By Michael Port

Steve Adubato wrote an an article in the Star Ledger, NJ’s largest newspaper, about Book Yourself Solid and how I overcame insecurities and conflicting intentions to develop a big (and meaningful) personal brand identity. Here is an expert:

Business coach Michael Port wrote a terrific book called “Book Yourself Solid” in which he offers this insight: “Business problems are really personal problems in disguise.”

Port says many of the challenges he has faced in “fully expressing himself” were blocked early on in his career by what he called “conflicting intentions.” He knew he needed to promote himself and his work in a more aggressive way, but he had an inner struggle because he kept asking himself what his father, a respected physician, would think if he engaged in this kind of self-promotion.

Read the rest of the article here.

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By Michael Port

Now, get direct connections from Google Chat and Google Contacts.

Google Social Circle lets you keep tabs on the people you know and would like to know. Google Social Circle gives you up to date listings on your Google contacts who have a Google profile and have content that can show up in your search results.

For example, this is a snapshot of a few people in my social circle. You’re able to see all the social networks they belong to and are active in. Great for business networking purposes.

Google Social Circle

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By Michael Port

It’s official. The FREE Booked Solid U Small Business Success app for the iPhone and iPod is available.

You’ll get daily tips, advice, support and inspiration sent directly to your phone. You’ll never have to come back to this site again.

How do you like them apples?

Just go to the apps store at iTunes and search for the “Booked Solid U” app. Click the FREE download button and, before you know it, you’ll be smarter than you’ve ever been.

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By Michael Port

Sometimes I love working alone and others times I hate it. It can be lonely and isolating. I much prefer collaborating and connecting with others. Sure, we have all the social media outlets but they can be overwhelming, unfocused, and filled with irrelevant ideas and information.

So, last year, I created the Booked Solid Referral Network. It was a free online community for business owners who wanted to connect with each other in very purposeful and profitable ways. Specifically around networking and referrals . Because, if you network with the right people, you’ll get more referrals. It worked. In just a few short months over 3500 business owners joined . We were building something special.

But I closed it down. Don’t worry, it’s back up now. I closed it because the massive software platform we were using sucked, plain and simple. It was too big and offered too much. I since learned that sometimes, less is more.

So, today, we re-open the doors to the Booked Solid Referral Network. It’s streamlined and simplified. It’ll take us a few months to grow the community but I wanted to personally invite you to be a charter member and build the community in your image.

Sign up takes 2 minutes and it’s free. No strings attached. Go for it!

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By Michael Port

Something I’d like to mention about learning and small business success.

Sometimes it’s a good idea to listen to people with whom we don’t always agree. Especially when it comes to “ways of being” or how to go about achieving small business success. Often we think we learn best from those like us but sometimes we learn what we didn’t know we needed to know from those we think different than us and who think different than us. Can you follow that?

I say this because the last time I did a tele-seminar with author and blogger, Tim Ferris, I received a number of comments from my readers regarding what they didn’t like about Tim or his work. The same thing happened when I hosted Michael Gerber or Keith Ferazzi, and even Seth Godin.

Now, don’t get me wrong the majority of comments I have received about all of these folks have been overwhelmingly positive. But, let’s take Tim for example. He is one well-known dude. Heck, about 100,000 people follow him on Twitter. And you don’t get to be a NY Times and Wall Street Journal #1 bestselling author without people being drawn to what you have to say. But, and this is a big but… no one will be universally liked. Ghandi wasn’t. Nor is Nelson Mandela. They were both jailed by their opposition, for goodness sake (Of course, my friend, Tim, is no Mandela or Ghandi (sorry Tim). But you get the point.)

If you have something to say, say it. You may ruffle some feathers. And, feathers will be ruffled at high altitudes. You want to fly high, don’t you?

So, tell me, who have you learned from—that you didn’t think you “liked”? (You don’t have to mention names. Just say, Mr. or Ms. X.)

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By Michael Port

Recent article from Michale Port for Entrepreneur Magazine on how to save the sale with service.

5 strategies for polishing and protecting your customer-service reputation. Read the rest of this article for more honest to goodness small business sales advice.

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By Michael Port

One of my articles for American Express Open Forum. This might seem obvious but customer service sells. But, not in the way you might think.

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By Michael Port

In a recent article for American Express Open Forum I revealed my (not-so-secret) mission to kill the elevator speech.

In or out. Pick a team. You’re either with me or against me on this one. Which is it going to be?

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By Michael Port

If you have not yet read The Think Big Manifesto, shame on you. Kidding. But, if you haven’t, here’s a PDF from a section of the book that I call, The Case For Big Thinking (Or The Case Against Small Thinking). Enjoy.  Feel free to send it to whomever you like. I’m sure you know someone who wants/needs to think bigger about who they are and what they offer the world.

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By Michael Port

Google Profile for Michael Port. Can I see yours?

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