An Entrepreneurial Pursuit

Posted on by BNI Global

This BNI success story was submitted by Samantha DELLUC-MARCHAND, current member of 94-02 BNI Performance in BNI France 

I was fortunate to begin my career with Google in 2002. It was an incredible opportunity to join a global industry leader. It’s not an overstatement to say that this was a dream job with a wonderful culture. Colleagues became friends, meals were free and it was truly structured as a flat hierarchy. I even got to travel to Google’s HQ in San Francisco for trainings.

Over time, like all organizations, massive growth occurred and changes were implemented. Our hierarchal structure became more segmented and our team grew from 20 people to 150! It lost a bit of the human touch that I came to appreciate.

After my stint with Google, I transitioned to Microsoft. Unfortunately, the culture and structure was very similar and mirrored my recent experience with Google. In addition to this, I had given birth to my daughter. That led to further stress, as I spent many long nights juggling work with personal responsibilities. Compounding this, recognition for a hard work ethic can be difficult to come by, especially in France.

So gradually I began to work on various business plans, with dreams of being my own boss… While I would certainly earn less, I would have control over my career.

So I asked myself… “What do I really want to do? What am I passionate about?”

I found inspiration from my daughter. A hobby and love of mine is baking and creating personalized pastries for events and parties that she attends. I soon realized that many of my fellow parents did not have time to organize their kids’ birthdays and desperately needed someone to take in charge. I knew then that I had to launch my own business!

Within 6 months, I took a leap of faith and quit my job. This allowed me to prepare for my pastry ‘diploma’ and start a new career from scratch. It was a challenging process and physically demanding but I stayed the course, I did not give up.

I’m proud to say that 14 months ago, I was able to launch my company, Drôles de tables. I’ve been able to invest in promotional materials and find an environment that is suitable for the success of my business. And while I occasionally work 18 hours, I have no regrets. I want to be an inspiration to my daughter and prove that her dreams can come true.

My ideal clientele included both business and individuals, and I needed to build a customer base. I had plenty of contacts for private events, but needed a stronger professional network. That’s when a friend recommended BNI. I realized the value of Givers Gain and recognized that it could help me build my business through referrals and build a global perspective. There’s no better international organization for networking. The opportunities are boundless.

And it has paid off! After my first year, 60% of my revenue comes through BNI referrals. An incredible testament to the power of a strong network.

It also helped me refine my business structure. I have refocused my efforts on attracting small and medium businesses. My goal is to regularly partner with them for the private events. However, the majority of my revenue stems from the delivery of personalized cookies that I can ship worldwide. My business is based on making personalized messages edible, which is not very common!

About My Business

I am a pastry chef and the name of my company is “Drôles de tables”. It comes from the movie “Charlie’s Angels” which in French is “Drôles de dames”, so you can say “Samantha et ses drôles de tables”, which is memorable!

One of my specialties is to create personalized cookies for people who want to celebrate an event or deliver a message.  I can print your logo on my cookies, write your message, engrave your words… and ship them worldwide!

I am also organizing professional buffets and sweet tables with lovely treats and personalized decorations.

www.drolesdetables.com

Are You Ready For #INW19?

Posted on by BNI Global

BNI’s 12th annual International Networking Week® is fast approaching! Are you ready?

International Networking Week® is an initiative of BNI® and an opportunity for members to show appreciation for their valued customers and contacts with the gift of a larger network.

The focus of International Networking Week® is to bring together representatives of government, businesses and community leaders to network and listen to talks by key networking specialists from local communities across the world. Speakers will offer advice and information on how businesses can grow and succeed through good networking practices.

Invitations to attend are open to the wider business community, members of other networking organizations, students, press representatives and interested parties from all levels of government and business.

Ensure that your chapters are fully prepared to promote International Networking Week® throughout their communities by visiting the website. You’ll find new marketing assets such as print materials, an official press release, official imagery and social media assets. Use these regularly throughout the next month, in addition to the new and official hashtag: #INW19. We want to see who has the most passion for this initiative!

 

We’re also calling on all members to share stories of past International Networking Week® events that were a resounding success. Submissions will be reviewed and featured on our social media pages throughout the week! Take advantage of this opportunity to spotlight a chapter in your region.

Guidelines for how to promote and run an event have been developed, and are now available for use. Please review these, provide them to your teams and contact the marketing team if you have any additional questions.

Remember, this is our chance to provide a “A New World of Opportunity” to individuals who are interested in the business of referrals. For further updates, please follow BNI’s official Facebook page, as International Networking Week® will be featured regularly over the next month.

We also have a message from our Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Dr. Ivan Misner. Please view below.

 

 

 

 

Keep the Giving Spirit Alive!

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by David Kauffman, BNI Foundation Vice-Chair

So, another year has ended, and we begin to look back at what we have accomplished. For the BNI Foundation, it was a huge success! We had two great conferences where we raised over $60,000 USD.

We also became a public charity, The BNI Foundation Worldwide. This allows us to partner with other organizations like Amazon. We are now included with Amazon Smile. Switch your affiliation to the BNI Foundation and Amazon will donate 0.5% back on all eligible purchases (See below). Many of you signed up to be Super Heroes by contributing as monthly donors, hopefully this will continue. We added Legacy donors and increased our single donations to all time levels. This allowed us to double the number of Givers Gain® Grants.

I would like to thank everyone who helped along our transformation in 2018. To our donors: without you we would have nothing. To our Business Voices Teams: you are the boots on the ground. You are the people who touch our children on a daily basis. To our supporters at BNI HQ and the board of directors: we could not continue to make the changes and move the foundation into its next stages without you and your support! To Ivan and Beth Misner: clearly you were and are our guiding force.

There is so much to talk about but not enough time to deliver the information in our short monthly articles, so we are launching our quarterly newsletter beginning in January. We will keep you updated with information about what we have accomplished and what we are planning. Our website has a tremendous amount of information including donor lists, Business Voices Team updates, information on how you and your regions can get involved and so much more. Below is a link to our first newsletter

We would like to thank everyone who has helped to support our children either by 

We would like to thank everyone who has helped to support our children either by providing resources to educators and organizations, or funds to help make success easier for children around the world.

Please join us in creating another year of firsts and accomplishments in 2019!

Link to Newsletter

Link to our website

Instructions for joining Amazon Smile

To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile. Then select the BNI Foundation Worldwide as your charity.

How Do You End a Conversation?

Posted on by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.

As the Founder of BNI (the world’s largest referral networking organization), I often get asked about the best way to end a conversation in a networking situation. Candidly, I think the answer is pretty simple.  So, I’ll start this piece with the “simple solution” and then for those of you who love to over-think things – I’ll give you some other options.

  1. Simply say something like, “It was really nice meeting you.  Do you have a card so I can have your contact information.  Thanks.”  That’s it.  No fuss.  No muss.  No big deal.  Don’t apologize because you have to go network and definitely don’t’ say you see someone else you need to talk to.  Simply thank them and move on.
  2. Frame what you liked about the conversation or recap part of the conversation that you found most interesting and then – see #1 above.
  3. If they say something that makes you think of someone else they should meet – tell them and promised to make the introduction.  If the other person is there at the event, make the introduction on the spot.  Being a “connector” at a networking event is always a good thing.
  4. Invite them to participate with you in another networking meeting you go to regularly.  They may want to get out and meet more people. This is a great chance to connect them to another network of individuals and it gives you a chance to meet them again.

For those of you who want more – I’ve read all kinds of “exit lines” and unless they are absolutely true – I don’t recommend most of them.  Keep it simple and keep it honest.  OK, you want to know what some of those other lines are – here you go:

  • I’ve got to get home by X o’clock to have dinner with the family.
  • It’s been nice meeting you, I need to run to the restroom.
  • I’ve got a deadline on a project and I need to take off.

Anything like the above is ok but don’t fib.  If you really have to do something tell them.  Otherwise, simply doing what I say in #1 above is perfectly ok.

Whatever you do, don’t “Seinfeld it!”  One of the really funny things on the old TV series Seinfeld was how the characters would go off on some crazy, complicated subterfuge or ruse and end up getting in more trouble than if they had just been candid to start with. Be polite, but be honest and direct. “Seinfelding it” almost always fails and both you and the other person end up uncomfortable.

Remember – don’t overthink this.  Be polite and friendly.  Don’t make excuses and politely move on.  The real key is how you follow up.  But that’s a different article.

Called the “father of modern networking” by CNN, Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author.  He is also the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of BNI (www.bni.com), the world’s largest business networking organization.  His new book, Networking for Success (2nd Edition),  is available at bookstores and at Amazon.com.

Soap Floats – Thanks to BNI

Posted on by BNI Global

The innovative SAVONT soap holder ensures that using hand soap is fun again. This ecological and aesthetic innovation comes from Phuc-An Tran, from the Kurfürsten Chapter (Amberg, Germany). He tells his story here, which is also a BNI success story.

 

BNI is an excellent platform for the development, design, production and marketing of products: A review

How often can a member say that their first customer was acquired through their chapter? I can, and it’s an incredible testament to the power of referrals.

My story begins with the realization of an everyday issue for all of us, but as a person with a strong sense of aesthetics, especially for me. When washing my hands it always bothered me that a bar of beautiful hand soap was left in the water after its first use. It almost made me a bit disgusted, and, on top of that, the precious soaps were getting used up too fast.

Even a beautiful soap dish did not change the situation. I had to clean the soap dish several times a day, and, of course, it would slip from my hand and fall with a crash into the sink.

Well, then, how about liquid soap? When you squeeze or pump a plastic bottle of liquid soap, water from your hands flows down the sides of the bottle, and a greasy, slippery ring of soap forms directly on the edge of the sink or washbasin. In addition, I really did not want to use a plastic bottle.

The soap belongs in the sink

I considered where a bar of solid soap could ideally be positioned. I thought: It should not accumulate dirt, it should look aesthetically pleasing, and it should not make a mess on the washstand. Finally, I realized: The soap belongs inside the inner basin of the sink and not on the outside. Thus, all the hand movements in hand washing could take place within the sink, and no water would splash outside.

So I was very close to the solution. I had to find parts that would allow attaching a bar of soap inside a sink basin. With the SAVONT soap holder, I found the answer.

Soap floats, thanks to BNI

 

Through my years of membership in BNI, I have learned to make contacts, approach people with projects and openly ask for support. So, I quickly found the first contacts necessary to develop a prototype. I was able to accomplish the development of the SAVONT brand, the creation of packaging and many other aspects of marketing with trusted partners within the BNI network. Also, with my BNI connections, the first production series was created. I do not believe that it would have been possible to create the product so quickly and bring it to market without my valuable BNI network. Ultimately, we founded SAVONT out of our existing company and even found the appropriate notarial advice within BNI.

Regarding sales, the regular 60s presentations have trained me to introduce my product in the shortest possible time, an essential point if you only have a short time in contact with a customer when networking. So I am grateful to BNI for the genius of this system and its Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Dr. Ivan Misner.

In addition, BNI also propelled My business by:

  • Introducing me to the French market: During a holiday at the French coast I contacted Anne Lescure, Director Consultant of Region Terre Atlantique. She knew an important soap manufacturer in her region which is today our biggest customer in France.
  • Giving me an improved focus on Public Relations: Before I was weak in PR work. However, that changed after participating at the German national conference. There I received the important recommendation to a PR agency specialized on bathroom appliances. Together, we developed and launched a strong and impressionable PR campaign. I would have never gotten in touch with this business expert without having been at the national conference.
  • Finding a way to save costs at #BNIGC18: A competitive pricing structure is crucial to survive in the global market. I attended BNI’s Global Convention 2018 and went to the ‘Local Business Global Network’ Session. There I met Benjamin Delagoutte an expert in cost reduction. We started a project to further reduce the cost of production of the soap holder and to develop additional variations of the product.
  • Giving me exposure: Finally, I booked a booth at the Trade Show of BNI’s Global Convention. The visibility helped me to get in touch with several international soap manufacturers and to conduct deep conversations on how to develop each others business.

 

SAVONT – a contribution to the aesthetics of soap and the environment

 

I am happy with my soap holder because it exploits the positive aspects of solid soap: aesthetics, beauty in use and cleansing effect. In the past, soaps had to be left in wet soap dishes, or the soap holder had to be drilled into the wall. With the SAVONT soap holder, the soap is tidy, dry and directly accessible, all without polluting the environment.

Speaking of pollution: When we look into our trash cans, we see how much plastic waste our lifestyle produces. Solid bar soaps stand in stark contrast to liquid soap, which requires a plastic container. Maybe this is the best reason of all for solid bar soap.

Our Steps to Globalize

 

A product lives only as long as it’s growing, and we plan to GROW. Our target market is comprised of producers of solid bar soaps worldwide, especially in Europe, the USA, Canada, Russia, Japan and South Korea.

My goal is to develop a cheaper yet still aesthetic version of the SAVONT soap holder so that it can be offered in lower-income countries – where people can conserve their solid bar soaps for as long as possible.

 

Acknowledgements

 

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to ask the BNI members who supported me on this journey to take a bow:

Marketing: Harald Graf, Chapter Kurfürsten, Germany

Photography and crucial contact during the production: Marcus Rebmann, Kurfürsten Chapter, Germany

Stories and Emotionalization: Harald Koisser, Donautor Chapter, Austria

Printed by Burkhard Wehmeyer, Leineweber Chapter, Germany

Cost Reduction: Benjamin Delagoutte, Chapter Lannion Breizh Business, France

Sales: Numerous BNI members who provided contacts and motivation

PR: Frank Beushausen, Chapter Remarque, Germany

 

Many, many thanks to you all!

Brewed for Success – A BNI Story

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Matt Valantine of Rise & Refer in Perrysburg, Ohio (U.S.)

BNI put my company on the map! Thanks to an invitation from Craig to visit BNI, my coffee business is scaling 42% faster. My one-man selling show exploded into a twenty strong salesforce with momentum and intentionality when I joined Rise & Refer in Perrysburg, OH 14 months ago. 42% of my profits and sales as a company have come from BNI. 19 of my 29 Monthly ViP Subscribers are a direct result of relationships fostered in BNI.

The DRiP Coffee, LLC, launched in August 2017, exists to provide High-Quality, locally roasted coffee at an affordable price. Our dual focus is (1) becoming the highest consumed local roasted coffee brand in Northwest Ohio (we source a High-Quality bean, roast on a top-end drum roaster, and sell strategically to immerse The DRiP Coffee brand into homes, businesses, & events in Northwest, OH) and (2) providing go-to Third Spaces in Northwest Ohio designed for the moderate to avid coffee drinker to Gather, Connect, & Relax. Come after work. Come after dinner. Come after the kids are in bed. Sit back, breathe in the aroma of fresh coffee, and refresh.

Why bring people together in this environment? Life is often harsh and demanding. We pour out all day long and in return, need to be poured into to carry on. Every DRiP coffee shop will offer an atmosphere that welcomes all ages and invites the world in to enjoy amazing coffee and live music. A weekly mix of jazz, classical, open mic, comedy, and more will entertain and inspire our guests night after night.

As the owner and CEO, I manage the moving parts and employees for The DRiP Coffee.  I’ve been married to my true love and best friend, Amanda, for nearly 20 years and I have four children (ages 7-17). I serve as a volunteer youth leader and operate as the Midwest Regional Sales Rep for a Pre-Press Graphics & Packaging Company. I enjoy living life on purpose, building relationships through networking and community, recreational activities, leading teams, implementing visionary ideas, and loving my family.  I didn’t start drinking coffee until I was 30…. maybe I’m catching up. 3-5 cups a day…morning, noon, and night. I can drink a strong cup of coffee and be asleep minutes later. I’m not sure coffee is my passion (yet) … people are my passion. Offering something Hopeful is my goal. Creating an idea that can be anticipated. A night out with friends. A warm beverage and a great song that can inspire. Time away from the messiness.

BNI has taught me the power of networking through The Power of One (referrals, CEUs, 1-1s, presentations, relationships, people). My chapter is my guinea pig. Luckily, many of you will never experience some of my “test blends” thanks. My fellow chapter members, who I meet with weekly and fight to unearth referrals for, have become my friends. I want them to succeed as much or more as I want to be successful. Givers Gain.

In addition, BNI has contributed to the following:

  • The launch of my VIP program, mentioned above, which is a monthly subscription where each VIP subscriber receives 2-3 bags of Drip coffee per month. I was inspired by two fellow members in my chapter, Lisa & Crystal, to launch this.
  • BNI doubled the number of interested investors since I joined the Rise & Refer chapter
  • BNI gave me the opportunity to receive honest & constructive feedback about my product & sales strategy through one-to-ones!

You are reading about The DRiP Coffee because I was bold enough to ask for help reaching my 2019 Goals… (1) 100 bags sold per week and (2) 50 Monthly ViP subscribers. Now I want to ask you for help. Will you personally purchase a bag of our coffee? Will you gift a bag to someone you know appreciates great quality coffee? Will you help me open The DRiP Coffee Shops so others can experience the hope and connection we desire to create? Thanks for reading my story. Join us on our journey. Try a Sip of The DRiP… you won’t regret it.

Matt Valantine (CEO & Owner)

The DRiP Coffee, LLC

Bowling Green, OH

@thedripbg

www.thedripbg.com

  

BNI Member Announced as the 2018 CNN Hero of The Year!

Posted on by BNI Global

A special thanks to Francisco Pujol, Executive Director (BNI Peru) for this submission

Dr. Ricardo Pun-Chong, member of BNI LDS Exito in Lima, Peru was recently honored as the 2018 CNN Hero of the Year. This is an incredible accomplishment and is a testament to the true spirt of Givers Gain that Dr. Pun-Chong embodies.

He received the award on Sunday 9 December, 2018 for his tireless efforts providing free housing, meals and support for sick children and their families while they undergo various treatments. The award is determined by online voters who selected Pun-Chong from among the Top 10 CNN Heroes finalists.

The ceremony was attended by a who’s who of celebrities, and the award itself was presented by renowned hosts Anderson Cooper and Kelly Ripa

As a result of begin named the Hero of the Year, Dr. Pun-Chong will receive $100,000 to grow his cause. A cause that benefits hundreds of families in need through Dr. Pun-Chong’s nonprofit, Inspira

Many of those families must travel far from home to seek the best medical treatment. Often unable to pay for a place to stay, these families can find themselves homeless while fighting for their children’s lives. Some camp out in the hospital corridors.

“I couldn’t get the picture of the families sleeping on the floor out of my mind,” Pun-Chong said. “So, I decided to do something for them.”

Since 2008, Inspira has provided free housing, meals and overall support for sick children and their families while they undergo treatment. The organization has helped more than 900 families who’ve come from all over Peru.

Pun-Chong, who lives a few blocks from the shelter and is there almost every day, runs the organization with the help of a small staff and an army of passionate volunteers. He spends every holiday with the families there.

“The kids inspire me every day,” Pun-Chong said. “When I’m with these kids, and I feel how strong they are, I understand that there are no problems that we can’t resolve.

View Dr. Pun-Chong’s acceptance of the award below.

You can donate to Dr. Pun-Chong’s cause through Jan. 2, 2019

#BNIGC18 – Reflections on A New World of Opportunity

Posted on by BNI Global

With nearly 3,000 Members and Directors in attendance, BNI’s 2018 Global Convention in Bangkok, Thailand was an incredible achievement for the organization. As our first convention outside of the United States, it set the benchmark for future events.

Some of the most influential business leaders and brightest minds from around the world came together to share their wisdom, pass referrals and tell inspirational stories.

#BNIGC18 was engaging from start to finish, whether it was our speakers, breakout sessions or the opportunities for one-to-ones. There was value to be found everywhere… even our opening session, which gave attendees an incredible display of Thai culture!

Our list of Speakers was exceptional, starting with BNI Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Dr. Ivan Misner, who spoke to the philosophy of Networking Up. BNI’s CEO, Graham Weihmiller, then issued A Call To Leadership and discussed how events like convention can change your life, if you’re open to it. He emphasized that BNI’s goal is to become the world’s most powerful platform for global business development.

And that’s just the start, as many members and directors shared their wisdom through insightful stories. Many of which, will be made available in the near future. So please check our blog and Facebook page for updates. 

In addition, our Keynote Speaker, Steve Farber delivered a rousing an inspirational address focused on Becoming Greater Than Yourself. Through this topic, Steve showed that dedicating oneself to bringing others along so that they can achieve more than you is the ultimate way to boost talent, ramp productivity and create truly significant leaders.

If interested in learning more about Steve, please visit his website.

As many of you didn’t have the opportunity to join us at #BNIGC18, we have made Dr. Ivan Misner’s presentation and Graham Weihmiller’s presentation available to you:

To view Dr. Misner’s speech, please click here.

To view Graham Weihmiller’s speech, please click here.

Many attendees took the time to provide us valuable feedback:

“Being my first convention, it was incredibly eye opening. I am able to relate more with people that are in my line of business, instead of viewing them as competition.”

“It was awesome and very well organized”

“Outstanding event! We are all one BNI!”

“It was very well organized, the scale of the event was amazing.”

“Thoroughly enjoyed as it was one of the best yet.  So much to take in and the positivity, energy and enthusiasm was intoxicating.”

“It was one of the best conventions that I have ever attended”

As you can see, #BNIGC18 left a lasting impact and featured numerous highlights, some of which we have shared below:

Our Members Meet & Greet event, an annual tradition, displayed the positive attitude and passion that each attendee had throughout the week. This event brings together Directors and Members from each respective country to showcase what makes them successful in BNI. The enthusiasm displayed during this event is contagious. 

Our annual Gala was a celebration of Thai culture and recognition. We’ve grown so much throughout 2018 and it was important that our leaders throughout the world were recognized for their incredible achievements.

As we embark on a New World of Opportunity, #BNIGC18 has illuminated the path for BNI’s future and sustained success.

BNI’s 2019 Global Convention

Warsaw, Poland

6-7 November – Members | 6-9 November – Directors

We would also like to invite you to attend next year’s convention in beautiful Warsaw, Poland. This marks our first Convention in Europe and we couldn’t be more excited to be with all of you in Warsaw.

Registration is open, and to date, we’ve already registered a record 700 individuals! Early-bird pricing is available through 31 January, so don’t delay, register here.

We can’t wait to see you next year! Get ready for another high energy convention with world class content, networking and FUN!

  

How I Approach The ?No-Win? Scenario

Posted on by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.

In business, we are often confronted with problems that seem to be a no-win situation.? While I acknowledge that they sometimes exist, I believe that there are almost always alternatives that can be explored to find a good result.? I recently thought back to where this started in my life and realized that it was when I was a university student.

When I was an undergraduate in college, I needed to take one more ?lab class? (a course that gives hands on experience related to the topic).? I?d taken lab classes in science and the only lab courses left according to my counselor was a lab class in mathematics.? Now, I did fine with basic mathematics but the higher-level courses in Algebra and Geometry were just not my passion.? OK, full disclosure, I hated those courses.? ?So, when my counselor said that was the only choice left ? I went on a quest, a quest to go through every single page of the course catalog for every single department throughout the university (except the Math department), to find any other class with a lab that I hadn?t already taken.?

After a painstaking search through the huge catalog, I found one course that fit the bill.? It was a course in the Hotel and Restaurant Management School at the university.? The course was in Enology (the study of wines).? The lab part was ? wine tasting!? Now, you might think that I was excited at first but the truth is ? I hated wine.? I really didn?t like it.? The only thing is, I hated math more than I hated wine so ? Enology it was!

I took this revelation to my department counselor and he said ? ?No! you can?t take that as your lab!?? I said ?Why not? ?It is a lab and it meets all the university requirements for me to complete my degree??? He said, ?because it?s unheard of to use that as a lab in this department.?? I then said, ?But is it prohibited?? Where in the department requirements does it say that it can?t be used??? He cocked his head and looked at me over the top of his glasses and said, ?alright Misner, give me the paper, I?ll sign it and get out of here.?? I smiled and said, ?Thank you very much professor,? and walked out with the paperwork to complete my Enology wine lab.

At that moment, I had no idea that the course I was taking would become a life-long passion (remember ? I didn?t really like wine back then).? The course was much more difficult than students thought it would be.? We had an almost 40% drop out rate for the class because it wasn?t just about ?tasting? wines, it was about the wine industry and wine regulations so the tests were pretty tough. The tasting was only a part of the class. Today, it is a passion for me.? I built out a cellar at my home in Austin (pictured here) that will hold 1,600 bottles (it?s not full ? yet but I?m working on it) and I just started working on a Sommelier Certification just for fun.? This path all began because I didn?t believe in the ?No-Win scenario? as the only possibility relating to a challenge.

I share this story with you because I truly believe that there are ?almost? always options to a no-win situation if you work hard to find alternative solutions (maybe even push the envelope a bit). ?For the Star Trek nerds out there ? I?d like to think I?d pass the Kobayashi Maru simulation (the no-win scenario mentioned several times Star Trek).

What no-win situation have you been confronted with and how did you find a solution?? I?d love for you to share it here.

Called the ?father of modern networking? by CNN, Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author.? He is also the?Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of BNI (www.bni.com), the world?s largest business networking organization.? His new book, Networking for Success (2nd Edition),? is available at bookstores and at Amazon.com.

Building the Brand, Together

Posted on by BNI Global

An organization’s brand is a representation of how individuals perceive them. It’s the source of the promise that they make with their customers and fundamental to creating a loyal base.

When developing and establishing a brand, it’s vital to understand that it touches the entire customer experience, whether it be a logo or the level of service provided. It creates an emotional response that leaves a lasting impression.

According to BNI Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Dr. Ivan Misner, there are some incredible advantages to establishing a successful brand.

  • Branding influences buying decisions.
  • Branding creates new customers.
  • Branding creates loyalty.
  • Branding gives you a competitive advantage.
  • Branding helps grow your business.

When you have a successful and consistent brand identity, you create brand ambassadors. These ambassadors help spread your brand throughout the world. At BNI, we have the benefit of having each of our members act as a direct ambassador. That’s why when we are recognized as a leading example of how to build a successful brand, we attribute it to our members. They are the ones who propel us forward.

Due to their commitment, we’re proud to announce that BNI and Dr. Ivan Misner recently received The Brand Laureate Award at the wonderful 2018 BNI Malaysia Awards Ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This award recognizes select organizations that have built a strong brand across Malaysia, and around the world.

A special thanks goes to Ken Phua who nominated BNI for this honor. Ken is a leading figure in ensuring BNI’s success throughout Malaysia. Thanks, Ken!

It’s an incredible achievement and we’re proud to be a global leader when it comes to advocating strong and consistent branding across all facets of an organization. We have a great message to share, and we’ve only just begun to share it more broadly. In 2019, we’ll continue to share BNI’s message with the world.

For more information on The Brand Laureate, please visit their website.

How can branding build your chapter? BNI is unique among other organizations, but without a consistent visual identity, we didn’t have the visibility and recognizability of a really great brand.

Individual members and chapters can request BNI logos and other artwork from branding@bni.com to use on their websites and display publicly to proclaim their BNI membership.

BNI Foundation – Gratitude & Recognition

Posted on by BNI Global

BNI Foundation Represented at #BNIGC18 – Submitted by David Kauffman BNI Foundation Vice Chair

We had a GREAT convention and I would like to thank all of those who supported the foundation at this historic event!

 A number of our supporters flew in early and visited the Friends of Thai Daughters, a charity that the BNI Foundation supports. They were able to visit with many of the girls and help distribute needed supplies to a few of the local villages. We were also honored that 3 of the girls were able to attend our Gala event. Through the generosity of the 1200 attendees we raised over $36,000 USD for the BNI Foundation that we immediately donated to Friends of Thai Daughters to make sure the girls have continued support.

I would also like to thank the following authors for donating a portion of every book sold at our booth. Norm Dominguez, The Magic of Positivity, YP Lai and Paulo Corsi, Networking Quotient. We sold hundreds of copies of each.

The Foundation gave out several awards to countries and directors with outstanding Business Voices teams. The BNI Foundation Award of Excellence was given to team BNI Canada and BNI Japan. While the Ivan Misner Excellence in Giving Award went to Monica Passini and Dario Castagna from team Italy. 

Team Italy held a Business Voices awards banquet this year to celebrate their 18 teams and had over 500 members in attendance. Their teams accomplished over 80 projects this year including insulating schools to keep the environment quiet and conducive to learning. They held a number of medical screenings at local schools and taught over 1000 children about dental hygiene.

From the main stage in conjunction with our round tables and breakout sessions we were able to raise global awareness about the BNI Foundation and Business Voices (our boots on the ground program). Members and directors learned how the BNI Foundation belongs to them and how they could get involved and truly make a difference in a child’s life!

We are working hard to grow the foundation and hope to be in at least 6 new countries before the next Global Convention in Warsaw next year. The Business Voices teams around the world keep growing, even in countries that do not yet have foundations. We need to get your stories. If you are apart of a team please send us your stories at bnifoundation.org/monthly-business-voices-form/. If you would like more information on the BNI Foundation or Business Voices Teams, please contact us at bnifoundation.org/contact-us/.

How Big Is Your Dream?

Posted on by BNI Global

“If you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt Disney

Incredible stories of success, both personal and professional in nature, are ubiquitous among our BNI membership. They are also, quite often, unique and inspirational.

That’s one of the many benefits of connecting with an organization such as BNI. The exposure that our members have to these stories of triumph and perseverance are unparalleled.  

We recently had the privilege of hearing one of these stories at this year’s Global Convention in Bangkok, Thailand. As part of our Inspirational Speaker series, Alfredo Tanimoto, Executive Director of BNI Grande Zona Oeste de SP in Brazil, shared how he overcame a personal tragedy through sheer will and determination while in the face of extreme adversity.

As a young professional, Alfredo had a dream of becoming an international business executive. Through hard work, he was able to turn his dream into an actionable goal.

While working in Japan, he accomplished this goal. He was appointed National Director of AlphaSystem Co. Ltd, a telephone company for international calling cards. He managed a portfolio of 7 companies and his team comprised individuals in 25 different countries.

Concurrently, Alfredo also pursued and achieved another lifelong dream… to become a surfer, and more specifically, a Big wave surfer. Big Wave surfing is where experienced surfers paddle into or are towed onto waves which are at least 20 feet (6.2 m) high, on surf boards.

Unfortunately, while a positive attitude and determination can help propel you forward, life has its obstacles. On August 16th, 2008 while surfing off the coast of Japan, Alfredo experienced a life-altering event. He struck his head on the bottom of the ocean floor and broke two vertebrae in his neck, the C6 and C7. Adversity had struck in the most unexpected and difficult manner.

After emergency surgery, Alfredo was informed that he would only have a 2% chance to walk again. At that moment, a new dream set in. He was determined to walk again. He was adamant that a full recovery was possible and that his case would be the one that medicine could not explain.

From that point, while recovering in the hospital, Alfredo developed 9 steps that would help him overcome adversity and push forward to a full recovery. These 9 steps are documented in the video below. 

  1. Love Your Life!
  2. Goals Will Lead You
  3. Positive Attitude
  4. Be an Influencer
  5. Create Your Own Path
  6. Self Esteem
  7. Stay Focused
  8. Stay Disciplined
  9. Have Faith

Within 3 years, Alfredo made a remarkable recovery and proved that even the most difficult obstacles can be overcome.

Afterward, he traveled to Brazil and began working with a large IT company in Brazil. And while it was a new start, he had to prove himself again. Through BNI, he was able to do so.

Alfredo found an open chapter and began living the #GiversGain philosophy. Ultimately his business grew, and he was able to reestablish himself, and his dream, of becoming a successful business executive.

Alfredo’s story is one of perseverance, and he wanted to share it, and inspire others. He joined BNI fulltime as Executive Director and now embodies 3+1 by telling stories that will have an impact around the world. 

You Know An Expert! Passing Referrals to the Most Experienced

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Robby Slaughter of the BNI Ripple Effect chapter from Indianapolis, Indiana

There are countless ways to give a good referral. But one amazing technique is to ask whether or not the person is looking for an expert.  Members of the BNI Ripple Effect chapter in the Central Indiana Region have a few words to say about their industries.

Dan Vernon, chapter President and the General Manager at Green Arbor Tree Experts, is no stranger to his customers making the mistake of hiring someone less experienced. “Besides the obvious—jobs not being completed, not meeting deadlines, quality of the work, and more money spent on correcting mistakes—in my industry there is far more on the line. The greatest danger is to human life. According to the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) there were 126 reported tree care accidents with 81 of those being fatal in the U.S. in 2014. So, being an expert goes far beyond knowledge of trees but also how to properly take care of them and the people working on them. Proper safety practices, safety training, and Personal Protection Equipment do not come cheap and the non-expert usually finds these things as unnecessary.  At Green Arbor, our team members are employees, and we educate them on proper pruning techniques, provider worker’s comp, health insurance, and other benefits. A true expert cares about their craft—and their team!”

Beverly Johnson, owner and CEO of At Home Health Services, knows something about the topic of expertise. Her company provides skilled caregivers to people in need and has over 100 certified and licensed employees. But it didn’t start out that way. “In 2003, my parents were both ill. My sister and I struggled to make the difficult decision to place them into a nursing home. But in 2006, I attended a business planning workshop and realized that I could offer this service directly. I opened my business in 2008, helping to take care of my own parents and a few other people.”

“Having the personal experience of working as a caregiver to the individuals most important to me had a profound influence on my business. I credit my success to the Lord who took me, an ordinary person, and enabled me to build my business on the backs of me and my husband. Having worked personally as a caregiver means that I know what means to teach our people to provide support to your loved ones.”

“Insurance is a commodity—until you need to use it,” explains Elizabeth Marshall of State Farm Insurance, a 10-year member of BNI and a founding member of BNI Ripple Effect. “You can get an online quote for your auto insurance but most consumers are not aware that 25/50/10 means that they are legal to drive and they have insurance, but if they were to be in an at-fault accident the maximum the policy would pay on their behalf would be $25,000.  This puts the remainder of their assets and income at risk for possible recovery by an injury attorney for the other party.  Seek out an insurance professional that will review your policy with you so you are sure to have the proper coverage in the event of a claim.”

Michael Dickerson of Dickerson Wealth Advisers is in the business of being a financial expert. He is a Certified Financial Planner as well as a fixture at BNI Ripple Effect. He notes that: “Recent Vanguard research shows that your advisor not only adds peace of mind, but also may add about 3 percentage points of value in net portfolio returns over time. What does this mean? Your advisor has the ability and the time to evaluate your portfolio investments, meet with you to discuss objectives, and help get you through tough markets. All of these factored together potentially add value to your net returns (returns after taxes and fees) over time.”

Paul D’Andrea, professional photographer, is new to BNI but not to his business. “Every profession has its subtle challenges that are completely missed by the layman. As a commercial corporate photographer I’ve made thousands of business portraits and headshots. I’ve read blog posts and books, watched videos, and attended classes on portrait lighting, posing, and post production. Portrait photography has many subtle challenges: Lights need to be at just the right angle and power, subjects’ head position, pose, and expression need to be directed just so. In Photoshop color, contrast, and saturation need to be just right, and the touch up work needs to make someone look great but not go too far. Then there’s the intent of the portrait, what are we trying to portray? What in a portrait will communicate a confident lawyer, a concerned, competent doctor, a fun-loving tech startup?

These days when we need repair work done at home we call a pro, someone who knows how to tackle those hidden challenges. Professionals have all worked to see and account for the subtle problems in our fields, we’re prepared for the pitfalls laypeople will miss.”

Robby Slaughter, a Principal with AccelaWork, offers his professional speakers to a variety of audiences. “The difference between an amateur and an expert speaker is poise and comfort,” says Robby. “Our presenters don’t get stage fright. They don’t stammer. They impress your audience and by association, make you look good.”

Are your chapter members experts? If they are, PROMOTE THEM, spread the word to help find them referrals!

 

The Ripple Effect chapter from Indianapolis, Indiana, celebrated their ten-year anniversary last year. They are 31 members strong and growing.  Visit them online at http://bni-indiana.com/in-central-ripple-effect/

 

 

  

BNI 212’s Musical Countdown of Goals

Posted on by BNI Global

Originally submitted by Soteria Mallard of BNI 212 and Tom Fleming of the West Central Florida Area 

BNI is known to have members who love to make a dramatic splash during their weekly presentation. It’s a staple of the organization. But when a chapter does it as a whole, that’s taking it to a new level!

That happened recently in the West Central Florida area, as Chapter BNI 212 of Gainesville, Fl wanted to find a creative way to introduce their goals over the next six months. Instead of a simple list of objectives, the Chapter had their members come on stage and speak to their Success Drivers through song. As a way to add even more flair to this rollout, they incorporated the popular American and internationally syndicated‚ American Top 40, as the theme. They even had a special guest come on stage to play former host, Casy Kasem.

As they counted down their Success Drivers through song, those presenting #1 blew everyone away. As the chapter regularly meets at a venue in a place called Haile Village, they appropriately dressed as the Village People, came on stage and danced to YMCA. Not the original song however, this was a special rendition produced by a number of BNI 212’s members.

Take a listen for yourself: https://soundcloud.com/christopher-floyd/bni212_1/s-8QI3x

This is a perfect example of taking something familiar, and using it to represent BNI in a fun and relatable manner. Hats off to BNI 212 for their creativity and willingness to be so invested in actualizing their goals!

Special recognition to the talented members of BNI 212 who were involved with this production. This goes to show the power of teamwork.

Coordintor: Soteria Mallard

Vocals: Charlie Delatorre and Chris Floyd

Lyrics: Tammi Wait, Amber Miller, Chancey Padgett and Chris Floyd

Production: Chris Floyd

Graphics: April Schroeder

Stage Characters/Presenters: Kristin Kozelsky, Stephanie Hall, Tammi Wait & Eric Vallerand

Village People: Mike Davis (the Cop), Daniel Schmidt (the Indian), Charlie Delatorre (the Cowboy), Chancey Padgett (the Construction Worker), Brian Livinston (Military) and Chris Rios (the Biker)

I Want Referrals and I Want Them Now!

Posted on by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.

So, you want referrals and you want them now?  Well, you can’t have them – unless, you’ve built meaningful relationships with your referral partners first. I’m often asked, “How long does it take for people to receive referrals from their network and how do we speed this process up?”

Building a referral-based business is all about building a powerful, personal network.  If your network is a mile wide and an inch deep, you will never get the kind of referrals that will make a difference for your business.  This means that you have to go deep in building a number of strong relationships.

From my experience, strong referral relationships are a lot like building close personal friendships. Facebook has redefined what a “friend” is but I’m talking about truly close friendships with people.  In a study published in 2018 by the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, it was found that it takes about 50 hours of interaction to move from being an acquaintance to becoming a “casual friend.”  It takes a total of 90 hours to be become “real friends,” and a total of 200 hours to become “close friends.”  According to the study, “friendship status was examined as a function of hours together, shared activities, and everyday talk.”

So, how long does it take for people to build a close relationship where they trust you enough to give you regular referrals?  Well, somewhere between 90 and 200 hours sounds about right to me.

I know that sounds like a lot but that matches up almost perfectly with what I’ve seen in BNI (the referral marketing organization I founded in 1985).  When BNI members hit the 90-hour mark of participation they almost always begin receiving more and more referrals.  Based on an independent study published in 2012 for BNI, when those same individuals cross the 200-hour mark, they generate an average of over 5 times the number of referrals they did in their first year!  Yes, you read that right – more than 500% more referrals when they have built strong friendships with their referral partners.

The best way to speed up the process – is to actually spend time in the process of developing relationships with the people you are networking with. Networking truly is more about farming than it is about hunting.  It is about building relationships and friendships with other business professionals.

It’s important to note that there’s a confidence curve you have to negotiate before trying to do business with someone. If you take that curve too fast, you’ll flip your reputation and end up in a very awkward position.

When it comes to getting referrals from your network, confidence is a vital component—not your confidence, but the confidence your fellow network members have in you. None of them wants to risk their personal reputation by referring business, information, or contacts to a stranger. Even though you may have known many of your fellow networkers for some time, until they’ve gained a certain level of confidence that referring contacts to you will not harm their reputation with their clients, associates, friends, or family, you’re still a referral stranger.

What exactly is this level of confidence? The time-confidence curve shown here (from my book, Networking Like a Pro) illustrates the dynamics of the process. Your success in getting referrals depends partly on your competence, of course, but also on how far up the confidence curve the referrer’s confidence in you has progressed. If you are at point A in the relationship, you’re just starting. If you’re at point B in the relationship, you’ve known each other for a while, but you still haven’t quite achieved the necessary confidence level with this person to get a referral from her. When you reach point C, she’ll feel comfortable recommending you to friends.

One way to help expedite this process is to do periodic one-to-one’s with people and go deeper in knowing how to refer them as well as teach them how to refer you.

It’s not always easy to know how far you’ve progressed up your confidence curve. Many networkers spend a lot of time and effort trying to build others’ confidence in them, then on the brink of success, grow discouraged and stop attending meetings. How would you feel if someone found you a terrific referral about two weeks after you dropped out of sight?

Here’s what you can do to gain perspective on your efforts and the results they are producing. Ask yourself the following four questions, and keep asking them over and over until you have attained success and the answers become obvious.

1. Am I being realistic about the time it will take, in my profession, to gain the critical level of confidence?

2. Am I regularly making stimulating, educational presentations to my fellow networkers about the value I provide to my clients?

3. Am I doing business with others in my network so I can give them dynamic testimonials and steer business to them in hopes they will return the favor?

4. Am I meeting regularly with my networking colleagues to learn about their businesses so I can confidently refer my contacts to them?

If you’re following these simple tactics, then you are well along the road to getting all the referrals from others’ networks that you deserve.

Remember, it takes time to build friendships, unless you’re in Kindergarten, then you can do it in about 5 minutes.

Called the “father of modern networking” by CNN, Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author.  He is also the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of BNI (www.bni.com), the world’s largest business networking organization.  His new book, Networking for Success (2nd Edition),  is available at bookstores and at Amazon.com.

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