up again to see when to use which. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/08/know-when-to-use-i-e-vs-e-g/</link>
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		<title>Project Runway and the Triple Constraint</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I've always felt deep-down that I would do well competing on Project Runway.  Not because I know anything about sewing, or fashion, or fabric really. No, I feel that I would kick butt and take names because of my project management education. Namely, knowing how to balance the triple constraint. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/08/project-runway-and-the-triple-constraint/</link>
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		<title>Three key elements of a successful social enterprise</title>
		<description><![CDATA[You might have heard the story of TOMS shoes. During his participating in the second season of the Amazing Race, company founder Blake Mycoskie witnessed the poverty experienced by children in developing countries. Growing up so poor they walked barefoot, to play, do chores, and go to and from school. This exposed to numerous cuts on the feet and infections transmitted through prolonged contact with the soil. So how do you solve a problem like this?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/08/three-key-elements-of-a-successful-social-enterprise/</link>
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		<title>Four Commonly Confused and Misused Words by Managers</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I had an awesome English teacher in high school named Dr. Deborah Marinelli. Awesome woman, loved her students (or at least faked it well), and really wanted to impart the passion of writing in them. Anywho, the good Doctor once imparted some heartfelt advice to me after turning in one of my lousier papers, which went something along the lines of, "Chris, you have a wonderfully broad vocabulary; but you need to work on the specificity of your word choices."]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/08/four-commonly-confused-and-misused-words-by-managers/</link>
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		<title>What Your Professional Affiliations Say About You</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have only once, ever, EVER been asked, "Why do you belong to the Project Management Institute, when you aren't certified yet?" I was speechless for a moment. I had never been asked that before about any of my professional affiliations. Regardless of whether someone has taken a certification or not, it says a great deal about them if they're voluntarily choosing to be a dues-paying member of a particular group or organization. But why is that?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/08/what-your-professional-affiliations-say-about-you/</link>
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		<title>Three Must-Have Online Trust Marks</title>
		<description><![CDATA[When interacting online, there are several methods businesses (and some individuals) can use to signal to one another that they really are who they claim, and that their intentions are legitimate. Through the use of correct signaling, any business can help alleviate concerns that consumers might have about engaging with them online.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/08/three-must-have-online-trust-marks/</link>
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		<title>How to get Google Quick Search Box in Windows 7</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This annoyed me because I couldn't find a clear answer by Googling. I saw it show up when I used Google Pack on a new laptop, so I knew there was a way to get it. So for those wondering, here's how: ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/07/how-to-get-google-quick-search-box-in-windows-7/</link>
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		<title>What gets measured, gets done!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The old management maxim of "What gets measured, gets done!" applies to all parts of life. Most especially financial fitness, physical fitness and weight-loss. So, with that in mind, here are four tools to help with each:]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/07/what-gets-measured-gets-done/</link>
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		<title>Business case for the small business Intranet</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Small businesses like to feel that they're "entrepreneurial" organizations, that don't want to be  bogged down with the large corporate encumbrances that typically come with being a large enterprise. In fact, the phrase "entrepreneurial spirit" has become a standard deflection used by small-business owners to keep from having to do anything that might be defined as "best practice" by a trained manager.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/07/business-case-for-the-small-business-intranet/</link>
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		<title>3 Tips for becoming a Charismatic Leader</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Some people are able to inspire us far beyond the actual content of their words. Truly charismatic leaders can present an idea and have it embraced and be used to kindle the passion in the hearts of others.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/07/3-tips-for-becoming-a-charismatic-leader/</link>
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		<title>How successful was IBM&#8217;s Smarter Planet Campaign?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I'll give you an abstract thought for the day. It's one that I don't know the answer to, so you're free to make up your own mind. Back when the depression  was just starting, IBM kicked off their "Smarter Planet" marketing campaign, claiming that it was the opportune time to makeover the world in a new, analytics drive network. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/07/how-successful-was-ibms-smarter-planet-campaign/</link>
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		<title>A Flexible Virtual Workforce</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Consider this: It's the 21st century, and the day of the knowledge worker. The majority of labor done for companies is no longer physical, such as manufacturing lines with assembly done by hands. Instead, work in the knowledge economy requires advanced mental-gymnastics that requires a well-trained mind to process.  Thanks to the internet, individuals are no longer are people limited to employers by their geographic location.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/07/a-flexible-virtual-workforce/</link>
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		<title>Web 3.0</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The internet has version. Yup, it's true! Don't let anyone tell you different. Although no one agrees on the exact definitions of Web 1.0 and Web 2.0, there are general evolutions in the way the Internet is used and adds value to everyday life that help us distinguish the two. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/07/web-3-0/</link>
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		<title>FedUp with FedEx</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Okay, bit of a rant, but really what is it with FedEx ground delivery at apartment complexes? Typically, as a courtesy, leasing offices allow delivery drivers to leave packages there if the residents aren't home. The problem when you're a remote worker like me is that you're typically stuck in your house from 8am to 6pm (yay West Coast clients) and the leasing office is closed by the time you drop off your last conference call of the day. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/fedup-with-fedex/</link>
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		<title>Sample Corporate Social Media Policy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Does your company have a corporate policy on employee use of social media? If you have over 15 employees and still don't, you might want to consider sliding a clause or two into your next revision of the employee handbook, just to be on the safe side. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/sample-corporate-social-media-policy/</link>
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		<title>The new Border&#8217;s Kobo eReader compared to the Sony Reader Touch</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I wondered why Borders recently had the Sony Reader Touch listed for sale for $100 off. When I logged onto the free Wi-Fi, I saw that they had announced their new, $149 Kobo eReader; a low priced alternatives to the Amazon Kindle, Barnes &#38; Noble Nook, and Apple iPad. So, how does it stack up to its nearest competition, the Sony eReader?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/the-new-borders-kobo-ereader-compared-to-the-sony-reader-touch/</link>
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		<title>Do you wireframe?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If so, I've got a great tool to show you--but not here!]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/do-you-wireframe/</link>
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		<title>Excel tip to make your life easier</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you're a fellow leftie like me, stuck in a world of right-handed mice, then you'll appreciate this handy excel tip for easily linking cells.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/excel-tip-to-make-your-life-easier/</link>
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		<title>Square Up with people on the spot using this cool new App</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Picture this: you just enjoyed a very relaxing massage in the privacy of your own home. Inga, the tall Swedish woman who's blond hair and blue eyes already unnerves you, is standing there patiently waiting for you to pay for the bliss you just received. Now, thanks to a cool new app, no longer will you suffer the awkward silence as you shuffle through your pants pockets, looking for the wallet with the cash you took out of the ATM that morning to pay this heaven-sent masseuse. She'll just run your debit card through her Android or iPhone.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/square-up-with-people-on-the-spot-using-this-cool-new-app/</link>
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		<title>The Best Reason Yet to develop Apps for Android</title>
		<description><![CDATA[While Apple may have the largest number of Apps out of any smartphone manufacturer, developers are finding good reasons to start exploring what the competition has to offer. And I don't just mean because of the plethora of reasons Steve Jobs is giving them with the ridiculous restrictions on what developers can and cannot use to create new software. Consider the following: ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/best-reasons-to-develop-for-android/</link>
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		<title>Meet Leslie Joy, the Social Media Mercenary</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This weekend I received and incredibly polite email from a woman named Leslie Joy. She had seen a post I'd made on the Outright entrepreneur community mentioning virtual assistants. To my surprise, she showed incredibly follow through my visiting my website and sending me a message, letting me know a bit about her, and that if I had any questions about hiring a VA I could discuss it with her, so when I was ready to I would be a few steps further ahead. Wow! Talk about proactive! That's the type of attitude I love...]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/meet-leslie-a-joy-social-media-mercenary/</link>
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		<title>Happy Cinco de Mayo!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[While it might not be a celebrated holiday in Mexico, it definitely is the sign of a good time here in the US. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/happy-cinco-de-mayo/</link>
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		<title>Best invoice terms according to Freshbooks</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Freshbooks is home to some very smart people. I know, I probably rave about them too much to anyone who'll listen, but I find them to be a really fascinating, innovative company. They're working with the dull-as-dishwater area of Accounts Receivable, and making it fun and easy to do; something the small business gorilla QuickBooks hasn't really done too well yet. Last March, they released the results of a survey they did, looking at their data. They did some quick averages of the days-to-pay and percentage of invoices paid based on the payment terms. The results? ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/best-invoice-terms-according-to-freshbooks/</link>
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		<title>Pixetell is a way to tell it once with perfect clarity</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Communication is all about filters and interpretation. When I say something, I say it in a way that makes sense to me; it then passes through a media medium (sound, text, sight), and you interpret it in the way that makes sense to you. The more ambiguous the message, the more room for error. For example, take the short e-mail: "Please tell him I agree." What?! ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/pixetell-is-a-way-to-tell-it-once-with-perfect-clarity/</link>
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		<title>IBM Global Entrepreneur Initiative</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you a software development business that's trying to cook up some advanced, plant-saving analytics? If so you're in luck. IBM (short for I Blame Microsoft) is taking a similar move to that of their arch nemesis, and creating a program to connect entrepreneurs with support, access to funding, and (you guessed it) IBM technology to power their designs. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/ibm-global-entrepreneur-initiative/</link>
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		<title>Walking the Open Source Talk with Ubuntu Linux</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I hate the term "fan boy" for a number of reasons. It's derogatory against women, it's stereotypical, and it's a form of profiling. That's right: people will judge you based on one characteristic alone, and try to pigeonhole you with it.  Case in point? Apple Fan Boy, Linux Fan Boy, Nintendo Fan Boy, etc. Mind you, most tech geeks are male, and most of the obsessive behavior gets primarily by them, but that's beside the point. My point is, I don't consider myself a fan boy by any means, for any single system, technology, or political party. The things I do like and rant about to anyone foolish enough to listen, I enjoy  because they really manage supersede my expectations. So, with that in mind, let's talk about Ubuntu! ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/05/walking-the-open-source-talk-with-ubuntu-linux/</link>
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		<title>Why Realtors make for terrible Financial Advisors</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Realtor or Real Estate Agent, they're never the best source of financial advice. Mostly due to conflicts of interest. A financial advisor who gets paid just on commission has a clear conflict of interest, and the same is true of any real estate agent. They are going to push you into the most expensive house you can afford (with Mortgage and Taxes equal to about 33% of your annual income.) That way, they can maximize their commission, even if it leaves you in the poor house. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/why-realtors-make-for-terrible-financial-advisors/</link>
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		<title>Why do you blog?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[On the surface it's a simple question: why do you blog? As in, why do you bother to pay for hosting, write regularly, and give away (for free) whatever original thoughts and ideas that flutter into your head? It's a question I get asked fairly regularly, usually by friends and family. Most don't understand why I feel the need to dedicate 5-10 hours a week writing blog posts when there is a scarily-good chance that nobody else will ever read them, let alone quote me from years later.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/why-do-you-blog/</link>
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		<title>Use Dropbox to Sync your stuff online</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Okay, this is an incredibly short post...mostly because I'm tired. But, here it is: Dropbox.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/use-dropbox-to-sync-your-stuff-online/</link>
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		<title>MIT Networking Research and my own experience</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There has been research done by Ray Reagans, Associate Professor of Organization Studies at MIT Sloan School of Management, that shows that most individuals don't leverage their professional networks as much as they potentially could. Well, that we knew. The interesting part was his explanation of "why?"]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/mit-networking-research-and-my-own-experience/</link>
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		<title>KFYWJMVN7K2Z</title>
		<description><![CDATA[KFYWJMVN7K2Z]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/kfywjmvn7k2z-2/</link>
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		<title>KFYWJMVN7K2Z</title>
		<description><![CDATA[KFYWJMVN7K2Z]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/kfywjmvn7k2z/</link>
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		<title>Lock down your Facebook info</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I'm not the only one who hates the new Facebook changes. Popular technology site Lifehacker just had two really good posts on how to protect your information on Facebook. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/lock-down-your-facebook-info/</link>
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		<title>One more reason to not trust facebook</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Facebook appears to be returning to its old 'Stalkerbook' roots. I have never encountered an organization that is so eager to share your personal information with everyone they can! From a marketing perspective, I get it, it's important to have good personae to design your products and services for. If accurate, that's valuable information most companies would pay any amount of information for. As a consumer, however, setting up a Facebook account could soon mean waiving important constitutional rights for privacy. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/one-more-reason-to-not-trust-facebook/</link>
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		<title>Why it pays to accept Competitors&#8217; Coupons</title>
		<description><![CDATA[One marketing heuristic is that the typical redemption rate of coupons is only 1-3%.  That is, if you send out 100 coupons, only one to three will be redeemed with a purchase. Over the last ten years, coupon usage has also been in decline. I imagine it's because there's forces at work in companies that are, but shouldn't be, competing:  the pressure to have high margins, and the pressure to have sales growth. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/why-it-pays-to-accept-competitors-coupons/</link>
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		<title>Busy busy busy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We make so many excuses for being busy in life. At least this is a good one (I think)...]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/busy-busy-busy/</link>
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		<title>Setting up a Mail Merge in Gmail</title>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the main reasons people use email clients is to use Mail Merge functionality, to send personalized email messages to a list of receipients. So when I saw this article on Lifehacker I got very excited, and hopefully you will too! ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/setting-up-a-mail-merge-in-gmail/</link>
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		<title>Selecting Clients and Companies using the As-Is Rule</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Just recently I became aware of the "as-is" rule of dating. The idea is that whatever your first impression of a person is, good or bad, it's usually very accurate. All people supposedly come packaged "as-is" and do not tend to change, no matter how much one hopes, dreams, begs, wishes, nags, etc... At first glance, this appears true: most studies on change management and behavioral psychology tell us that people don't tend to change unless they're forced to, through some sort of pain or conflict. So what does dating advice have to do with selecting employers and clients?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/04/selecting-clients-companies-using-as-is-rule/</link>
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		<title>Glide OS Makes Desktop Virtualization Personal</title>
		<description><![CDATA[They&#8217;ve already explained it pretty thoroughly in their &#8220;What is Glide?&#8221; page: Glide OS 4.0 is a comprehensive Ad-Free cloud computing solution. Escape from the daily barrage of online floating, pop up, banner and streaming ads and email spam. In addition to providing you with an ad-free alternative, you get more storage, more features and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/glide-os-makes-desktop-virtualization-personal/</link>
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		<title>Rick Rolled</title>
		<description><![CDATA[True fact about the Internet: people still don't appreciate being Rick Rolled.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/rick-rolled/</link>
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		<title>Modern Webmasters Provide Value and Accessibility</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Webmaster? That title is so 1990s. It’s gender biased, it gives the illusion of importance while being a position of high responsibility and low overall authority. More importantly, since the modernization of the internet it’s fallen out of favor for companies to actually have it as a staff position instead out outsourcing it. For technical aspects, this is a good thing. But there is still benefit to having someone within the organization dedicated to the overall strategy of your company’s web presence as it relates to other areas of your business. So now the old title of Webmaster is evolving into more accurate (gender neutral) ones such as eCommerce Director and Internet Marketing Manager.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/modern-webmasters-provide-value-and-accessibility/</link>
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		<title>Charitable Link Building with Squidoo</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Similar to other article-gathering services like Google Knol or About.com, Squidoo operates under the assumption that everybody knows something worth sharing. It's a noble idea, one that I've come to really embrace. Crowd-sourcing ideas and knowledge, first made popular by Wikipedia, has really changed the way the world operates. So what sets Squidoo apart? Two things as far as I can tell. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/charitable-link-building-with-squidoo/</link>
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		<title>I&#8217;m Here, Are You?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For years there was a terrible trend in corporate America. Automate, eliminate, exacerbate (our customers' frustration). There are so many instances where having a real person, who thinks real thoughts, and can make real empowered decisions is the difference between a customer for life and just another RMA. For small businesses, this knowledge can be both a blessing and a curse. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/im-here-are-you/</link>
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		<title>Help! I&#8217;m being stalked by the internet!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I don't know about you, but these damn interwebz keep getting tangled up in my privacy. Trying to suck me back in even after I venture out into the 'real' world. Seriously though, with a (relatively) new string of location-based social media apps and sites, it's not surprising. Between Foursquare, Gowalla, and Google Latitude it its becoming more and more difficult to slip off the radar and get away. The temptation to let everyone know your business is stronger than ever, telling them where you are and what you're doing nearly every minute of the day. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/help-im-being-stalked-by-the-internet/</link>
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		<title>How to Write a White Paper</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Authoring white papers is something almost every type of technical company has done or will do at one point or another. Even non-technical companies publish them (along with case studies) to show thought leadership and 'enhance' brand reputation. But for those who are new to this 20-something year old marketing device, what is it exactly and how do you write one?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/how-to-write-a-white-paper/</link>
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		<title>Technorati Verification Woes</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Oh Technorati, what will you do next?! ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/technorati-verification/</link>
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		<title>MailChimp Configured so bring on the subscribers!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Come one, come all. Finally, the laziest way to keep up to date on my life ever! Simply submit your email address to the handy-dandy MailChimp signup form, and you'll soon be on your way to receiving wonderful messages from me periodically. They'll even be semi-personal! Why? Because I'm only semi-pro! ;-) 
]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/mailchimp-configured-so-bring-on-the-subscribers/</link>
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		<title>Make every word justify it&#8217;s existence</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I was very, very wordy when I started trying to write formally. Casual tone, nothing to sweat. That's easy. But with formal writing...I still am. It's a constant struggle between a desire to 'sound professional' and the simple need for clarity and precision. However, thanks to an OpenCourseware Management Communication course I've read in my spare time, I've learned a few quick tricks to help instantly improve my writing! The first? "Make every word justify its existence on the page!" ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/make-every-word-justify-its-existence/</link>
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		<title>Sunshine just couldn&#8217;t last!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I don't mind it really. After all, you don't appreciate the bright, warm sunny days without a few cloudy rainy ones mixed in. Growing up in the Northeast as a pasty, pale white-faced pilgrim taught me that. Only we didn't just have rain, we had snow for about 5-6 months a year. (Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration, but not by much!)]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/sunshine-just-couldnt-last/</link>
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		<title>Lucky Duck Wine has great taste and terrific branding</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Alright, I'll admit it, I'm intrigued by this wine. I found it for under $4 at Wal-mart the other day, and being the impulsive shopper I am I decided to pick up a bottle. What the heck, right? It almost made be laugh as hard as the Fat Bastard wine I had seen in grocery stores. Throw in a culturally-attired Argentinian gaucho duck, and you've got a winner in my book. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/lucky-duck-wine-great-taste-branding/</link>
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		<title>Freetalk Everyman has great Skype Call Quality</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I ordered the Freetalk Everyman for calling over Skype and Google Talk. Well, I'm happy to say it has outstanding voice quality, much higher than my Blackberry Storm (no surprise there though). As a former supply chain consultant, what really peaked my interest is the packaging material it ships with.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/freetalk-everyman-has-great-skype-call-quality/</link>
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		<title>Looking for a great accountant?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It's not every day you find someone who is highly qualified and underemployed. Unless of course it's the year 2010 and the recession is still as brutal as ever. So, with that in mind, I'm throwing out a plug for my good friend and fellow grad of my alma mater, Clarkson University. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/great-accountant-looking-for-work/</link>
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		<title>Eight (More) Ways to Ruin your Social Media Marketing</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Businesses just don't get social media. As a rule, a business can't. A business is a non-feeling entity, whereas a social group is composed of individuals interacting with one another. The people in the business, therefore, *can* get it. Think about it: although you can install a quick plug-in to automatically tweet and ping all of your networks for you, eventually you need some authentic content behind it that gets put out there for the world to see. The question is, who in your organization is that person who takes the time to create it, and what is it that they're making in the process?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/eight-ways-to-ruin-social-media-marketing/</link>
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		<title>Freshbooks is an Awesome Invoicing System</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Businesses are feeling the pinch on all sides. Their customers aren't paying them, and in turn, they're becoming slower to pay their customers. If you're ready to get serious about your Accounts Receivable, and save on admin time spent doing bookkeeping, accounting, and tracking income then you definitely need to check out Freshbooks! It simplifies life year-long, not just at tax time. And it even plays nice in the sandbox with other business software through advanced integration and partnerships. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/freshbooks-is-an-awesome-invoicing-system/</link>
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		<title>More Free Coursework at the HP Learning Center</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I know a lot of people fear technology, which is why I think this is a such a great idea. HP is a technology company that sells everything from computers to servers to cell phones to digital cameras to you-name-it. And, since they've also bought EDS about a year ago (maker of the famous cat-herding commercials from years past) they're trying to aggressively push into IT Services as well. So, what's the deal with the learning center?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/more-free-coursework-at-the-hp-learning-center/</link>
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		<title>New Digg Faster, No Log-In Required</title>
		<description><![CDATA[That's right. Popular social new site Digg is reported to be undergoing an overhaul that will change the fundamental way the system works. No longer are users required to be logged in to submit an article for Digging, and as a bonus, Digg is looking at new ways to reward submitted sites with traffic without having to make the main page. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/new-dig-faster-no-log-in-required/</link>
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		<title>I&#8217;m attending MIT&#8217;s Sloan School of Management</title>
		<description><![CDATA[MIT is world-famous for providing its students with an outstanding education and incredible life skills. Known for its quant-heavy material and track record of churning out highly capable entrepreneurs and executives, just getting in to the prestigious school is considered an accomplishment by itself. Well, don't rush to congratulate me just yet. It's probably not what you think...]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/im-attending-mits-sloan-school-of-management/</link>
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		<title>Better Font Margins Increase Reading Comprehension</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I'm not normally that interested in typography. In fact, nothing typically bores me more than listening to a designer rail on about the differences between serif and sans-serif fonts. I get it, it's important, move on! That changed when I launched a new Wordpress site and realized that the theme I used was terrible to read. So that set me off learning more about the correct use of font on a modern, Web 2.0 site.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/better-font-margins-increase-reading-comprehension/</link>
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		<title>Study Shows Impact of Facebook Fan Pages</title>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the first things a modern entrepreneur does is start a Facebook Fan Page. It takes 5 minutes to configure, requiring only the most basic information about your business (name, address, hours, and a picture.) You send out your first round of invites to existing and potential customers...and freak out. You've started this thing going, now what do you do to maintain it?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/study-shows-impact-of-facebook-fan-pages/</link>
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		<title>Office 2010 Beta Now Available</title>
		<description><![CDATA[That's right folks, 3 years after the release of Office 2007 and it's infamous "Ribbon Interface" Microsoft has come out with their next version of everyone's favorite office products. Just in time too, considering Microsoft's ban on selling Word in the United States! ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/office-2010-beta-now-available/</link>
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		<title>Make a Cheap Interactive Whiteboard with a Wiimote</title>
		<description><![CDATA[If you've ever used a Smartboard or Tablet PC, you're probably addicted to the slick interface. It's great to be able to use a pen or stylus and sketch out designs, take notes, or map out processes right on your computer. So when I saw this really cool project, I couldn't help wanting to try it for myself! ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/03/make-a-cheap-interactive-whiteboard-with-a-wiimote/</link>
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		<title>Agenda Setting &#8211; 5 Steps to Instantly Boost Meeting Productivity</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Meetings suck. Period. But there is a way to make them suck slightly less. It's a practice known as Agenda setting, and with the increasing availability of scheduling software (such as MS Outlook, Lotus Notes, or even Google Calendar) fewer people than ever are remembering that to be  productive, a meeting should have a clearly defined agenda sent out *at least* 24-hours in advance! ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/02/agenda-setting-5-steps-to-instantly-boost-meeting-productivity/</link>
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		<title>Christopher Foundas Receives Certification in Inbound Marketing</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Charlotte, NC, February, 17 2010 – Inbound Marketing University awards the Inbound Marketing Certification to Christopher Foundas as part of its comprehensive Internet marketing training program (http://inboundmarketing.com). ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/02/christopher-foundas-receives-certification-in-inbound-marketing/</link>
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		<title>Luxury Apartments are ill-named</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I currently live at the Worthington Luxury Apartments (under new management from Ohio/Michigan as of August 2009), and I have to admit, it's been anything but easygoing. From the lack of salting/sanding during the recent winter storm, to the downright lack of amenities, I really do think the tenants should be petitioning to have them change names. After all, once the Starbucks broke their lease and closed their in-complex store, what luxury was there to be had here? ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/02/luxury-apartments-are-ill-named/</link>
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		<title>CutePDF Writer: An easy way to green your home office</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There are three R's to environmentalism: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Unfortunately, most consumers seem stuck on the last one. When it comes to home office printing, a lot of people have gotten really good at recycling their printed paper, toner cartridges, and even printers  thanks in part to programs with good companies like HP and Staples.  Even when it comes to Reusing office supplies, many have scrap-paper boxes to encourage the blank side of every sheet to be used. But what about the first R, Reduce? Here's a handy tip to cut down on your total printing, and in the process show you how being green can save you green. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/02/cutepdf-writer-an-easy-way-to-green-your-home-office/</link>
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		<title>Ignorance only persists in a vaccuum</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I find it frustrating to realize just how little I know about a particular subject. Yet I've come to appreciate that by simply realizing something's missing, I have a chance to educate myself further and expand my expertise. If I didn't, I'd just remain blissfully ignorant about the things I don't know, and while I'd be happier, I wouldn't really be any better off. Which got me thinking... ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/02/ignorance-only-persists-in-a-vaccuum/</link>
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		<title>The iPad: I&#8217;m not touching this&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I'm sorry, but there are enough other sources and half-formed opinions out there about whether the iPad will be worth the money. Sure, the name was the worst choice ever, but I feel the device will most likely have some redeeming qualities.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/02/the-ipad-im-not-touching-this/</link>
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		<title>Kiaros Crimsonmoon Designs</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Looking for graphic design with a fast turnaround? Need someone to bring a traditional artpiece into the digital medium? Then chances are you need the help of Amanda McCollum with Kiaros Crimsonmoon Designs; based near Chigago, IL. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/01/kiaros-crimsonmoon-designs/</link>
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		<title>Watch Out Google Apps: LotusLive coming to a business near you!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Google Apps is the well-known small business and organizational version of Google's Docs, Gmail, and GTalk services. Together, they act almost as an enterprise intranet solution, packaged for a flat $50 per user per year. However, new competitively priced solutions from IBM might just give Google a run for their money. Welcome LotusLive!]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/01/watch-out-google-apps-lotuslive-coming-to-a-business-near-you/</link>
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		<title>Freeze! (Your credit file online for free)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Yes, yes, we've all seen that annoying Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock trolling up and down city streets broadcasting his Social Security Number. It's not black magic or any high-tech process that the company uses to keep your information safe. It's simply a Security Freeze, placed on your file at each of the three credit bureaus. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/01/freeze-your-credit-file-online-for-free/</link>
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		<title>The Email Aggro Effect: Adding CC&#8217;s until everyone knows and nobody cares</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A funny phenomenon I've witnessed since being out and about in the business world. In computer games, it would be referred to as "aggro" or attacting the "aggressions of an NPC (non-played-character)." 

In business, the definition is probably closer to "attracting the unwanted attentions of a non-interested-thid-party". These third parties can include bosses, subordinates, colleagues, peers, and even organizational outsiders such as vendors or customers.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/01/the-email-aggro-effect-adding-ccs-until-everyone-knows-and-nobody-cares/</link>
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		<title>IronKey: A Must Have for Mobile Professionals</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I work freelance. Because of this, I have a tendency to drop by coffee shops and bookstores to quickly check email or do other internet activities. (Well, not for long, thanks to Clearwire, but that's another post.) Any time you log onto a wireless network, even if its a secured one (i.e. using WEP instead of WPA2), you run the risk of your information ending up in the eyes of people you'd rather not see it. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2010/01/ironkey-a-must-have-for-mobile-professionals/</link>
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		<title>Self-Publication Made Simple with Lulu</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I know vanity presses usually get a bad rap. After all, if <em>anyone</em> can get themselves published at any time, without having to go through the vetting process of editors, fact-checkers, and publishing agents, then why should anyone buy their books? In a lot of ways, that's what our world has become though. Bloggers and webmasters have been circumventing the traditional media for almost two-decades, and over time one would almost expect that to run over to the print media.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/12/self-publication-made-simple-with-lulu/</link>
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		<title>AirTran: A brief update</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I had contacted Airtran by email, informing them that aside from all of their wonderful extras (pretzels and XM radio) I would never be flying their airline again due to their poor customer service and the amount of money extra they cost me. After all, I stated, I am a frequent flier with more than 50 flights completed per year. They would be loosing out on a lot of revenue in the long run. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/12/airtran-a-brief-update/</link>
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		<title>Business blog with awesome tips</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I highly recommend stopping by this blog. They’ve got a lot of awesome tips, with some very handy excel tutorials.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/12/business-blog-with-awesome-tips/</link>
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		<title>Second Life Graphics Driver Issue: Quick Fix</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Well, after upgrading my personal desktop to Windows 7 I began receiving an error message that my driver was not installed correctly. Searching the internet I didn't find any clear-cut solution to this problem, so I'm including it here in case anyone runs into it in the future.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/12/second-life-graphics-driver-issue-quick-fix/</link>
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		<title>AirTran: A Case Study in Poor Customer Service</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Anyone who has ever seen me interact with a customer service agent knows that I'm generally a polite, soft-spoken, easy to please individual. It honest-to-goodness doesn't take much to make me smile and thank you (genuinely) for helping me with whatever problem I'm having. AirTran, in this regard, defies logic by providing the worst customer service I have seen during my entire time working with the travel industry.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/12/airtran-a-case-study-in-poor-customer-service/</link>
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		<title>Work/Life Balance and the struggle for Holiday Cheer</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Hi Everyone, Hope your plans for the Thanksgiving holiday have been settled. I myself am actually visiting my family in Upstate New York for the week, and am happy to say I&#8217;ve been enjoying every minute of it. It brings me to a topic very near and dear to anyone with a traveling job: work/life [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/11/worklife-balance-and-the-battle-with-holiday-cheer/</link>
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		<title>Closing the loop: feed it back!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Okay, you just received a sub-standard work product from your knowledge worker. What do you do? You rely on this guy, you need him to finish a project that's barely on schedule and is on the brink of going over budget. The work he turns in is passable, but barely, and you cringe thinking about the chaos that would ensue if he a.) left or b.) really screwed up. What do you do?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/11/closing-the-loop-feed-it-back/</link>
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		<title>Who funds open source?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I was thinking just today about Open Source technologies and how wonderful they are for the budget minded. Well, allow me to back-track. I had started off thinking about my graphic design skills which, I will be the first to tell you, are lacking. But why were they lacking?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/11/who-funds-open-source/</link>
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		<title>Bookkeeping on Autopilot: Just  $100-$600 per Year</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Little background on myself: when I first started out in the working world, I took a job as a bookkeeper for a small jewelry store. To describe the role, one would say I was a "full-charge" bookkeeper, responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, inventory, payroll, pretty much everything finance and accounting related.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/10/bookkeeping-on-autopilot-just-600-per-year/</link>
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		<title>Welcome &#8211; Feel free to comment!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Welcome to my website. As you can tell, I'm adding more content every day, so please continue to check back, or subscribe to my RSS feed in order to stay up to date on what's going on here. 

Thanks! ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/10/pixelcraft-a-new-premium-web-template/</link>
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		<title>Overseas Outsourcing: An Ethics Debate</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I was speaking with a friend and  local Realtor® in the Charlotte area recently, and the topic of Virtual Admins (or VA&#8217;s as some refer to them) came up. He spends the majority of his day fielding phone calls from customers, responding to emails, and prospecting via the internet for new sales leads. I mentioned [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/10/overseas-outsourcing-an-ethics-debate/</link>
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		<title>The Art of the Press Release</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Not all of us were blessed with an English Comp 101 Instructor who felt it was important to teach her students how to write a Press Release. But, I was, and as such it's something I've come to appreciate throughout my business career. Not only is it your chance to build a deeper-better-stronger relationship with your local media contacts, but it's also an excuse to create traffic-driving-content for your site at the same time.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/09/the-art-of-the-press-release/</link>
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		<title>Scatterbrained?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Between these two reasonably priced tools, busy business owners who can't afford a good executive assistant can get some of the benefits without the high price.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/09/scatterbrained/</link>
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		<title>Professionalism</title>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the biggest slights that one person can give another is to call them "unprofessional", or to put it another way:  amateurish. What they're really trying to say is that your performance is so substandard that they think you are, in fact, unworthy of payment. A hobbyist at best. Its true that we all start out that way, hobbyists in our chosen craft. But what does it take to move beyond just a hobby venture?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/09/professionalism/</link>
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		<title>Great tools at a great price!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[You may as well know that I'm a HUGE fan of open source. It's sort of ironic, as the capitalist in me usually disdains at the socialist or communist type of motives behind it. In certain situations however, it's a good thing as it leads to tremendous innovations that might not have been "profitable" to pay to have developed. But what does that mean for you, oh dear entrepreneur? I'm glad you asked! It means that now you can thumb your nose yet again at the corporate behemoths who chortle down from their mighty corporate towers, with their corporate suits and corporate leather loafers! No paying huge licensing fees to your competition for programs you just couldn't live without. ]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/09/great-tools-at-a-great-price/</link>
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		<title>Key Employees: Finding them and keeping them</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In arguably one of the worst recessions in history, big businesses are making layoffs at every turn. In order to meet analyst's quarterly earnings expectations, these large companies are sacrificing long term employee loyalty for short-term stockholder happiness. Small businesses (at least, those not put out of business by drop in consumer spending) are finding it a perfect time to pick up Top Talent that was previously out of their price range.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/09/key-employees-finding-them-and-keeping-them/</link>
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		<title>Chasing the right treasure chest</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Entrepreneurs look for problems that need solving, its true. More importantly however, is finding a problem that society is willing to pay to be solved . With their time, money, and livelihood on the line, its important that they don't spend time chasing after wild geese. Better to aim for readily domesticated hens. Or, to use another cliche, before you chase the leprechaun, its best to check and see that he has a pot of gold worth shaking him down over.]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/08/chasing-the-right-treasure-chest/</link>
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		<title>Entrepreneur: Bachelor degree or Life Choice?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It must sound like a slap in the face to some. A college student, with little or no real-life experience crosses the stage on graduation day, and is awarded a degree in &#8220;Entrepreneurship&#8221;. During the previous four years of college, that individual may have never so much as risked a single dime, or talked to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/08/entrepreneur-bachelor-degree-or-life-choice/</link>
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		<title>Entrepreneurs are everywhere</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ever catch yourself saying, "I wish there was a gas station on that corner"?

Or how about, "I wish someone would put a coffee shop in this shopping complex"?]]></description>
		<link>http://christopherfoundas.com/2009/08/entrepreneurs-are-everywhere/</link>
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