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    <title><![CDATA[Discussion on 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye ]]></title>
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        <title><![CDATA[RE: 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3332864]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Good informationThanks]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3332864]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[alsolaih]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:04:20 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Sure, but...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3325606]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[You are right, but it's not the point. They pay the bills, so it's in your interests to keep them happy. The article shows you ways to do that, both preventative stuff to stop problems from occurring in the first place, and tips for when problems do occur. As a consultant, the ability to keep your clients informed and happy is at the core of your business. It's at least as important as your technical know-how.]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[gechurch]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Sat, 17 Jul 2010 02:51:20 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[iPhone app for billable hours/expenses: Time Master]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3325437]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Agree - Best article for a long time.Will definitely give Harvest a look. If you like using iPhone for recording billable hours and expenses, give Time Master a try. Superb app that is highly configurable but simple enough that you spend a minimum of time working with it, which is as it should be!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3325437]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[groundhog32]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:00:29 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[RE: 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3325149]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Great set of reminders for those of us in consulting.  Consultants who never quite finish the job, along with those who withhold information from the client in order to foster dependency, are the barnacles who give us a bad name.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3325149]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Candle, burning at both ends]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:58:50 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[RE: 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3324034]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[This article is just so good, most of it is what we are following and helpiing our business grow too.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3324034]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[darshininr]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:43:58 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[RE: 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323769]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[This was excellent and I wholeheartedly agree.  Consistency is the key.  I have always said also that the way you start the relationship is usually going to set the tone for the relationship as well.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323769]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[derek@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:06:23 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[RE: 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323695]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[This is excellent advice for any business. I sell on eBay &amp; Etsy and apply these same principles to my work there. Great that you start with educating the clients, since that could help avoid the other 9 on the list, but knowing when to let go is one of the most important and difficult. It's very important not to take it personally. Great post! I tweeted it =)Anita @ModelSupplies]]></description>
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        <dc:creator><![CDATA[csr@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:34:12 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Good Points Jack!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323673]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I have always prided myself on taking time to explain everything my clients wanted explained to them.  Of course it can get quickly to a level of detail where they are giving you the &quot;deer in the headlights&quot; look, so that's when you regroup.  For any geek that thinks this is a waste of time based on the intelligence of your client, remember that if you can't explain something to a 7-year-old, you probably don't understand it very well yourself!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323673]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[ncuster]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:52:36 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Dropped 'em]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323649]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[A client, known to be a hot-head, once insisted my staff simply drop Ethernet cabling on the floor rather than install it above ceilings and through walls, something I normally sub-contract out to professionals.  The client wanted to save money but I didn't wish to have such a poor looking job attached to my name.  This was in an area where other businesses were also my clients and they interacted with this client.  I also didn't want to risk liability should someone trip over a cable run.  I offered to do the full cable install personally at a reduced rate over the coming weekend but the client insisted on *not* paying for cable installation at all --odd, since this was a very nice suite of offices and the client is known for buying luxuries for both himself and his staff.I explained to him why I would not have my reputation attached to a poorly done job, nor would would I do the job free of charge.  The conversation ended with my explaining I could no longer satisfy his technology needs and he should locate a new support organization.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323649]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Thump21]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:25:56 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[RE: 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323632]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Your page does not work and I am not going to retype my comment!!!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323632]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Thomas907]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:37:47 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Good article!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323591]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Thanks for the good article.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323591]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[mattpcecil@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:46:41 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Keep projects modular and document, document, document.]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323553]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Great Article! I now work full time for a former client making less money ( I found that  happens more often than I realized). Previously, I subcontracted for a consulting firm and learned more from my boss about the people side of this business than I would have ever imagined. In short he always preached to me to never take on more than my current skill level, document everything, set realistic stopping points along the way for each project so that each step would provide a usable product. But the best advice I received was to prepare to work yourself out of billable hours on each project. That's the main goal of your work. If you do that, you will either get another project or a nice referral.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323553]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[scott.lakey@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:16:33 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Billing]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323509]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I've been using Harvest (getharvest.com) on the web, and its associated iphone/ipod app to record my time and produce my invoices. It creates pdfs, and lets you post client payments as well.  It allows even the smallest consulting practice (moonlighting, etc.) look professional. Sorry for the fan-boy post, but I really like it!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323509]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[TRKulas]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:52:20 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Outstanding!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323506]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[One of the best articles that I have ever seen on TechRepublic!  Lots of good information without rehashing everybody else's work.  Thanks, Jack! I won't even hold it against you that you are a Red Hat fan.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323506]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[SSandersTX]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 05:39:04 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Work with your client's interests in mind]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323481]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[And not the other way around.  One of my major accounts is a lovely medical house with a staff that I adore.  They are wonderful people and, like all medical houses, stressed to the max with insurance forms and medical protocols that are truly awful.  My job is to make their day with the computer as painless as possible.  I am a doctor!! But no matter how often I told them, over 2 years, to turn off the patient management system at the end of the day, so my backups are not corrupt - they would not.  Finally I gave up and WORKED AROUND THEM leaving them to their own version of hell and took that task onto my shoulders by automating as much of the office as I could.  Now it turns virtually by itself, problems are next to nill and my billable hours ... eh, worked myself out of those!!!! Happy client though.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323481]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[reisen55@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:14:55 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[RE: 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323455]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Great article to keep the common sense interactions between customers and providers in perspective. Reviewing basic interpersonal relationships in one place is good.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323455]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[charles-leblanc@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:03:26 -0700</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[RE: 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323454]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[no argument but the client is not always right.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323454]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[roy.evison@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:42:11 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[RE: 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323448]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Great Article!!!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323448]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[zafar.zohaib]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:33:07 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Documentation and PWs, etc.]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323424]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Great article. Right on target.I'm talking small to mid-size clients here (Big shops either do their own or demand contractually what they need): I consider it a huge part of our job is to provide the client with a living document of at least what I did. I try to get them to let me document their system as a whole.  I own it (my know-how) but they paid for it, they get a copy and an update able source. Charge the client appropriately to do it. Use a template you create so you save time for both of you and then show the client how to properly STORE it with other IT documentation. The value will become evident in short order the next time you or someone else comes out to do something related. They'll take one look at your stuff and sing your praises for your piece and you'll get more work and referrals.I've seen too many consultants leave NOTHING thinking the documentation is theirs and a way to have the client by the throat for more biz or to &quot;get at them&quot; if they get fired. Professionally, I think that's a horrible work ethic.On the matter of PWs. You better store their information on an encrypted and secure source. You have it so you better darn well better protect it. Having the info for a client is great but remember the risks too. We're one of those few people that know all our clients secrets and generally where the bodies are buried too. Keys, passwords, remote access, software codes, even credit card numbers... RISK vs. Reward - build the trust, and follow-through with being trust worthy. Too many scam artist I/T people out there. I usually get all my clients as referrals from that type. But that can make a painful (&amp; expensive) first engagement for me as well as the client.I often even store client original software to protect it from their own office managers (tend to have sticky fingers). But that's another service.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323424]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[luke4k@...]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:34:30 -0700</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[RE: 10 ways to make sure you and your clients see eye to eye]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323435]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Fantastic ideas.good stuff]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/discussions/102-333323-3323435]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[sidsaff]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:30:34 -0700</pubDate>
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