My BNI Story
It All Adds Up
A view from the other side of the balance sheet

Obviously, increasing earnings is a prime objective for any BNI member. But during my first year, I began to understand there are other benefits.

I approached my first year in BNI by recognizing that I am not just an individual looking to increase earnings but I am also a business entity. Therefore, I must measure and evaluate business activities in terms of opportunity/cost. This viewpoint forces a "business entity" to review the direct cost of every activity and place both sacrifices and benefits on a scale to be weighed out. The obvious direct costs of being in BNI are the fees and travelling expenses, but I had to sit back for awhile to see how the opportunities weighed in.

I have come to believe the cost is not high. What else would I be doing at 6:45 in the morning? I suppose I could be watching TV, reading the paper, or getting my beauty sleep. But of what value are those now that I am a business entity?

While attending an early morning BNI session you are not a coffee-drinking zombie in front of the TV but an ambassador for your business. And the task at hand is to market your business, evaluate how well your business is doing, and conduct market research. All of which hold immense value.

The opportunity/cost of BNI, in my humble opinion, is high on the opportunity and low on the cost.

Rupert Walker, Chartered Accountant, Member of BNI Fareham Chapter BNI, UK


Saving Runaways BNI Style

  This year my wife and I celebrated our 10th Wedding Anniversary in Costa Rica. I was excited to see that a charity walk for "The Children's Society" would be held at the same time we were planning on being there.

With my wife's blessing, I spent seven months training three times a week at the gym. I immediately turned to my BNI members and Directors for sponsorship. Then, when Dr. Misner spoke in the UK to the BNI Directors, I took the opportunity to proposition him for help, too. He graciously offered to have the "Ivan Misner Charitable Foundation" make a contribution!

After months of training I finally made it to the Costa Rican rainforests. My body was in shock as I propelled myself up huge hills in sweltering heat amidst hungry biting flies.

But what an incredible experience! I would like to thank all the BNI members, Directors, and the "Ivan Misner Charitable Foundation" for helping to protect the runaway children of the United Kingdom through "The Children's Society."

Lawrence Dagnall, BNI Director - London North West


Would YOU Shave Your Head for Charity?

Jeff Lerman, the incoming Golden Givers Chapter Pesident, was looking for a novel way to help promote an event to benefit Daybreak's Domestic Violence Prevention Education Programs. The event is held annually in memory of the sister of a fellow BNI member who was murdered in a domestic violence incident.

Jeff originally agreed to shave his beard if the chapter would make a $100 donation to Daybreak. The challenge was quickly met,so he increased the stakes by promising to shave his HEAD if the donations reached $1,000! They did it!

Nice Job Golden Givers!


BNI Helps Me Evolve Professionally

I joined BNI at the end of the year and it is certainly helping my word-of-mouth networking efforts.  However, my BNI membership is helping in more ways than just one. Standing up and presenting to a 100+ people representing JPMorgan was easy; standing up and presenting Lynnelle Bianco to 25 is a different story. BNI is helping me grow my business, but it is also helping me evolve from an employee into a business owner.

I'm happy to say that beginning next month I'll be serving as the Education Coordinator for my BNI chapter, the Roma Referral Group. I'll keep checking into SuccessNet and Entrepreneur.com looking for Dr. Misner's words of wisdom.

Lynnelle Bianco, Roma Referral Group 


Read a recent article by Lynelle in MaineToday.com about how your BNI membership is a tool, not a crutch.


From Nervous Newbie to Natural Networker

Jane Kaufman, an acupuncturist with the Dadeland Chapter of BNI Miami-Dade, well remembers her first visit to a BNI chapter. She expected it to be a rather boring meeting of 'stuffy business types,' but she knew she needed to find ways to market her new acupuncture practice. "What I remember most," Jane recalls, "was that when it was my turn to give my 60-second commercial I was literally having heart palpitations. I was not a shy person, but having to stand up in front of all those people and talk about my business terrified me!"

Even after joining the chapter—yes she saw the benefit of BNI immediately—she dreaded doing her commercial.

That was two and a half years ago and time has more than eased her nerves. As of April 2006, Kaufman is the new president of her chapter and estimates she earns about 40% of her business through BNI referrals.

Kaufman also credits the chapter's weekly Education Moments with teaching her how to better market herself and to speak about her business in any situation. In fact, thanks to the confidence BNI helped her gain, Jane now seeks out speaking opportunities. She believes BNI helped take her from an overwhelmed acupuncturist to a natural networking expert!

Submitted by Mavis Lamb, Director PR & Special Events, BNINW, BNI Miami-Dade, BNI Connecticut


The Personal Touch

As I read through Success Net I was touched by the sincerity and warmth evident in the inclusion.

Ivan Misner resides in Southern California with his wife, Elisabeth, and their three children. He can be reached at misner@bni.com.

The fact that Dr. Misner can be reached personally gives tremendous credibility to the content and philosophy of BNI. This reality drives home the importance of taking the time to build relationships.

I feel that I can trust that BNI has a solid foundation of business ethics and a founder who promotes excellence.

Christine Woods, Excelerate


BNI Brings Unexpected Business

I used to work for a local security company who installs and monitors residential and commercial security systems in the Kingston area (Ontario, Canada).

One day I received a call from a gentleman who was looking for a security system. He had just purchased an island with a house and guest cabins on it in the 1000 Islands near Kingston.

I discussed with him what products and systems were available to him and then asked how he found out about our company. His answer surprised me.

He told me that he is a Canadian but lives and works in Australia. He has a friend who lives in Ottawa so he called and asked if he knew a trustworthy security company in the Kingston area. His friend told him that as a BNI member he could quickly find one on the BNI website. He found my company and name then passed on the information.

Just two weeks later the system was installed. Thank you, BNI!

Arno van Alst, Sales Manager


I just want to take a moment to thank Dr. Misner from the bottom of my heart for the fantastic workshop he gave in New Orleans. I truly enjoyed his speech and his enthusiasm, both of which I have carried with me.

I continue talking about BNI. My personal goal is to get every Manager or Account Executive in my company to join a BNI chapter in their own region.

BNI has assisted me personally as well as professionally. I continue to see growth in my ability to speak with prospects, clients, and employees.  During my review last week, my manager noted?. "Lori has grown in her communication skills which is a direct result from her membership with BNI. Now we can not shut her up!"

Thank you again, Givers Gain!

Lori Davis, Adecco Branch Manager, Tracy Executive Chapter


Thank you, Dr. Misner, for sharing some of your insights with us on March 31st when you were in Atlanta. After your presentation, I made the 'usual' comment that it was "nice to meet you"—traditional small talk.  However, what I should have said is that it was "an honor and a pleasure to meet you."

I just wanted to say what I felt at the time but failed to express.  Your books are filled with 'jewels' of wisdom that I aim to share with my group over my tenure as Educational Coordinator.

Shea Ellison, President & CEO, Strategic Internet Consulting, LLC


L&S Printing has benefited from BNI in more ways than new business. We have acquired a number of new clients as a result of BNI, but it goes so much further. Through effective networking, we have been able to find services for our own business that have saved us money and time. From toner cartridges all the way to insurance, my business has realized over $10,000 in savings. Also, we have been able to find services for our own clients, making L&S Printing a more valuable asset to our client base. BNI is the best marketing investment our business has made.

Paul La Pree, L&S Printing, Wausau Founders Chapter