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<title><![CDATA[SRL News Business Columnists]]></title>
<link>http://www2.statesville.com/content/list/news/business/columnists/</link>
<description><![CDATA[SRL News Business Columnists]]></description>
<language>en</language>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Give the gift of you this season]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/dec/11/give-gift-you-season/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/dec/11/give-gift-you-season/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[A friend was telling me of a Christmas gift he received from his neighbor earlier this week, and the internal struggle it has caused.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Don't let an angry outburst define you]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/oct/02/dont-let-angry-outburst-define-you/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/oct/02/dont-let-angry-outburst-define-you/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[Earlier this week, I was talking with the manager of a local convenience store during the gas shortage. I asked about any rude behavior his staff had endured.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:00:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Grandchildren will appreciate financial gifts]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/sep/18/grandchildren-will-appreciate-financial-gifts/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/sep/18/grandchildren-will-appreciate-financial-gifts/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[Sept. 7 was Grandparents Day. If you are a grandparent, you probably like to help out your grandchildren. But if you're thinking of making a financial gift, take your time to explore the options.
For example, suppose you want to help pay for your grandchildren's college educations. You could open an investment account and designate it for college. But you will probably be better off by putting the money in a plan that is specifically designed for college.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Pickle jar teaches lesson in life]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/sep/04/pickle-jar-teaches-lesson-life/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/sep/04/pickle-jar-teaches-lesson-life/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[In a college philosophy course, the teacher decided to make a graphic point, so he brought an extra-large pickle jar to class.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:00:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA['Warm and fuzzitis' not key to success]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/31/warm-and-fuzzitis-not-key-success/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/31/warm-and-fuzzitis-not-key-success/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[A few weeks ago we discussed raising your bar and competing with yourself rather than the competition. 
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Vulnerability is the key to likability at work]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/30/vulnerability-key-likability-work/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/30/vulnerability-key-likability-work/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[This is the last thing I should be writing. Because it's now clear that a column is a great dating tool. Propositions all the time. So I should not tell you this, but here it is: It turns out that I'm a lousy girlfriend.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Balancing portfolio is key to investing]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/28/balancing-portfolio-key-investing/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/28/balancing-portfolio-key-investing/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[Balance is essential to almost all parts of our lives. We balance work and family issues. We can balance our indulgence for desserts with an extra trip to the gym. We even balance our checkbooks. 
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Awkward silence during speech is necessary]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/23/awkward-silence-during-speech-necessary/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/23/awkward-silence-during-speech-necessary/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[I give a lot of speeches, mostly telling people how to manage Generation Y, and how to manage their careers so they are not jealous of Generation Y. My charm, I think, is that I don't prepare a speech. I never know, exactly, what I'll say when I stand up. It works for me — no one ever says I'm boring.
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Give yourself many doses of quiet time ]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/22/give-yourself-many-doses-quiet-time/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/22/give-yourself-many-doses-quiet-time/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[A good friend and his wife just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary, so I asked him the secret to their marital success.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:47:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Never underestimate the power of the three 'P's]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/17/never-underestimate-power-three-ps/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/17/never-underestimate-power-three-ps/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[Why do some people succeed where others do not? What identifiable characteristics do successful people share that distinguishes them from everyone else, whether in their business or personal lives? Let me suggest that many traits, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors can influence success, but three are worthy of additional consideration:

Positive mindset;

Passionate attitudes and beliefs; and

Persistent Determination.

Positive mindset
]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:00:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Learn how to survive stock market declines]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/14/learn-how-survive-stock-market-declines/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/14/learn-how-survive-stock-market-declines/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[If you're an investor, you may have been disappointed with how the markets have been reacting this summer to the news of high oil prices and other short-term events. ]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:11:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Learn the qualities of a true business leader]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/10/learn-qualities-true-business-leader/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/10/learn-qualities-true-business-leader/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[This past week, Coach Dave and I were discussing and preparing for a leadership workshop we have coming up.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:53:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[Raise the bar and start running up the score]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/03/raise-bar-and-start-running-score/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/aug/03/raise-bar-and-start-running-score/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[Have you ever been watching a college or professional sporting event when one team starts running up the score and doesn't appear to be slowing down?]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:46:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Navigating a bear market]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/jul/31/navigating-bear-market/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/jul/31/navigating-bear-market/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[ If you're an investor, you've probably been less than ecstatic lately when you open the newspaper and see what's happening in the stock market. From October 2007 to the end of June, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 20 percent. And stock prices continued to slide during the first two weeks of July. Are we in a "bear market?" And, if so, how should you respond?]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:44:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title><![CDATA[Get in the habit of the 80/20 rule]]></title>

<link><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/jul/27/get-habit-8020-rule/business/]]></link>


<guid><![CDATA[http://www2.statesville.com/content/2008/jul/27/get-habit-8020-rule/business/]]></guid>

<description><![CDATA[The 80/20 rule, simply states 20 percent of your sales team makes 80 percent of your sales. It is hard to believe, but this rule was formulated more than 100 years ago. Who would have predicted it would still apply to sales teams today? Scary, but it does.]]></description>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:45:00 EDT]]></pubDate>
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