The Unexpected Benefit of Networking

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by David Kauffman, BNI Foundation Vice Chair

We know that networking is about farming, not hunting. It is about planting seeds for the future. Think about all those people you know through contacts at work, the gym, your religious affiliation, neighbors and networking groups. You most likely know many more people than you realize. These people are all seeds. What have you done with all those connections, all those seeds? How many people could you help by harvesting these relationships, thereby utilizing what you have grown?

Recently I was informed that Horizon House Shelters put out a call for coats for elementary school age children living in their shelters as the weather turned colder. How could I help them? Yes, I could pass the hat around at my chapter again, but that gets old after a while. Those who want to give will do so without being asked. So, I thought about those seeds, those connections I have grown over the years and put the word out. I was informed of a group of auto dealers who buy a few thousand new coats to be given to organizations who needed them. As it turns out, I know the person who heads up this drive at the local YMCA.  A phone call later and we had 160 brand new coats in the correct sizes! This is harvesting the seeds for the unexpected benefit of networking. This is how Business Voices works; find a need and solve the problem.

Business Voices teams can best be described by the phrase “boots on the ground”.  Support looks different depending on what the schools or educational organizations identify as their greatest challenges. In some communities, poverty is one of the top challenges. Children need food to eat, coats, socks, and basic school supplies. As we head into the holiday season we should use our connections to help the children in our local communities. Each area has different needs. That is why we recommend listening to what the schools, teachers, and even the students, identify as their unique challenges. If you are a member of a Business Voices team, thank you. If you are helping children on your own, let us help you start a team. Wherever there are young people in need, they will benefit from having us in their stories.

We call this cause networking — and who better to lead the way with cause networking than the world’s largest, most successful networking organization?

Tell Us About Your Business Voices Efforts

You organized the team, did the work and put together a great project to help students in your community. Now let us shine a light on your efforts. By completing the Business Voices monthly form, you will inspire others by letting the world know what your team is doing. Send us photos, videos and details of your event so we can highlight it on our website and social media.

If you are helping children and your chapter or region does not yet have a team, we want to hear from you.

You can find the form here. You can also visit our site to learn about past Business Voices successes.

Matamata Chapter of BNI New Zealand welcomes their Prime Minister

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by BNI New Zealand National Director, Graham Southwell

Matamata BNI welcomes PM, Jacinda Ardern

Committed to helping members grow in business through structured, positive, and professional referral marketing, Matamata Chapter of BNI (Business Network International) are always looking at initiatives that further inspire commitment to customers or clients, but also ensure the longevity and success of local business.

One of the initiatives of late has been periodically introducing guest speakers that offer unique and informative key messages, and have included a number of high profile locals in the business world. This was taken a gigantic step further recently with an invitation to New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.

Delighted to take up the opportunity, particularly as a past colleague of Shed Surf, Skate and Streetwear owner/operator and BNI Events Coordinator Sonya Church, Jacinda confirmed her attendance and locked in a day with the locals.

Jacinda received a warm welcome by Matamata BNI President, Dave Harris before each of the chapter members introduced themselves and their respective businesses.

“BNI’s core philosophy is Givers Gain” explained Dave. “And with 97% of businesses being classed as SME, we are typical New Zealand business people. If you give business to the members of your chapter, they, in turn, will give business of their own and their wider network of associates. Here in New Zealand there are 115 BNI chapters and 2,700 members who passed $80 million in closed business in 2017. For most of this year the Matamata Chapter has been number one in New Zealand. We are all small business people and thought you would be interested in both our diverse membership and how we support each other in business in rural towns across the country.”

“In terms of what you’re doing here as small business owners and operators, growing up in Morrinsville gave me an appreciation of the fact that our businesses in our smaller towns are everything” replied Jacinda. “You’re not only business operators, but serve on boards and committees, donate to local organisations and school events, service clubs, and donate prizes to everything from speech competitions to sports events – you really are everything and I have a real appreciation for that.  So now, when I sit in the Beehive and think about small business policy, or regional growth and how we can make it a little easier, those are the things I think about – I think about home. This morning has been a wonderful opportunity for me and I thank you all so much for hosting me.”

In reply, Dave thanked Jacinda for coming. ”The door of Matamata is always open should you wish to visit” he said.  “We would all like to wish you all the best for your role as Prime Minister and trust that you will have a wonderful, no pressure day while here in Matamata.”

Reliability Through Reputation

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Cathi Dhal, President of Friends in Business Chapter and Sally Waxman, Member of Friends in Business Chapter

The beauty of BNI’s Core Values is that our Members often embody them in their everyday lives. These values, carefully determined over the course of BNI’s 30+ years, help guide Members to become effective and reliable networkers. They also help explain why Members share a common understanding and passion for wanting to help one another.

Our Members know that they can rely upon each other. They have the ability to reach beyond their chapters; to tap into a network of over 240,000 individuals across the globe. And because of a reputation of reliability that is consistently upheld, asking for help is never difficult.

Sally Waxman, of Cincinnati, Ohio’s Friends in Business Chapter, recently reinforced this notion when she contacted a regional office for help with a job she was contracted for. See below to read her story.

Testimonial of Sally Waxman

‘Recently, I took a job for a client in Tampa, Florida for whom I had designed two other homes. As the home was 10-years old, the client wanted new carpet, hardwood, paint throughout and motorized window shades as well as other window treatments. They client also requested that I provide new furniture for the home, which was quite the task.

Having worked on several other residences in the Tampa Bay area I had previously worked with local BNI members. Specifically, I found a member representing a moving and storage company that could receive and deliver new furniture. In addition, I was also able to find a member with a drapery workroom that could fabricate and install the shades and treatments I designed. That experience several years ago went perfectly and I renewed contact with both of those companies.

In need of different services, I called the Tampa Bay area Office of BNI for potential contacts. Fortunately, two ladies who were there provided information on two paint contractors and flooring companies. Due to the reliability of the BNI network, I contacted these Members to discuss their services. Their excitement was noticeable and they ultimately scheduled appointments at the residence so that they could secure the bids.   

I may not have known these folks well but I immediately felt I liked and could trust them. Their demeanor was professional and they both let me know that they valued their BNI affiliation and had each held leadership positions.

Two of the contractors were selected by my client and the revenue generated from these new referrals was in excess of $25,000. The revenue to the drapery fabricator for the second time use exceeded $30,000.

Although the BNI recording system makes it tricky to log these referrals because they are out of state, the value is clear. I was able to connect with reputable people I could trust over 1,000 miles from my home base.

My client thinks I’m a hero.

I think I can safely say without the assistance of these vendors and BNI, that title would not have been appropriate or possible!’

Sally Waxman, Designer

Persimmon Lane Interiors

Friends in Business Chapter BNI SWONKY

Defining a Difference

Posted on by BNI Global

What is the BNI Foundation vs Business Voices Teams

Submitted by David Kauffman Vice Chair BNI Foundation

I am often asked what is the difference between the BNI Foundation and the Business Voices Teams? The BNI Foundation is helping to change lives by improving circumstances for children facing financial instability that negatively affect their educational opportunities. We support initiatives that provide resources to educators and organizations that make success easier for kids, either by removing barriers or by providing incentives for focusing on studies. For us, the mechanism to help with this shift is investing our time, treasure, and talent to assist in education where we can. We do this through our Givers Gain® Grant Program and through our Business Voices Teams.

Business voices teams can best be described by the phrase “boots on the ground”.  Support looks different depending on what the schools or educational organizations identify as their greatest challenges. In some communities, poverty is one of the top challenges. Kids need food to eat or socks and underwear to wear! In other communities it may be bullying, eating disorders, or alcohol use. Sometimes it is staffing career days or mentoring students. Other times it can be as simple as reading to the young students. That is why we recommend listening to what the schools, teachers, and even the students, identify as their unique challenges. Wherever there are young people, there are ways they will benefit from having us in their stories.

We call this work cause networking — and who better to lead the way with cause networking than the world’s largest, most successful networking organization?

Tell Us About Your Business Voices Efforts

You organized the team, did the work and put together a great project to help students in your community. Now let us shine a light on your efforts. By completing the Business Voices monthly form, you will inspire others by letting the world know what your team is doing. Send us photos, videos and details of your event so we can highlight it on our website and social media.

You can find the form here. You can also visit our site to learn about past Business Voices successes.

BNI Foundation at the 2018 Global Convention

The BNI Foundation will be there, continuing its mission to help students and schools around the world. Stay tuned to our website, bnifoundation.org, for more information about BNI Foundation activities at the 2018 Global Convention.

I Talked Too Much in Class

Posted on by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.

When I was in elementary school, I generally received good reports from my teachers.  However, one thing that came up time, and time again was a comment by almost all of my teachers: “Ivan “talks too much in class.”

My mother had numerous conversations with me about this, but to no avail.  I figure that she thought my grades were pretty good and she generally liked to pick and choose her battles on issues. Consequently, she didn’t really push the matter, and so… I talked and talked and talked in class.  It showed up on many of my report cards.  My teachers felt that it was a problem for me in school.  My mother, on the other hand, didn’t give me much grief on the subject.

While the teachers definitely felt that it was a roadblock to my learning, I think they may have been wrong on that.  What my teachers saw as a problem ended up becoming an incredible asset.  I talk.  I talk a lot.  I talk to individuals, small groups, middle size groups, large groups, and massive groups.  Any way you cut it – I’m a talker.  My job today is to talk to people.  In fact, I get paid to talk.  I get paid a crazy number to talk to companies, associations, and organizations.  I love to share ideas with people, I love to coach people, and most of all I love to inspire people.  And to do that – I talk.

Over the years, I’ve learned that often times, “what is in the way, becomes the way.”   My talking too much in class was thought of as a roadblock by my teachers.  Candidly, at one point, they almost had me convinced that it was a problem.  My mother – well, not so much.  She didn’t see my talking as such a big issue, and that gave me the freedom to be myself.  True, I had to tone it down a bit – but it wasn’t drummed out of me. I am grateful for that because, despite the fact that some people thought that talking was blocking my way, the truth is – it would eventually become “the way” for my life.

In 1985, I had a massive thing in my way.  I lost a client and could hardly pay the mortgage on my new home.  That was a pretty big thing for me to have in my way.  I desperately needed more business so I started a small referral group to help my friends and to help myself generate referrals in a structured way.  The solution to the problem that was in my way ended up becoming a global enterprise with thousands of groups in dozens of countries around the world called BNI.

Successful people understand that many times, “what is in the way, becomes the way.”  The key is to channel your efforts to focus on the roadblock and make it an overpass.

Some of us do this unconsciously.  However, imagine how impactful this paradigm could be if we were more conscious of it at work in our lives.  I would encourage you to take a moment to think about something you were told was “in the way” as part of your life?  Has it “become the way” for you and if so, how?  For me – one of the first things in my life that was in the way was that I talked too much in class.  Looking back, I’d have to say it worked out pretty well.

View Dr. Misner’s Podcast on how “What’s in the Way, Becomes the Way”.

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.

Want to Help Turbo-Charge the BNI? brand?

Posted on by BNI Global

Want to Help Turbo-Charge the BNI? brand?

In the last year, BNI? Members have helped each other generate over USD $14,000,000,000 (that?s billion with a ?B?) in closed business. That a lot of business. But we?re just getting started. We?re passionate about helping you achieve more than you ever thought possible.

We know many of you put the BNI? logo on your websites and on your business cards. As long as you?re a current BNI? Member in good standing, we love this and encourage it. And to help the BNI? brand mean even more to your existing and prospective clients, we?re launching a new initiative to refresh and strengthen the BNI? brand.

Are you a current BNI? Member who runs an exceptional marketing firm that is experienced in turbo-charging brands? If so, we want to hear from you! Please email the marketing team at marketing@bni.com with a) a brief description of your firm including a website link; b) how long you?ve been in BNI? and the roles you?ve played in the organization; and c) a brief paragraph explaining your interest in helping to turbo-charge the BNI? brand.

A Practical Litmus Test for Givers Gain?

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted By: Chris Ray, BNI??Cherry City Professionals Salem, OR

The philosophy of Givers Gain??is one that is central to BNI, and a Core Principle that all members agree to uphold.? To many members, however, this principle is little more than an ambiguous idea.? They know it has something to do with ?not being selfish? and ?giving referrals,? but they struggle to articulate precisely what it means and to know whether or not they are truly embodying the philosophy in their own lives.

What does Givers Gain? mean?

In the book Givers Gain- The BNI Story, Ivan Misner writes that ?the central guiding philosophy of BNI has always been the concept of giving benefit to others? (p. 84).? In his 2013 article, ?Givers Gain? Is a Standard, Not a Sword,? he expounds on what Givers Gain? really means:

Givers Gain? is a philosophy based on the law of reciprocity.? In the context of networking groups, people who adopt this philosophy dedicate themselves to giving business to their fellow networkers rather than making their foremost concern getting business for themselves.? In doing so, other people naturally become eager to repay their kindness by sending them business in return.[1]

As BNI members, we commit to uphold the values and traditions of BNI, including Givers Gain?. ?But how do we know if we are being successful?? How do we know if we are practicing what we preach, and actually executing on Givers Gain? in our networking activities? ?This article contends that there is a litmus test for Givers Gain? already in place that can give us a real measurement of how committed we are to the Givers Gain? philosophy.? This litmus test is commonly referred to as The Power of One and is reflected in the Member Traffic Lights report.

Measuring Commitment to Givers Gain?

The Power of One concept, and the metrics on the Member Traffic Lights Report, call for:

  • 1 Meeting per member per week
  • 1 Referral per member per week
  • 1 One-to-One per member per week
  • 1 Visitor per member per month
  • 1 Chapter Education Unit (CEU) per member per week

As will be explained below, the metrics on the Traffic Lights report are direct indicators on a member?s commitment to the Givers Gain? philosophy.? To the extent that members embrace Givers Gain?, their score on the Member Traffic Lights report will improve, chapters will become more successful, and their Thank You For Closed Business will increase.

Attendance (1 meeting per week)

When a member attends a meeting, they are not only fulfilling the covenant they made when they joined BNI, but they are giving something to their fellow members ? their time.? If the Givers Gain? philosophy is one of dedication to giving business to fellow networkers, then attendance at the weekly meeting is critical to success.? It is here that members get to know one another and gain credibility through clearly articulating what makes a good referral for their business.? The member?s time, then, is given to their referral partners so that he/she may learn more about how to give them business.? As members embrace this, they gain from their fellow members? commitment to the same principle.

If a member is not in good standing concerning attendance, this may indicate a lack of understanding of, or commitment to, the Givers Gain? philosophy.

Referrals (1 referral per week)

When a member gives a quality referral to another member, they are fulfilling the core purpose of BNI and of the Givers Gain? philosophy.? In giving a referral, the member not only gives business, but also gives their trust to the member gaining the referral.? The giving member is trusting the gaining member to treat the referral with respect and to follow through on their commitments.? The referral, then, represents the giving both of business and trust, and represents a willingness to work on behalf of a fellow member to further their success.? As members give quality referrals, they demonstrate their commitment, and they also gain credibility in the eyes of their fellow members, making it easier to gain them referrals.

If a member does not give an average of a referral per week, this may indicate a lack of understanding of, or commitment to, the Givers Gain? philosophy.

One-to-ones (1 One-to-one per week)

When a member has a One-to-one with another member, they are giving their time and expertise for the purpose of growing their partner?s business.? This investment into the referral relationship is a critical piece of helping to contribute to their networking partner?s success.? While the weekly presentations are an important method of learning about a referral partner?s business, they alone are insufficient to build a relationship.? The primary venue for building the deep relationships necessary for success is the one-to-one.? As members give one another their attention, and give one another their time, they make a valuable investment, gaining familiarity, credibility, and relationships that are critical to success.

If a member does not participate in a one-to-one each week, this may indicate a lack of understanding of, or commitment to, the Givers Gain? philosophy.

Visitors (1 visitor per month)

When a member brings a visitor, they are giving to their fellow members, and they are giving to the visitor.? On average, a visitor brings about $1000 of business to a chapter.? If this visitor joins, then the benefit to the chapter is far greater.? By bringing a visitor, then, the member is giving business to their fellow members, giving them a wider audience for their message, and giving them a potential referral partner.? The inviting member then gains credibility with the other members of their chapter because they are actively working to grow their partners? networks.? Additionally, the member who brings a visitor gives the visitor an opportunity to expand their network, and gains credibility with the visitor and their networking partners.? The growing of a chapter through visitors, the business visitors bring, and the increased visibility having visitors offers to one?s fellow members is an important piece of a chapter?s success.

If a member does not bring a visitor a month, this may indicate a lack of understanding of, or commitment to, the Givers Gain? philosophy.

CEUs (1 CEU per week)

If one has made a commitment to be a networking partner, it stands to reason that they would want to be the best networker they could be.? When a member educates themselves on being a better networker, or better BNI member, they give their time and energy for the sake of those they network with.? As a member learns to network more effectively, they gain credibility in all their networks, and they can leverage that credibility to give more and better referrals, encourage others to be part of BNI, and build goodwill in the professional communities they are a part of.

If a member does not educate themselves with at least one CEU per week, this may indicate a lack of understanding of, or commitment to, the Givers Gain? philosophy.

Conclusion

BNI members commit to the Givers Gain? philosophy, whereby they work to give business to their fellow networkers, trusting in the principle of reciprocity for the growth of their own business.? By measuring members? giving of their time through meeting attendance and one-to-ones, their trust through referrals, their commitment to chapter growth through inviting visitors, and their commitment to personal growth through CEUs, the Traffic Lights report serves as a litmus test for whether a member is committed to the Givers Gain? philosophy.

Chris Ray is Business Development Officer for Willamette Community Bank, and Mentor Coordinator for the Cherry City Professionals BNI chapter in Salem, Oregon. He has a diverse business background, including banking, consumer electronics and sale training. Chris is a Board Member for The Salvation Army of Marion and Polk Counties, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership from Liberty University.

Chris Ray

BNI Cherry City Professionals
Salem, OR

503-798-2978

[1] http://ivanmisner.com/givers-gain-is-a-standard-not-a-sword/

Body Language When Networking

Posted on by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.

Body language can be a powerful attractant or deterrent when it comes to building relationships with others. People assess you visually within the first few minutes of meeting you.  I’ve been asked a lot about body language by the media over the years.  Here are some of their questions along with my answers relating to the use of body language in networking environments.

  • What can you do to increase your confidence? To come off as warm or friendly or knowledgeable to others?
  • What is the latest reputable science saying about hand gestures and how they effect the way we’re perceived by other people?
  • We’ve been hearing about how the so-called “Power Pose” or “Superman Pose” (hands on hips) may not be as effective as research initially showed – is that true? Are there other poses that increase confidence?
  • Personal space is sometimes an issue.  How close should you stand to people when you are talking to them?

People over-think this issue.  The answer is pretty straight forward – be more “interested” than “interesting.”   When you are meeting people, practice being an interested interviewer and an active listener.  Learn about them and during the process make sure that your facial expressions match that interest.  Don’t look bored – look engaged.   You can do that with a smile, appropriate reaction to a comment, or a few nods (but not like a bobble head doll).  Also, use your eyebrows to show your reaction to comments.  Do this in an authentic way.  If you really show interest in other people, you will be amazed at some of the stories you hear and people you meet.  You will also make a great impression on these individuals.  All of these things will help to make you look warm, friendly, and confident.

In a study done by Holler and Beatie they found that gestures increase the value of someone’s message by 60%!  They analyzed thousands of hours of TED talks and found one striking pattern.  The most watched TED Talks were done by people who used effective hand gestures.

Specifically, they analyzed the top and bottom Ted Talks and found that the least popular TED Talks used an average of 272 hand gestures during the 18-minute talk and the most popular TED Talks used an average of 465 hand gestures during their talk – or almost double! 

Remember that hand gestures are good when talking to someone but don’t turn it into “jazz hands” where your hands never stop waiving!  Be purposeful with your gestures.

Also, when doing certain hand gestures, make sure to do them from the listener’s perspective not yours.  For example, if you are talking about the growth of a business, you might naturally do a hand gesture going from your lower left to your upper right.  That looks like growth from your perspective but it would be the opposite from the listener’s perspective.  The same goes regarding a time-line.  For you, the start of a project would be on your left and the end of the project would be to your right.  However, for the listener, your hand gesture should be flipped so that the gesture you are making supports the point you are sharing according to the other person’s perspective.  This is a very subtle technique that can really help in your discussions with people.

The “Power Pose” is great if you are Wonder Woman or Superman.  For mere mortals – not so much.  It just looks theatrical.  Power Posing is a discredited theory of psychology that was based on a 2010 study that has even been refuted by one of the original authors of the paper.

Instead of “striking a pose” be your best self.  Don’t hunch over or look like a wall-flower, don’t cross your arms, and above all – maintain good eye contact.  Don’t be looking around the room as you are talking to people.  It makes them feel like you don’t care about them.  Remember, be interested and look interested when you are talking to someone.

The study of proxemics has an application to personal space in a conversation.  Personal space varies by culture however, generally speaking, in North American cultures personal space is roughly “arms-length” away.  Don’t get in someone’s space unless you have a relationship with them that would justify that.  Don’t make people feel uncomfortable by standing too close.  In this day and age – that is particularly important with the opposite gender.

Body language in networking environments can be very important.  Keep the above points in mind.  Be comfortable and authentic while not trying to overthink the issue.  The key is to practice, practice, practice and observe reactions over time.

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.

2018 Global Convention – Important Reminders

Posted on by BNI Global

BNI’s Global Convention 2018 is just over two months away! As we prepare for the 2018 Global Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, we’ve summarized important details for your reference.

Registration

We are on pace to make this our largest convention yet. If you plan on attending and haven’t registered, please register.

Keynote Speaker

This year, we’re excited and honored to host Steve Farber. as our Keynote Speaker. As a Wall Street Journal best-selling author of one of the Top 100 Best Business Books of All Time, Steve was named Huffington Post’s #1 Speaker to Watch in 2017. Steve’s focus on leadership development, promoting strong team cultures, and driving business growth will help all of our attendees super-charge their business operations.

Please read his bio, and view his introduction video below.

Important Notes to Remember

Please review the details below, including all you need to know about this year’s event, which is all about building A New World of Opportunity:

  1. #BNIGC18 More Networking – More Sessions: The Members’ Event at Global Convention will start on Wednesday morning, 7 November and run through Thursday afternoon, 8 November. Each day, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to attend networking sessions, presentations and discussions.
  2. Global Connectivity Sessions: Join the “Local Business, Global Network” session to meet directors from other BNI countries or the New Business Matching session to promote your business! For more exposure, get one of the last remaining trade show booths or check out sponsorship opportunities.
  3. A Visa to Enter Thailand: Review this overview closely to see the visa specifications for your country. We’ve also sent a special visa invitation letter to each attendee should you need it.
  4. A Trip of A Lifetime: Local BNI travel specialists can help you with team activities in Bangkok or book a range of additional excursions for you before or after Convention. Activities for spouses and families are also available during Convention.

Thousands of BNI leaders have already registered for BNI’s 2018 Global Convention. #BNIGC18 is guaranteed to bring you more connections, more business and more opportunity. See you this November!

Beth Misner Awarded for Philanthropic Work

Posted on by BNI Global

Beth Misner Awarded for Philanthropic Work

One of the BNI Foundation’s founders has been recognized by the Austin Child Guidance Center for her dedication to children in the Austin Community. On August 18, at the 7th Annual Austin Originals Benefit Concert, Beth Misner was awarded the Community Activist Phyllis Richards Austin Icon for Children Award. The award is presented each year to recognize an individual for their contributions to, and engagement with, the community, which have resulted in positive changes for Austin’s children.

Beth Misner and her husband, BNI founder, Ivan Misner founded the BNI Foundation 20 years ago to support students, schools and educational organizations around the world. We extend a proud congratulation to Mrs. Misner on this prestigious award given in recognition of her volunteerism and philanthropic spirit.

Opened in 1951, the Austin Child Guidance Center works to improve the mental health of children and their families by providing early intervention, diagnosis and treatment. In the decades since it’s establishment, The Austin Child Guidance Center has provided treatment to more than 140,000 children and families.

The BNI Foundation is your foundation. Visit the BNI Foundation website to learn about getting involved. 

A Blessing Through Givers Gain?

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted By: Barb Lynch, BNI??Success Partners, Northeast Florida?

There is a section on our One-to-One forms that the first time I read it, I thought why is this important? And that is, ?Something you didn?t know about_____________?.? Over the years, several of the ?Something I didn?t know about ______? have been funny and surprising!? Recently, I heard a ?Something you didn?t know about me? that truly inspired me and challenged me to give more of myself!

David Simpson is a member of my chapter ? Success Partners, NE Florida region, holding the supplement health seat, offering a wonderful product ZEAL. ?It was during his Showcase Presentation that I learned that he and his wife are foster parents and have been for years.? Then the next week, he and his family were featured on the front page of our local newspaper ? The St. Augustine Record ? ?Foster Care families share why they do what they do?.? I know it is very important to understand your ?WHY?, but I have come to realize the ?WHO?, is just as important.? Getting to know the ?Who?, Dave Simpson has now caused me to be his champion and his referral partner.? His ?Givers Gain?? lifestyle is more than just words.? Below please find excerpts from the frontpage article.? His ?Givers Gain? core value has sowed many a seed of blessings.? His garden is full.

St. Augustine Record ? August 20, 2018 By Coleen Michele Jones

No matter what else happened, Katie and David Simpson wanted to provide a stable environment ? if a temporary one ? for Cathan, who they took into their home as an unsure 6-year old almost a decade ago.

The rest of the pieces would fall into place somehow, they told themselves.? How Cathan might take to them, whether he?d eventually be reunited with his natural family – Or if he even wanted to make this his permanent home.

The Simpson?s – if they had anything to do with it, this would be Cathan?s last stop in what for many other children in the foster care system is a revolving door of placements and removals.

Over the last eight years, the Simpsons have fostered five children and adopted all five: Cathan, Erica, Logan, Brandon and Taliah ? four of whom are still living in their home ? something the couple said has been the plan all along.

Has it been tough? ?Sure?, responded David, ?but I figure if it?s tough for us, it?s got to be twice as hard on them.??

Nine-year-old Logan said he doesn?t miss his ?old life?.? ?If I make a mistake, people don?t abuse me?, he said as he lay in his father?s arms.? ?So, I feel safe?.

Nothing compares in life to that of a child feeling safe.

How has BNI Changed your Life?? – A Unique Opportunity for You

Posted on by BNI Global

This November you and your business could be featured at the BNI 2018 Global Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as your story being featured on BNI?s website and social media channels.

Tell us how BNI has impacted your life or your business and you could be one of the lucky people to share your story on the stage of the Global Convention.

In order to participate, you will need to send us:

  • A :45 second video describing your personal success story with BNI
    • Please film in landscape
    • Please end the film by saying ?BNI is a new World of Opportunity?
    • If you film in your native language, please transcribe in English
  • A brief description of your role with BNI, length of time with the organization, and profession

To participate, please click here.

*In order to present your story at Global Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, you must be a registered attendee. If you do not plan on attending, your video submission still may be selected to be?shown during Convention.

As an introduction, below is our first submission from Morgan Stephenson. Be sure to check out his video as well.

Morgan Stephenson, of Tyne Bridge Chapter in BNI UK, joined BNI in order to pursue and advance his career as a filmmaker. Now his dream is starting to come true.

When commissioned by a Government funded national enforcement agency, the Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT), to create a short film, Morgan was able to gain incredible support from BNI members to help with production. IMLT is the only organization in the UK to focus solely on tracking, arresting and prosecuting loan sharks. To date, they?ve helped over 27,000 victims, they?ve written off more than ?78m of debt and taken over 380 loan sharks off the streets.?

With a limited budget, Morgan?s BNI network, in particular Jonathan Sharp (Sky Drone) and Alan Helm (ANH Digital), were able to assist with production needs such as aerial shots and audio recording. Morgan was even able to shoot 50% of the film in their BNI venue, free of charge.? Over three days, they transformed the 100-year-old, Grade II listed Town Hall into a police station and a general hospital.??

Once completed, the BNI community pulled together and premiered the film to 260 individuals at Newcastle?s iconic Tyneside Cinema. Fellow BNI member Keith Newman (Highlights PR) was able to position the film on the front page of every local entertainment paper, on BBC Radio, and ensure an exceptional social media presence.

With an incredibly grateful client and outright success, this event reverberated across Northeast England. On the back of the film Premiere, several local organizations have gone on to secure their own funding with IMLT.

Keith Newman was granted enough funding to support his community radio station for an entire year.? And Blowin’ a Hooley Theatre Company was granted funding to create a Panto to educate some of the most financially vulnerable families in the Northeast on the dangers of loan sharks.?

Morgan commented: ?For myself, this film, made possible by the power of BNI, led me to fulfill a lifelong goal of starting a credible film business, Tri-Hard films with BBC Scriptwriter Debbie Owen and Director Daymon Britton. Because of this, I now have a solid foundation from which I can build a reputation and cinematic portfolio around work that I truly adore. Fellow BNI members are even supporting us to secure funding towards the production of a feature film in 2020. And the best thing about it is that it relies on, and is giving back to, the community that helped build it in the first place.?

Video Testimonial & Short Film

Please view Morgan?s video here

To view the?IMLT’s short film, click here

Going International with BNI: Experience the BNI Global Power Team

Posted on by BNI Global

Have you ever tried to leverage the I of BNI? Is your business globally connected? Have you considered traveling to another country to meet other BNI members and conduct cross-border business?

The members of BNI’s first international chapter – BNI Global Power Team (GPT) – are here to tell you there’s an easy, fun and productive way to connect with BNI members worldwide. For more than 8 years, they’ve held online, international chapter meetings, connecting BNI members from all over the globe.

GPT was launched in 2010 by BNI members R. Mark Field (USA) and Michael Schwendemann (Germany). Mark and Claus D. Hagenhoff (GPT member since 2015 and now GPT President) recently spoke about the creation of GPT: 

Claus: Mark, what was your motivation to create the Global Power Team?

Mark:  The idea for a “global power team” arose in Winter 2009. Having joined BNI in 2008, I was reflecting on my experience in doing business internationally, and the scarcity of referrals that I had received from lawyers to whom I had referred business over the years. Assuming that their referral patterns were similar to mine in frequency and geographic dispersion, I reasoned that my relationships were growing stale before they had a need to refer clients to U.S. counsel. I also figured that they likely lacked sufficient information regarding the skills that I could bring to bear in comparison to international business attorneys in larger cities. This led me to wonder whether the BNI system would work internationally. Ultimately, I decided to find out. 

Claus: And how did you find interested people abroad before GPT was launched?

Mark:  I identified the first prospective member through the SuccessNet publication. That individual was Michael Schwendemann, a German contractor who handled international construction projects.  I emailed Michael and he was interested in the idea, so he assigned his English-speaking assistant to work with me. Armed with Michael’s support I refined my concept, discussed it with the BNI Global Support Team and was introduced to BNI members in Europe who might be able to help develop the group. After a little networking, I established a working group and held an initial meeting with 8 participants on May 10, 2010. It was very important to me to establish a team that could function independent of my leadership. It didn’t take us long to decide that the BNI chapter structure was well suited for this purpose and for providing structure to our meetings that worked well in a videoconference setting.

Claus: Can you briefly describe the first members and how you took the lead?

Mark: By June 2010 we had our initial slate of officers.  They were Mark Field – President; Samantha Rathling – Vice President; Alison Boardman – Education Coordinator; and Edward Prentice – Secretary.  We officially launched our power team and opened up the membership in August 2010 with 6 members [Mark Field (USA); Alison Boardman (Ireland); Ashraf Rahman (Dubai); Christiane Binder / Michael Schwendemann (Germany); Edward Prentice (UK); and Samantha Rathling (UK)].  We were greatly assisted in our task by distance learning expert Phillip Sparks (friend of Ashraf Rahman) who lent us the use of his videoconferencing subscription. 

Moshe Minin from Israel was one of our first recruits, joining sometime in August or September of 2010.  Aside from myself, two of our current members were early adopters of the BNI Global Power Team concept.  Ramu Vedaraman first visited in December 2010 and Mikhal Heffer in May 2011.  Martin Overbeck found us in 2012.  All went on to serve as president of our team and in various other capacities. They are among the many to help shape the GPT over the years.

Claus: Thank you very much, Mark. We are so happy to have you still on the team.

Another early member of the GPT is Mikhal Heffer, BNI member from Israel, CEO of Lichi Translations.

Claus: Mikhal, tell us about your experience with the BNI Global Power Team:

Mikhal: I have been a member since May 2011. What I love about BNI is the ability to connect with BNI members from all over the world and get referrals to companies I would not be able to reach otherwise. Whenever I travel, I try to meet as many of the GPT members as I can, so over the years I got to meet quite a few from Italy, UK, France, Germany, India, etc.

One of my biggest GPT success stories is through Andrea Ferrero and his guest, BNI Executive Director Dario Castagna. While in Milan, Dario invited me to be an international guest speaker at the launch of the Saluzzo BNI Chapter. In that meeting I was approached by Antonio Brunetti, a local lawyer, a descendant of a Jewish family, who had a dream: to bring a delegation of BNI members to Israel.

If you would like to read about his dream and the great event we arranged: An Italian morning in Jaffa port

Claus: Thank you for sharing, Mikhal

As you can see, the BNI Global Power Team, which meets online every other Monday (biweekly, at 1 pm GMT) is really working and creating results! At present there are 28 members from 9 countries, exchanging referrals, conducting One-to-Ones and establishing trust and confidence and good relations among each other.  As a highlight in 2018, there is now an initiative to have an in-person GPT meeting with current and former members from all over the globe. This GPT meeting will take place in Tel Aviv from Oct 3-5, and already 15 people have registered. As BNI Global works to enable cross-country referrals later this year, our chapter and international use of BNI will continue to flourish and help even more BNI members continue to grow their businesses together.

You can visit us next time on August 13 or after that on August 27. For registration, please send your request to Claus ch@itm-online.de and Jutta (visitor host) jutta@v-assist.co.za. 

My BNI? Story ? From Coast to Coast

Posted on by BNI Global

BNI is a community of passionate leaders; of that, there is no doubt. That said, there are certain stories that truly show how connected our members are, and how much they internalize a positive and helpful attitude.

Recently, we had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Nash of BNI Victory in Kent, UK. The story he shared is astounding.

Last November, Steve decided to undertake a massive physical challenge for his charity, Stacey?s Smiles. First, compete in the London Marathon; followed, 3 days later, by a 925 mile walk from John O Groats to Lands End, the northernmost and southernmost points of the UK mainland, respectively. Completed over a 31-day period, that equals 1,953,600 steps, 310 hours, 18,600 minutes, 1,116,000 seconds of walking.??

And while the physical toll is daunting in and of itself, not to mention courageous, his unconventional strategy for completing this challenge is what caught our attention. Steve decided to utilize his BNI support network throughout the UK in order to help him along the way. Through conversations with the Co-National Director for Ireland and the UK, Tim Cook, Steve was introduced to numerous Directors, Director Consultants and Chapter Presidents who helped him compile a plan.

Subsequently, over the 31-day trek, Steve was supported so thoroughly it exceeded all preconceived expectations. During the 31-day trek, Steve was assisted in the following ways:

  • Over ?11,500 was raised for Stacey?s Smiles – Over 2/3 raised by BNI Members through their own fundraising, sharing, individual donations.
  • BNI Chapters shared Steve?s posts on their social media pages.
  • Members helped transport equipment from location to location.
  • Members would walk with Steve for long distances.
  • A BNI member sponsored over 30 T-shirts for Steve, with the BNI logo prominently shown.
  • A member introduced Steve to a Property Developer who paid for all of his accommodations.
  • A member, who is a baker, gave Steve 6 boxes of fudge and had cupcakes waiting at one of his accommodations.?
  • One BNI member in Inverness met Steve at a hotel and presented him with a cheque for ?250.
  • Six members provided Steve with professional massages at different destinations.
  • Members would often meet him and offer to buy lunch and/or dinner.
  • To support Steve, 10 BNI Chapters recorded a personalized video of the song by the Proclaimers ?500 miles? and posted on social media. Fantastic promotion for BNI!
  • BNI Photographers met Steve along the route so that he had professional photos that could be used on social media.?
  • Executive Directors in Inverness, Glasgow, Carlisle, Shropshire, Avonmouth, Cornwall, Devon ? from one end of the country to the other, drove alongside Steve, rallied the chapters, and ensured he was looked after at-all-times.

Throughout this trek, Steve and all members involved in his journey, demonstrated each of BNI?s Core Values, from Givers Gain to Building Relationships. Not to mention, the entire journey was in support of charitable initiatives.??

Steve even advised ED?s on how they can position charities successfully in chapters. Which is vital because charitable participation is a 2-way-street. Charities are very well connected, have a massive support base, and can be a great stepping stone and conduit between Business and Communities.? ??

Causes such as Steve?s set the benchmark on just how advantageous and powerful it is to have a strong support network. BNI UK rose to the challenge and should be commended for showing how positive an impact BNI can have across not just a country, but the entire organization.

If you would like to support Stacy?s Smiles, please visit?www.staceyssmiles.org.uk

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