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Living in Abundance thanks to BNI®

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Craig LaMar, Crye-Leike Real Estate Services, BNI Givers Gain® 4 Life BNI Alabama

I was recently asked in my Givers Gain® 4 Life meeting to share in one word about what BNI® means for me. My word was abundance.

I’m on a life journey, and during that journey I find myself traveling between survival, stability and abundance. Of course, I hate living in survival, and love living in abundance.  Because of experiences in BNI, I am closer to living in abundance every day, and that is a great place to live and work.

Before joining BNI, I found myself winding up in survival too often. That’s a place I don’t like and always dread. I’d ask myself, “How in the world did you get back here, Craig?” Usually it is because I didn’t watch the signs along the way, or didn’t look at my map or just ignored which way I was going.

I think success and finding abundance has a lot to do with accountability. BNI brings accountability to my life journey and offers me the tools and the process to hold me accountable. If I do my One-to-Ones, learn from my Continued Education Units, go out each day with intent to refer my connections’ services to the people I know who need them, I know that I will not be stuck long in survival and can move on to stability.

Stability is a much better place to live and work. When I find myself in stability, the thought that I love and which inspires me is that with the help and support of my BNI partners, processes and systems, I can move quickly to abundance. I just have to work within the system and support my partners. In stability I feel more confident – my map and path is very clear. Each day in stability is wrapped in the attitude of being grateful. Every day begins with affirmations and mantras of things for which I am grateful. Every day begins with how can I help someone else today. And the BNI attitude of Givers Gain keeps that focus razor sharp.

Living in abundance, which I am much closer to now than ever because of BNI, is something that motivates me. As I learn the principles and practice the systems, I can live in abundance. It’s a fantastic place to be. Thank You BNI’ers around the world!

Persistence Leads to Business Growth Through Referrals

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Steve Cain, All Vacuum Center, Inc, BNI Kenton-Boone Chapter, BNI Southwestern Ohio/Northern Kentucky, U.S.



My BNI® story isn’t about one particular success, one great connection made, nor how it has increased my business. It’s more.

BNI was introduced to me by a friend and business associate almost nine years ago. After being reminded I should visit every week for a year, I consented, mostly to appease him.

When I attended that first meeting, I saw three customers of mine sitting in the room. Then I saw my high school senior class homeroom teacher, whom I hadn’t seen in over 25 years. She was now in the website creation business with her husband.

Not only did I receive testimonials for my vacuum cleaner retail business from my current customers, I left with credibility and knowing I was on to something that I never knew existed for the past

31 years in business, all thanks to my persistent friend, Matt.

Now in my ninth year of BNI, it has proven to be beneficial to my business and my life. The amount of friendships I have developed is large, but the personal relationships and development are immeasurable benefits I have received in BNI.

Were it not for that friend, who to this day is still in BNI and urging his contacts to visit a chapter, I don’t know that I would have discovered what has proven to not only be a vehicle to grow my business, but to grow as a person using the Givers Gain® philosophy.

Active Networking Leads to Tremendous Growth

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted Tibor Billwachs, UFS Group, Business Advantage, BNI Hungary



I have been working for UFS Group, a financial adviser firm, as a partner for years, and have been a BNI® member for over a year, although my road to become a member was not so easy.

Besides my financial advisory work, I was teaching financial basics and company management for young adults. As team leader, I usually spent a day each week with my students, from whom I first heard about BNI. Due to the fact that some of them have already been members, they talked about the organization among themselves but nobody invited me to attend a chapter meeting as a visitor. Back then I felt that visiting BNI was an opportunity that needs to be grabbed, so I registered myself via the website and attended the first meeting in April 2015.

The atmosphere, the fellow members and the idea behind the organization were all convincing, but what truly inspired me to apply was the business opportunity. At the meeting, members gave thank you cards to each other worth 35 million Hungarian forints (about $118,000 USD). Sitting there, I was thinking that if within a year I could be able to achieve only 10 percent of this amazing result, the decision to join would be worth it for me. These experiences proved to be more than convincing so I immediately applied, and a month later participated in the chapter meetings as a member.

What’s more, the opportunities available appeared so great that another firm I chair, BiztosAcél Kft, was also integrated slowly into the Fehérvár chapter. In the first half of 2016, nearly 30 percent of the firm’s income was achieved due to the referrals and new social capital of BNI.

As with everything else in life, BNI membership only works when we are active in it. Paying the membership fee and waiting for a miracle is not enough, because it will not arrive. The more shows up and works for success, the more they become known and can generate more opportunities. One of the best ways of becoming visible is taking active part in the life of the chapter. I became the chapter’s Education Coordinator after three months, then I was part of the Membership Committee, and since April 2016, have supported our members as Chapter President.

One of the important things I have learned is that BNI is a marketing technique, which you can use the way you want. If you do not put anything into it, there won’t be any results. So if you do not take advantage of the opportunities provided by networking, it is a waste, but if you are active and participate, it can be repaid in a short period. It depends only on me, if I spend time on it. If I do something, I do it full swing. I do not pay to sit there, but I sit there to help the time, energy and capital invested get repaid.

BNI Central Indiana Members Make AED Donation

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Jill Bode, BNI Central Indiana 



Little did he know that a machine he had advocated for so strongly years ago would one day save his life. Dentist Dr. Mike Gradeless owes his life today to the quick actions of several people and a small machine that weighs less than eight pounds. Now he wants to make sure that others have his same chance at life. On April 4, 2016, Gradeless had just finished a basketball game at his local gym when he suffered sudden cardiac arrest and crumpled to the ground in front of a friend.

Two gym employees who were trained in CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator machine (AED) raced to perform these life-saving procedures and were able to get his heart restarted twice before the ambulance came and transported him to St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital in Indiana.

Years earlier, Gradeless had lost an uncle to sudden cardiac arrest and he became interested in how AED machines, when used properly, could save lives. According to the American Red Cross, sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Over 350,000 people will suffer from sudden cardiac arrest this year. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere and at any age. An AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest.

Many of his fellow BNI® members were deeply moved by Gradeless’ survival, and wanted to honor him by purchasing and providing life-saving equipment to another organization. Because 16 percent of all sudden cardiac arrests occur in public settings like a gym, it made sense to choose a recreational facility as the beneficiary of this AED donation. BNI members picked Force Barbell in Fishers because of their community focus and commitment to helping organizations such as Special Olympics.

Gradeless chose Excellence in Networking member Tyler Miller of Force Barbell in Fishers, Indiana because of his community focus and commitment to helping organizations such as Special Olympics. Having a fellow BNI member benefit from the donation of this life-saving equipment was important to Gradeless. The circle was complete when BNI member and incoming President of Network Masters, Capt. Shane Arnell of Public Safety Training and Supply, offered to supply the AED machine at cost to BNI Central Indiana.

A New Year, A New Era

Posted on by BNI Global

As one year draws to a close and a new one starts, it’s natural to think about where you’ve been, what you’ve accomplished and what the new year holds. For 32 years, BNI® has impacted the global business community. Each year, our members strive to pass more business, expand their networks and develop both themselves and their businesses further. And each year, BNI seeks new ways to better support their efforts.

2016 was an amazing year for BNI – in November we officially surpassed 210,000 global members! During this exciting phase of growth, we have looked further at the member experience, and how we can best use important feedback from our members to enhance BNI. As we look to implement positive changes based on this feedback, reviewing the seven BNI Core Values helps to guide us as we move forward.

  • Givers Gain® reminds us to focus on giving to others, rather than on how we can help ourselves;
  • Building Relationships encourages building trust and credibility, and showing how much we care before showing how much we know;
  • Life-Long Learning cements the need for additional value-added resources for our members, helping foster professional and personal development;
  • Traditions + Innovations helps us remember the last 32 years of growth, and shows us opportunities for enhancements;
  • Positive Attitude preserves our mindsets to allow for optimal decision-making;
  • Accountability keeps us supportive, honest and transparent as we take feedback and move forward; and
  • Recognition allows us to spotlight those who have done impactful things around the globe, and continue to tell the BNI story.

Over the course of 2017, BNI will propel forward as we invest further in our members.

We have our sights set on innovative technology, education and people to deliver on our promise to help our members build business and bring us into a new era for the organization. From launching our new global website, to making improvements to our training and development programs and the release of a mobile application for our member platform BNI Connect®, we are striving to bring the best in premium technology to our members.

Our commitment to telling the BNI story has brought the importance of our members’ individual stories to the forefront. Through our re-vamped BNI.com website and SuccessNet newsletter, we look forward to sharing the stories of how lives are changed regularly through the relationships built each week. With updates to training and member resources, we are thrilled to continue helping our members develop professionally in ways they had only dreamed possible. Developments to our technology drive our ability to track what our members truly need to help them grow their businesses.

As the organization continues this upward trajectory, I am extraordinarily optimistic for the road ahead. It is a privilege to work with the BNI community, and I am elated by where we are headed.

Register Now: CEO Graham Weihmiller Kicks Off BNI?s New Webinar Series

Posted on by BNI Global

New in 2017, BNI Global plans to host a monthly webinar series featuring a different thought-leader or business expert each month to help us change the way the world does business.

To kick off the series on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, at 9 a.m. ET, BNI CEO Graham Weihmiller will share with us the 10 1/2 Ways to Make Your Business Really Successful in 2017. How can you make your team, your clients and yourself more productive and happier than ever in 2017? Graham will dive in, and show us 10 (and a half) ways that 2017 can, and should be your company?s best year ever.

Register now for our inaugural webinar by clicking here, or by visiting BNI.com on January 1, 2017. Do not put off registration, as space is limited to our first 1,000 registrants!

Looking Ahead

Our February webinar will feature Dr. Ivan Misner, speaking on the theme for International Networking Week 2017: The Simple Formula for Networking Follow-Up.

Registration information for the February webinar will follow in early 2017, and will be available in the updated BNI.com on January 1.

Submitted by Eden Creamer, Global Marketing Coordinator, BNI Global Support Team

Weekly Meeting Stimulants, Part Two

Posted on by BNI Global

This post is a continuation of the series from the November 2016 edition of SuccessNet. See here for part one.

Share with us your ideas for meeting stimulants, or what happened when you used any of the suggestions below, by emailing successnet@bni.com!

Submitted by James Vineeth, BNI Dynamic, Coimbatore, India

  • There could be many reasons for your success. Is your product or service priced well? Do you have unbeatable quality or unmatched service? Market presence, brand recognition, education or exposure could also all be factors. Tell us the secret behind your success in your field as part of your Weekly Presentation.
  • Sometimes we take projects that only last one day, and sometimes we take projects that last a year or longer. As part of your Weekly Presentation, tell your chapter what project is your primary focus right now.

Submitted by Stephanie Brinley, Gold Rush BNI, Fleming Island, Florida

  • Great for a week when you do not have a Featured Presentation! Count the room off by two’s, and split them into groups. Each group has four minutes to come up with a one minute skit demonstrating how to invite someone to BNI.

Submitted by BNI Global Support

  • Have each member in the chapter pick a dance style and incorporate it into their Weekly Presentation. Want an added challenge? No two members can do the same dance style.
  • The week before, ask each member of your chapter to bring or wear their favorite T-shirt. During their Weekly Presentation, ask everyone to show their shirt to the group and explain how it represents their personality.

The Hard Path is Easier

Posted on by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.

Early in my career I learned that people, like water, tend to seek the path of least resistance.  That is, left to their own devices, people will often do what is easiest rather than what is best (and generally harder).

Throughout my career in BNI I’ve seen groups that didn’t want to follow the system and applied very little if any accountability within the group.  I’ve seen some groups that take that easy path. They don’t hold members accountable for attendance, quality referrals, following the system, or general support of the group. Many of these things are, in fact, hard to maintain. The real tragedy is that they may go down this path for a very long time, unwilling to take the necessary hard steps to build a successful BNI group. The results are inevitable—the chapter struggles.

On the other hand, I see some groups that work hard to maintain attendance, generate quality referrals, follow the system, immerse in a culture of learning, and cultivate a positive attitude. This is incredibly difficult to do consistently. However, these chapters are almost always much more successful.

In life, taking the hard path often makes life – in the long run, much easier, and taking the easy path often makes life much harder.  We’ve all seen this during our lifetimes.  For me it started in school.  I saw kids that took shortcuts or didn’t study.  They took it really easy

Are you practicing hard/easy or are you practicing easy/hard in your life?

This is a powerful question for every BNI chapter to ask. It might make a great discussion with your fellow members. Is your group taking the hard path to success? If not, what can you do, right now, today, to help move the chapter forward on the hard path to make your life easier?

Remember, taking the hard path often makes life easier, and taking the easy path often makes life harder.

Called the “father of modern networking” by CNN, Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author.  He is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization.  His new book, Avoiding the Networking Disconnect can be viewed at Amazon.com.

Access the Inner Riches Wired into Your Brain

Posted on by BNI Global

By Paul R. Scheele, Ph.D., Learning Strategies

The morning a blood vessel in her brain popped, Jill Bolte Taylor became the subject of her most important experiment.

She was a neuroscientist at Harvard University’s brain research center. She woke up on December 10, 1996, to a piercing pain behind her left eye. It was a stroke.

Strangely, the pain gave way to deep peace—and then joy.

In a memoir titled My Stroke of Insight she recalls the event: “I felt like a genie liberated from its bottle. The energy of my spirit seemed to flow like a great whale gliding through a sea of silent euphoria.”

As time went on, her mind became more still. She lived each day in a state much like deep meditation. Surgery removed the blood clot in her brain, but Dr. Taylor faced immense challenges during her eight years of recovery.

What happened during her stroke, Dr. Taylor says, was that her left brain hemisphere was temporarily disabled. The left hemisphere is the seat of language, logic, and planning. In contrast, the right hemisphere excels at images, creativity, and compassion.

While Dr. Taylor found the intensity of her present-moment experience of her right brain blissful, she struggled to rebuild her left brain neural network and re-integrate the two hemispheres. Today she’s healthy and active and helping others recover from similar challenges.

Fortunately, you can quickly access the riches of your right brain—while leaving your left brain functioning—using whole mind learning, the basis for our Paraliminal learning technology.

When listening to a Paraliminal, you hear one voice speaking through your headphones in one ear to one part of your brain and a second voice speaking in your other ear to a different part of your brain. Your mind finds it difficult to process two voices simultaneously, so it shuts down, putting you into a deeply relaxed, clear-headed state.

Using a Paraliminal starts with entering this state of relaxed alertness that’s free of mental chatter—much like the state Dr. Taylor experienced.

It’s the ideal state for focused concentration and learning. Let’s say you need to remember a lot of information for a presentation or an exam. Take a few moments to activate your right brain and get into state. Here’s how:

  • Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
  • Rest your hands on your thighs with palms open and facing up.
  • Take a deep breath.
  • As you exhale, close your eyes, and think only of the word relax repeating in a space behind your eyes. Continue deep breathing for at least 90 seconds while holding this image.
  • After relaxing as long as you’d like, mentally count up from one to five. Open your eyes, take another deep breath, and then stretch your arms.

You’ve now cleared a mental space to efficiently store new information.

Use the same steps later to effectively tap your memory system and recall that information before your presentation or exam. Give your inner mind a clear request to remember it. Then relax and let your right brain comply. With practice you’ll find your brain responding with greater clarity and ease.

Achieving a relaxed state of alertness will help you more effectively engage the full resources of your mind no matter what you are choosing to accomplish or create. The technique is a part of every Paraliminal recording. Simply push play, close your eyes, relax, and listen. You will be led through a closed-eye process that activates your “whole mind” with a precise blend of music and words to help you acquire new behaviors.

To learn more about the Ultimate You Library of Paraliminal programs, please click here. Titles include Abundant Money Mindset, Anxiety-Free, Break the Habit, Deep Relaxation, Financial Security, Focus & Concentration, Ideal Weight, New Action Generator, Peak Performance, Perfect Health, Self-Discipline, and many more.

I Want to Know What You Think Makes a Great Networker?

Posted on by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.

I’ve been writing about networking for more than 30 years!  After all these years, I still find that there are many misnomers about what business networking should, or shouldn’t be about.  Many people think that business networking is basically about direct selling.  Others think that is about relationship building.  What do you think makes a great networker?

Recently, I asked hundreds of business people around the world for a list of what they thought made a great networker and I got a pretty substantial list of different and distinct characteristics that they felt represented an effective networker.  I’ve compiled that list in a short survey.  Some of these characteristics include: following up on referrals, positive attitude, trustworthy, and sincerity.

I’d like to know what you think are the top characteristics of a great networker.  Take this really short survey and let me know.  I’d particularly like any observations as to why you chose the characteristics that you did and how you see them applying to you in business.  I’ll publish the results by January.

Take Survey Here.

Called the “father of modern networking” by CNN, Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author.  He is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization.  His new book, Avoiding the Networking Disconnect can be viewed at Amazon.com.

First Impressions

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Russ Bibens, The Masters BNI, BNI Vermont

How many of you have heard that the first 10 seconds is most important when meeting someone for the first time? Probably all of you. You haven’t even spoken, and already you have been judged. You can be judged on body language, something as simple as posture or even a smile, or your appearance. The latter is easily adjustable.

BNI is a professional business organization designed to help your company grow and be profitable. If you are going to meet with clients, would you show up in shorts and flip flops? For the most part, no. It is appropriate to wear either equally appropriate attire as, or a step above, your client. For example, people in a trade would be appropriately attired in slacks and maybe a branded shirt. This would give a first impression of confidence and caring, which can set the stage for a positive first impression.

That said, would you go to a BNI meeting in less than you would wear to meet a client? Dr. Ivan Misner has stated that jeans are not professional. Again let me use the analogy of the person dressed in shorts and flip flops and the person in business attire. Who would you be more apt to give a referral to: the beach goer or the professional? The level of confidence attire alone gives you in the professional would make you more likely to give referrals to the professional.  This isn’t to say you wouldn’t give referrals to the other eventually or at all, but most likely less often and with a concern of how they would show up at the client’s site.

Ask and Thou Shalt Receive

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Farzana Suri, BNI SOL, Mumbai West, India

A member in my chapter is a printer and kept asking for a company called Sika Chemicals who were located in North West Mumbai. Every Thursday, he’d stand up to give his Weekly Presentation and he’d end with “My ask this week is Sika Chemicals.”

We heard this for 36 weeks. One day, I made it my mission to do something about it. On LinkedIn, I searched for the managing director or anyone with Sika Chemicals among my connects. The result was zilch. Nothing. I searched Facebook and encountered the same result. I looked up the website to understand what business were they really into. It was a Swiss chemical manufacturing company.

I said to myself, “It’s okay, Farzana. You tried.”

A few days later while I was posting an update on LinkedIn, guess who came up in the list of People You May Know? Yes, the managing director of Sika. I penned an email, introducing myself as being a part of a business community called BNI, and said I was writing in for a business associate and member of my group who was asking to meet the relevant person in the company to be considered for their printing work. I asked if I could meet him or the person connected with the printing decisions for their organization.

The next morning, to my surprise and joy, I received a prompt reply. He was in Melbourne and agreed to meet on a specific day and time upon his return.

On the assigned day, I took along the printer in my chapter for a Power Date. I had never met the managing director, and my relationship with him was as good as two formal email interactions can get. He greeted us cordially and introduced the printer to the company’s Administration Team. They exchanged cards and the managing director suggested that the printer be in touch with the Admin Team and would need to begin with a small job to gain trust through his capabilities and credentials. Based on that, he would be considered for future jobs.

Then he turned to me and said, “What do you do?” I smiled and responded, “I’m a Victory Coach and I’m involved in personal coaching and training. However, I’m here today to help promote the printer’s business not mine.” He took my business card, looked at me straight in the eye and said, “Fair enough.”

I kept in touch with the director to see if there was any way in which I could be of help to him. The company manufactures construction chemicals and I thought with my connections perhaps I could patch him to a real estate developer. I wanted to give back in some way as well.

For the next few weeks, I also kept checking with the printer on any updates with Sika. However, his response was, “I’m connecting with them regularly and I’m in touch.”

A few weeks later I received a call from the managing director’s office checking if I could meet the HR Head for a Training assignment for me with their Sales Team. I was honoured and delighted and facilitated the training a few weeks ago.

I learned a few things from this episode of my life in BNI.

It’s what Dr. Ivan Misner keeps reiterating and what makes BNI the world’s largest referral and networking organization.

  1. Cold mail can bear results if one reaches out with the intention to help another.
  2. Ask and thou shalt receive.
  3. Specific is terrific.
  4. Follow up incessantly on referrals.
  5. Importantly, build relationships.
  6. Givers Gain.

I have so much to be thankful for, as BNI has taught me the way entrepreneurship is done and most importantly, to give, because the by-product of building relationships is business, not the other way around.

Weekly Meeting Stimulants, Part One

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by James Vineeth, BNI Dynamic, Coimbatore, India

BNI is a great platform for leaders to emerge and unleash their true potential. We had some amazing meeting stimulants over the last 6 months, and I would love to share them with the rest of the BNI Family.

Share with us your ideas for meeting stimulants, or what happened when you used any of the suggestions below at successnet@bni.com! 

  • Just imagine it is the year 2020, and you are attending a meeting of your chapter! What will your Weekly Presentation be? Think of the future of your business. In four years, you will have achieved many milestones. You could even be a celebrity in your field! Share with your chapter what your future presentation will be, so that your fellow members can learn from you what your future will hold.
  • Our first client is always special to us, and will always be something we remember. During your Weekly Presentation this week, share with your chapter who your first client was.
  • The road to being successful isn’t easy. There are great moments to cherish, and tough moments to work through. Every member of your chapter is part of your Dream Team, and are there to stand by you and support you. As part of your weekly presentation, share with your chapter what the greatest challenge you currently face in your business is. Share what referral can help you overcome that challenge.
  • We all love a challenge, don’t we? There have been many times when your prospect has been difficult to convert to client, and when you succeed, you feel on top of the world. Share with your chapter at time when a prospect was particularly difficult to close business with, and how you overcame that struggle.
  • Steve Jobs said, ‘Stay hungry, stay foolish.’ As entrepreneurs in a changing global economy, we are challenged to learn, forget and relearn things to stay on top in business. Behind every great leader, there was a foolish idea that helped them succeed. During your Weekly Presentation, share with the chapter a time you had an idea that was outside the box, possibly even foolish, and it gave you great success.
  • This one takes some planning ahead. Members of the chapter should be told in advance which day to bring a prop. Then, the chapter is to have a prop day. On the selected day, each member should use their prop to help describe their business. Impress your fellow members with products, ideas and creativity

Creating a Life that Matters

Posted on by BNI Global

By Paul R. Scheele, Ph.D., Learning Strategies

Are you doing what matters most to you?

I’m not talking about what makes you happy in the moment, but rather, what really drives your life. What gives your life meaning?

In a study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology that examines self-reported attitudes toward happiness and meaning, the researchers found a meaningful life and a happy life overlap in certain ways, but are ultimately different, reports Emily Esfahani Smith in The Atlantic.

“While happiness is an emotion felt in the here and now, it ultimately fades away, just as all emotions do,” wrote Smith. “The amount of time people report feeling good or bad correlates with happiness but not at all with meaning. Meaning, on the other hand, is enduring. It connects the past to the present to the future.”

Another study confirmed this, she said. “People who have meaning in their lives, in the form of a clearly defined purpose, rate their satisfaction with life higher even when they were feeling bad than those who did not have a clearly defined purpose.”

Stewart Emery and his co-authors of the book Success Built to Last interviewed the world’s most successful people to distill exactly what drives them, and it’s pretty simple.

“Above all else, no matter where they have chosen to excel—in business, the arts, sports, social service, community, or family—each has achieved success by focusing on the things that matter most to them,” he said.

“Enduringly successful people follow their hearts, aligning their thoughts and actions with their passions,” said Stewart. “They become energized by their work and stay on purpose and committed in the face of setbacks and challenges.”

Imagine those three elements—meaning, thought, and action—as the primary colors of enduring success. When the primary colors of red, blue, and green overlap, they create a bright, white light, a target that is easy to see.

To create a life that matters to you, consider the following:

  • What gives your life meaning? What brings you the greatest joy? Loving what you do and who you are is the greatest motivator for building lasting success.
  • Are your thoughts toxic or supportive? Are negative thoughts and self-doubt or the criticism of others drowning out that voice inside of your head—that whisper or “silent scream” telling you what really matters? Learn to responsibly manage your thoughts in ways that keep you on track to your goals, despite obstacles or burdens you will undoubtedly face.
  • Are you taking action? What are you doing to bring you closer to your goals or attract into your life people and activities that will support you? While meaning drives success, meaning without action will get you nowhere.

When you align your thoughts and actions with what gives your life meaning, you magnify your passion and impart greater clarity to your purpose than ever before.

To help you recognize what truly gives you satisfaction and support the expression of your unique gifts, I recommend you listen to an audio program I co-created with Stewart Emery called Success Built to Last. Simply push play, close your eyes, relax, and listen. You will be led through a closed-eye process that activates your “whole mind” with a precise blend of music and words to help you acquire new behaviors.

To learn more about Success Built to Last and the 41 other Paraliminal programs, please click here. Other titles in the Paraliminal library include Abundant Money Mindset,Anxiety-Free, Deep Relaxation, Financial Security, New Action Generator, Positive Relationships, Power Thinking, and 10-Minute Supercharger.

Make Money for Showing Up!

Posted on by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.

Featuring guest co-author Beatrice Sparacino

Have you ever gotten an haircut… over the phone? Probably not. It’s just one of those things that you have to actually be present for. Well, it turns out – so is BNI.  People join BNI to exchange referrals and increase their business. Intellectually, we understand that it is important to build relationships but it may not be obvious just how critical that is to the referral process.

We discovered the impact that attendance had on the organization many years ago when some BNI groups met twice a month. Yes, it’s true – some groups actually met twice a month back in 1985. Why don’t we do that now you might be wondering?  Well, that’s an easy answer.  We discovered that chapters that met twice a month passed 52% less referrals than groups meeting weekly!!!  Did that really sink in just now?  They passed 52% less referrals than groups that met weekly. That is a shocking statistic.  When the groups were shown this hard data back in ’85, every single group except one switched to meeting weekly.  The one group that refused shut down from lack of success a few months later.  Consequently, since early 1986, all BNI groups have met weekly.

The co-author of this article, Beatrice Sparacino, found similar and compelling evidence as part of her recent theses from the University of Bocconi in Milan Italy. In her study, she looked at the amount of closed business compared to the number of absences per member in her region.  As the graph below indicates, those members who had fewer absences are also the members who received more closed business. You can see in the graph that as the number of absences double, the amount of closed business a member generated actually falls by more than 50%!  Does that statistic sound familiar?  It hasn’t changed over the years. Less absences within a chapter, equal more referrals and more closed business. The data is compelling.

BNI is an accelerator for business referrals, reducing the time required to build relationships and trust between people. That trust enables you to receive referrals and obtain more closed business.  In this sense, being present at your chapter’s meeting every week keeps you “top of mind” for all your fellow members.

Recently Massimo Osenga, a member in Vercelli Italy did a short training on the importance of being present to his chapter.  He said that some time ago, he became very passionate about a famous reality television show. In particular, he really loved one couple competing in the show.  He started following them on Twitter, Facebook and other social media. And then, the unthinkable happened.  His favorite couple was eliminated from the competition and were no longer on the show. At first, Massimo was very disappointed.  However, after a number of weeks, they were invited back as guests to the show. It was at that point that he realized that in that incredibly short period of time he totally forgot about his favorite contestants!!!

The old adage “out of sight, out of mind” is absolutely true also when it comes to referrals in BNI.  Members who think that missing meetings regularly doesn’t really matter are clearly mistaken.  The data is crystal clear.  Miss meetings and lose business or make meetings and get business.  The data is very compelling and has been since the start.

The choice is yours!

It’s up to you to decide what you want to get out of your Chapter experience.

Called the “father of modern networking” by CNN, Dr. Ivan Misner is a New York Times bestselling author.  He is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization.  His new book, Avoiding the Networking Disconnect can be viewed at Amazon.com.

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