Are we making a difference? YES, we are!

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by David Kauffman Vice Chair BNI Foundation, Managing Director BNI Delaware Valley Regions

I am often asked, where does the money go and is it really helping?

We would like to inform you that with the support of the BNI Global Team we are able to use 100% of all money raised or donated to help in your local communities. How many foundations can make that statement?!

Yes, every dollar you contribute helps children in need across the globe!

We are now accepting grants applications all year long through the link found on our website BNIFoundation.org. The grants will be reviewed each month and those that meet the criteria will be forwarded to our board. The approved grants will be disbursed every other month. Our Board of Directors just met to review the application for Givers Gain Grants® and approved a number of them.

Some of the grants awarded this month went to a number of great organizations. Building Blocks Bangalore will receive money to keep 5 students in school for the next 2 years. I would also like to thank BNI Bangalore for matching our donation. Lend a Hand Uganda-USA will receive money to support their efforts to feed local children in two villages so that they have the nutrition they desperately need to maintain their concentration and ability to improve their learning. Mentor Stiftung – Mentoring Konstanz & Youth Summit (Sweden) has been given a grant to continue their work with 13 to 17-year-old students. These students will meet with mentors some being BNI members who do group mentoring, will empower their self-esteem and assist with parental coaching, and of course individual mentoring.

If you have contact with an organization or individual supporting children, please forward our grant information to them.

Another common question, what do our Business Voices teams do?

You can find a variety of project ideas in our Business Voices toolkit that also walks you through the steps of setting up a Business Voices team. Some Business Voices teams partner with other organizations. The members of BNI Commonwealth in Louisa, KY teamed up with The Kentucky Credit Union League Ashland Chapter to build beds for those in need for their annual Build-a-Bed project. Another project saw BNI Manhattan joining Operation Backpack for their annual fundraiser that provides as many as 18,000 back to school backpacks to homeless children in New York. Meanwhile, The BNI Foundation Global Support Team has had a number of successful projects with its sponsored school, Ashley Park Elementary, providing the students with book bags and clothing throughout the year. Members even raised money to hire a coffee truck to go to the school and provide specialty coffee drinks for teacher appreciation.

How can I donate?

We provide a number of donation options including
one-time donations, recurring donations and legacy donations. Visit the donation page of our website to learn more.

How can I start a Business Voices team?

The
first steps in starting a Business Voices team are completing the activation
process, selecting a Community Outreach Champion and selecting a school or
educational organization to work with. Our website has everything you need, including a toolkit with information,
resources, project ideas and a colorful infographic that outlines the entire process. We look forward to working with
you and bringing the BNI Foundation to your community.

The Mother of Progress

Posted on by BNI Global

This Member Success story comes from Claudia Bautista, who is a member and current Vice-President of Centauros del Norte in BNI Mexico. Claudia is a two-year Member who has used BNI to help pave the path forward, build confidence and become and inspiration for those facing the challenges of life.

Adversity is the mother of progress – Mahatma Gandhi 

Adversity is inevitable, but it also is the foundation for success and one of life’s greatest teachers. Claudia Bautista, member of BNI Mexico, has faced an excess of adversity in her life and through it all has become an inspiration to all. Through sheer will and determination, Claudia has overcome professional, personal and health-related hardship and transformed into a successful entrepreneur that exemplifies the idea of Member Success.

With a background in Administrative Finance, Claudia had a successful career and family-oriented personality. Married, with children of her own and an entrepreneurial mindset, she not only had a successful career, but a healthy and fulfilling life. That was all tested in 2015 when Claudia was diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer. The next two years were faced with hardship as she underwent surgery, radiation and 8 rounds of Chemotherapy. And to make matters worse, in May of 2017, her husband left and took their business with him. Claudia faced an uphill battle, but it was one that she was going to win.

Though “devastated morally and economically” Claudia was not one to give up. On her own, with her children, she partnered with her sister and opened her own Cosmetics Studio, Gabriela Bautista Make-Up. Even so, her confidence was down and she needed to find an outlet to not only grow the business, but to find her footing in life. That’s when BNI came into focus.

After visiting a chapter in July 2017, Claudia became a Member of Centauros del Norte in Chihuahua, Mexico the following month. It was a revelation. With her past success as an entrepreneur, her membership and relationships with her fellow members reinvigorated her. She felt that it allowed “infinite possibilities” and a new lease on life.

With her health in check and a renewed sense of focus, Claudia became heavily involved as a proud member. From April 2018 onward, she grew from an event coordinator to education coordinator and ultimately Vice-President.

With new referrals continually coming into focus and proposals in place, Claudia now views BNI as “the most powerful personal and professional network to do business, achieve your goals and develop quality relationships”.

With 2,580,379 MXP in TYFCB (132,000 USD), BNI has certainly provided financial opportunities. That said, even more importantly, it has allowed her to overcome personal adversity and embrace the strong, independent mindset that she’s always had. Her business is now prosperous and she has a new sense of self. A new lease on life.

Claudia wants to offer a special thank you to her Executive Director Arlenne Palomares who has believed in her since Day 1 and always encourages her to reach higher. She is a true mentor.

About Gmake-up Studio

Click here to visit site

Gmake-up art studio was founded in 2006 by Gabriela Bautista. She has a degree in business administration, studied professional makeup for theater, body painting, TV makeup, film, photography, special effects and a runway at Complections International Make up school in Toronto, Canada. She also specialized in editorial makeup at Mastered Val Garland in London, England. Her talent has led her to work on large fashion platforms such as New York fashion week, and in 2008 she launched her line of professional cosmetic products. In 2012, she associated with her sister Claudia Bautista, who is now responsible for marketing the company’s brand, and manages public relations. In 2017 they decided to open the first boutique for gmake –up cosmetics and as a result, Claudia now markets the products to national and international level.

Instagram – Cosmetics

Instagram – Makeup

Facebook

Get to know Claudia

Facebook

claudia@gmake-up.com

Visit Centauros del Norte 

Powered By BNI

Posted on by BNI Global

This Member Success story comes from István Hirt, who is a member and current President of Aegopolis 6301 in BNI Hungary. István is a two-year Member who has embraced BNI and used it as a launching point to build an entirely new initiative with his fellow Members.

After Joining BNI nearly two years ago, István Hirt, a web programmer and representative of SEOKEY LTD, took it upon himself to embrace the philosophy of Givers Gain and the idea of a Power Team. Through Chapter events, Breakfast Meetings and One-to-Ones, István built a strong connection with fellow Members who represented the complementary fields of graphic design and photography and online marketing. 

These Members Rezső Soós Vexel (graphic design),  Róbert Korom MaxArt (photo), Gábor Bliszkó BeOnWeb (marketing) not only shared a common clientele, but a common goal as well. After passing referrals amongst each other and realizing the benefits of working together, an idea was born. They would transform their Power Team into a new venture. One that would allow them to synchronize services and provide a premium online appearance for customers. 

Their goal was to not settle and to meet expectations, but to surpass them and set a new standard of success in BNI. By combining their services, they had the opportunity to offer a complex, high-quality service-package for clientele that wanted to stand out from the crowd.

The seeds were planted, and from this idea sprouted Fusion4; a new venture born out of BNI. 
Developed as a premium brand offering only the highest-level of service, Fusion4 is the one-stop shop result of a Power Team that saw opportunity and embraced it.

Launching in early 2019, the team came together to represent Fusion4 at the Mach-Tech exhibition in Budapest last May. With a little bit of dedication and teamwork, Fusion4 made a significant  impression and was awarded  “Most Attractive Stall”. The culmination of a collective commitment to excellence.

Fusion4 represents not only a new approach to collaboration, but they offer a clear example of finding opportunity, advancing your network and living the Givers Gain mentality. 

Learn more about Fusion4 here.

Fuison4 is currently operating and welcomes all inquiries from Members across BNI who are in need of web services. 

The Fusion4 team members/companies are:
SEOkey (programming) – István Hirt (BNI Aegopolis 6301, Kecskemét)
Vexel (graphic design) – Rezső Soós (BNI Aegopolis 6301, Kecskemét)
MaxArt (photo) – Róbert Korom, Maximillán Korom (BNI Aegopolis 6301, Kecskemét)
BeOnWeb (marketing) – Gábor Bliszkó 

Aegopolis 6301 – BNI Hungary Chapter

Set Goals. Be Vocal.

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Heather Belanger – Member, Queen City BNI in Burlington, Vermont

As a business owner, like myself, or a valued employee, I’m sure you set goals annually. You’ve probably immersed yourself in hours of educational experiences’ around goal setting; workshops, podcast’s, etc. Maybe you S.M.A.R.T. them out or have a strategic business plan. Maybe you’re less formal about it. No matter the nature of the goals, or the formality of the setting methods, as business owners we know goals are important for the growth of our businesses (personal growth) and the motivation and retention of employees.

In BNI it’s no different. Goals and succeeding or failing to reach them is how we evaluate not only our individual memberships but also our chapter’s performance. As Members we set goals around how many referrals we want to receive to consider our membership successful and our chapters write business plans to direct the efforts of leadership and supporting leadership.

So, as we round the halfway mark of 2019, how are you doing at achieving your goals? Are you halfway there? If not, maybe this secret goal setting step will help. In all the hours I’ve dedicated to sharpening my goal setting skills I’ve only ever heard this mentioned once, TELL PEOPLE. Tell everyone what your goals are whether they are directly connected to them or not. Don’t only tell your employees or your inner circle, tell everyone. The more people you tell, the more visibility you create around your goals, making you more likely to achieve them. You never know who might have that connection you need to accelerate progress toward achieving your goals.

So how do you do this with respect to the goals you set around your BNI membership? I suggest you start by building awareness among your clients and vendors that you are a part of this organization by weaving it into all of the touch points of your business. Do you have an office or physical space where you interact with your clients? Do you display your members’ business cards in a promenade place? Do you have your ‘ask me about BNI’ table tent out and wear your lapel pin. Do you have a website, use email, or have an email marketing campaign? Copywriter and owner of The Write Stuff VT , Jodi Lawaich, shares these simple taglines you can add to your digital communications to build awareness about your involvement with BNI: Connecting you with a trusted referral network, Ask me about trusted referrals, or Trusted referrals start here. Hyperlink the tagline to your BNI chapter’s website and ask your clients if they’d like an introduction to any of the professionals in your trusted business network. On social media? BNI Vermont’s Social Media Coordinator and Owner of 802 Social, Molly Goodyear, shares the following hashtags to build awareness about the power of your BNI membership when posting: #bnireferralsatwork, #bnireferralsource, and #bnireferralsinmotion.

Implementing these simple things into your business will help not only you, but also your chapter achieve their goals over the next six months.

About Heather

Heather is a Kitchen and Bath Designer with Lacillade’s Home Design Center. Lacillade’s Home Design Center collaborates with homeowners creating distinctive kitchens and baths with a focus on highly functional lifestyle design. 

https://www.lacilladeskitchenandbath.com/

Curing the “Hustle” of Image Management

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Virginia Green, PhD, MBA – Member, BNI Pipeline, Redondo Beach, CA for 13 years

Entrepreneurs like us have a lot at stake when it comes to image management. After all, we are our brand. We own all our successes and failures, homeruns and errors, lucky breaks and big mistakes. Entrepreneurs have no place to hide, except maybe behind our own stoic smiles, saying, “everything’s fine.” Never let them see you sweat.

Only trouble is, all that image protecting might be costing you your mental health. It means we are not asking for help when we need it. It means we are over-promising, and having trouble delivering. It means we don’t own up to and take responsibility for our mistakes, so we think we’re the only ones to make them.

It’s lonely and scary sometimes, and people we know, like, and trust get to participate in our real life, not the way we wish it were. Brené Brown, in her best-selling book, Rising Strong, calls the gap between who we totally want to be perceived as (knowledgeable, confident, reliable) and who we never want to be perceived as (disorganized, unprofessional, boring) “the hustle.”

And “the hustle” can show up every week when we think about our BNI Profitable Introduction. 

Say it’s 5:30 Thursday morning and your alarm goes off, and you groan like you do every BNI wake- up call morning. Then you remember that the day before, your best employee quit and, worse, is threatening to sue. So, one version of you is “I’m the overworked boss who can’t manage my own workers, much less a big job I got through a BNI referral. I’m such a loser, I might as well give up now before anyone else finds out.”
 Wow, that would be a great Profitable Introduction…

Or, here’s another version: “This time last year I didn’t have enough business to hire a great employee. How awesome that I have grown that much this year that I have not one, but two employees. And, this challenge has come up for me because I am putting myself out there, being brave, and taking risks, and showing up no matter what.”
Better, right? And TRUE. This isn’t fake news, this is real. You don’t have to pretend anything or be someone you are not. In fact, you are being more genuine than ever. This is mental health. 

And the three ways to cure “the hustle?” 

1. Visibility — all I have to do on those tough mornings is show up.

2. Credibility — the more authentic I am about what I can and cannot deliver, the more credible I am, the more trustworthy.

3. Profitability — financially, sure, but also in my ability to weather the storm and know that my next BNI meeting with its open arms is at most a week, or a 1-2-1, or a training away.

Heard that before? Yes, BNI shows us how to be real, over and over again, every week, with people we know, like and trust. It’s courageous to be vulnerable, and no one gets this better than our colleagues in BNI. We’re in this together, and we know that “Givers Gain.”

Virginia C. Green, PhD, Certified Daring Way Facilitator (based on the research of Brené Brown)
 
Stillwater Family Therapy Group, Inc.
2312 Artesia, Suite 1 
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310)378-2520 
www.stillwaterfamilytherapy.co…

Look for the Wallflowers

Posted on by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.

I was talking about networking with a good friend of mine, Dr. Mark Goulston (a well-known psychiatrist and consultant), some time ago, and he said, “People should always introduce themselves to the wallflower in the room.  Nobody attends a networking event wanting to stay in a corner and be left alone.  They’re in that corner because the most technically skilled people are often socially shy.  You never know when you’ll meet the next Bill Gates.”

This comment really resonated with me, and it reminded me of a time a few years ago when I was at a party put on by Virgin Galactic relating to the testing of White Knight Two and SpaceShip Two. I walked outside the party and looked over in the corner by the pool where I saw a man standing by himself looking uncomfortable and very much out of his element.  Then I noticed who it was.  It was the legendary Burt Rutan, Founder of Scaled Composites and designer of the SpaceShip Two!  He was by himself at a party with hundreds of people celebrating the work of the company he founded as well as Virgin Galactic.

This was an opportunity I could not pass up.  So, I went up and introduced myself to him.  I asked him if he went to many of these events, and he said, “Counting this one – that would be one.”  I asked him why he decided to go to this one, and he said, “Because Richard asked me to come.”  By the way, that would be – Richard Branson, the Founder of Virgin Galactic.

Although he didn’t seem very outgoing in this setting, he did seem good with having a conversation, so I pushed on.  I said to him, “It must be incredible to see this amazing, long-term vision come to fruition.”  He nicely replied, “This isn’t my long-term vision of what the company can do.”  I’m sure I was visibly surprised as I asked him, “What’s your long-term vision?”  He said, “Well, I believe the company can push forward past sub-orbital flights and expand to allow space tourists to do orbital flights around the earth.”   I naively said, “That’s an amazing long-term vision.”  He replied, “That’s not my long-term vision.”  I was really surprised and said, “Okay, what’s your long-term vision?”  He replied that he felt “the company could provide orbital flights to passengers who could then stay at a hotel in space for a short period of time.”  At this point, I’m completely blown away, and I once again said, “That’s an amazing, long-term vision,” and, yet again, he said, “That’s not my long-term vision.”  At this point I’m all in, and I’m completely fascinated with this visionary, so I again asked, “What’s your long-term vision?” He replied, “I believe we can launch flights into orbit, stay at a hotel in space, and then take flights around the moon and back – that’s my long-term vision.”

Burt was probably in his late 60’s when we had this conversation, and I asked him one final question, “When do you think that vision can become a reality?”  And he replied, “I think it can be done in my lifetime.”

The British have a term for what I felt at that moment – “gobsmacked.”  I was utterly astounded by this man’s vision, and I was incredibly honored to have had this opportunity to talk with him.

I founded the largest referral networking organization in the world, and I’ve met tens of thousands of people during my tenure in BNI. I can easily say that this was one of the most interesting conversations I ever had with someone at a party or networking event. Burt Rutan’s (and, of course, Richard Branson’s) vision of what can be done through their entrepreneurial efforts has left an indelible mark on me.

The important lesson here relates to Dr. Goulston’s belief that we should always look for the “wallflowers” in the room.  Not everyone of them will be a “Burt Rutan” but I’ve found that most of them are interesting and well worth the conversation.  Just every now and then, you might meet a Bill Gates or a Burt Rutan, and that makes the effort of finding those wallflowers worth it.

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 latest book, Who’s in Your Room, The Secret to Creating Your Best Life,  is available at bookstores and at Amazon.com.

A Model of Success

Posted on by BNI Global

This Member Success story comes from Christopher Bulin, Member and current Mentor Coordinator of N. Mississippi Achievers located in Southaven, MS 

Christopher is a long-time Member and his story is a great example of how the BNI Model works, no matter where you are.

Christopher Bulin, a Merchant Account Specialist with ClearPay Financial Solutions, is no stranger to a new environment. From the American Midwest, to the American Southeast, his career has instilled a mindset of adaptability. 

After beginning with BNI in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, Christopher saw sustained success and became a real believer in the BNI Model. Ultimately, his career moved him south and he began the transition into a valued alumni of the organization.

Fast-forward 3 years and Christopher met his wife – the woman who changed his life. She challenged him to think differently about life and how he conducted business. With his wife by his side, Christopher had a spiritual reawakening and a renewed purpose. With a focus on helping others, he was living the GiversGain mentality in business and in life.

As they began building a family, and settled in Memphis, Tennessee, he found his way back to BNI. By applying what he learned as a Member in Wisconsin, Christopher was able to overcome the challenge of anonymity when joining a new chapter. Going beyond what is expected of a new Member, he was able to embrace the Member Success Program and maximize his reach by valuing the relationships of his fellow Members. This expanded his network exponentially as he relished in the joy of helping others achieve their goals. In his mind, providing referrals and support to others “is worth far more than TYFCB”. It’s a great example of showing that the intangibles of membership really do matter.

As he became more seasoned with BNI, the value of one-to-ones and leadership on his membership could not be understated. This perspective has led him to receive referrals from Members across 10 chapters throughout the MidSouth Region. A pure example of how BNI is a community of like-minded business leaders.

Additionally, as leadership and lifelong learning are an important aspect of his everyday life, Christopher wants to help others realize the success that he has achieved. By being intentional and having a purpose in all that you do while being specific in your ask, anyone can find success. Anyone can find their inspiration.

With qualities reflective of some of the most effective leaders within the organization, Christoper has put together an detailed outline on how to conduct your one-to-ones. Please view them below.

An Outline for the one-to-one process

A Brief Thank You!

“I would like to recognize and give attention to our Executive Director Jana Cardona, of the Midsouth Chapters. Over the past 3.5 years as a Member she has wanted nothing more than to help individual Members grow their business by utilizing the tools set forth through BNI, through workshops and education. Her goals are for BNI Members not to be viewed as just small business owners, nor a competition with any chambers but as an asset and tool to help all businesses grow through business networking, she is intentional and thrives on the good news and success of others, I see that vision and enjoy being a part of it.”  – Christopher Bulin

About ClearPay Financial Solutions

ClearPay Financial Solutions of the Midsouth has an office located in the Memphis market. Unlike the traditional electronic payments provider, we have established ourselves in the area for giving back a portion of all fees that business owners pay back to a nonprofit of “Their Choice”. We partner with multiple nonprofits to show them an untraditional way to raise funds and we connect that nonprofit to local businesses in the fight against whatever cause they choose. Our core principles for the past 10 years have been relationship focused, cutting edge technology and educating our clients on best practices. All our partners have allowed us an approach that is unconventional in the market for processing payments because we have the flexibility to meet their needs by customized solutions not a cookie cutter approach that is often found WITH OTHER providers.

Learn more about Christopher here. 

It’s Your Foundation

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by David Kauffman Vice Chair BNI Foundation, Managing Director BNI Delaware Valley Regions

Last week I was teaching the Member Success Program to a number of tenured BNI Members; in fact, two were in their 12th year. I started to speak about the foundation, and one of them stopped me to ask a few questions. What is this foundation? If I wanted to get involved, how can I? These were good questions, and so I took the time to answer them.

Question 1:  What is this foundation?

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 VoicesTM Teams.

Question 2:  How can I get involved?

There are many ways to get involved. The easiest is to simply donate. This can take the form of your time, your talent or your treasure. Your time:  Business VoicesTM 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. Your talent can be reading to young students, career days, mentoring a student, or providing an internship. Please make sure to visit our websites resources page and tell us about the great activities you are doing to help the local children, and we will highlight your efforts on our social media pages and website. Then there is your treasure; this too comes in different forms. Our website’s donation page includes links where you can make a single donation, set up an ongoing monthly donation, or include the BNI Foundation in your legacy. There is also a new option for Tribute Cards, allowing you to donate in the name of a loved one. This is a great gift option for weddings, birthdays, etc.

The Misner Endowment was set up earlier this year to benefit the BNI Foundation. Founders Dr. Ivan and Beth Misner started the endowment with a private donation of $100,000. The goal is to grow the endowment to $1 million. We have received pledges for over $250,000. To make an endowment donation please email emely@bnifoundation.org. The endowment donation levels are:

Fellow:  $2,500 

Sr. Fellow:  $5,000 

Diamond Fellow:  $10,000

The Business VoicesTM Teams program is available to all BNI chapters. In the online toolkit you can find information to start a team and a wealth of ideas to start helping students, schools and educational organizations in your own community right away. We are excited about having you join the fray.

The G.A.I.N.S. Approach

Posted on by BNI Global

So often, people are frustrated about not getting more business referred to them. After all, they say, isn’t that what business networking is all about?

What many of these people don’t seem to realize, however, is that they need to actively share information about themselves with the right people before they can expect to have business referred to them by the people in others’ networks.

The fact is, it’s not enough that you’re great at what you do and can offer a lot of value to new clients. To win referrals from networking, you need to ensure that your contacts have all the necessary information about you and your skills so they can go out and persuade third parties to come and purchase your product or service. It’s amazing how many people fail to recognize this.

There are actually five key things that are essential for the members of your network to know about you before you can expect them to refer business your way. Equally, you need to know these same five things about them so you can reciprocate. I call this process of reciprocal sharing of information the GAINS exchange, based on the first letter of each of the five essential informational points: Goals, Accomplishments, Interests, Networks, and Skills.

Goals: What are the objectives that are important to you; what are the problems you want to solve? Not just financial and business goals, but also personal and educational objectives.

Accomplishments: What big projects have you completed in business or as an employee? What are your accomplishments as a student or parent?

Interests: What are the things you really enjoy doing? The music you like to listen to, the hobbies you spend time on, the sports you like to play or watch? People are more willing to spend time with people they share interests with

Networks: Each of your contacts is a part of many networks. Do you know what these are, how big they are? Each of us has the potential to connect with hundreds or thousands of people if we cultivate these resources.

Skills: What do you do especially well? What are the professional areas in which you excel? Don’t be afraid to share this information with your contacts, and learn about the talents and abilities of the people in your network as well.

These are not mysterious pieces of information. They are facts we are exposed to every day, if we look for them.

To further illustrate this, a few members in Shenzhen, Mainland China recently used the GAINS exchange to build the foundation for a prosperous relationship.

Qiu Xuemin, a supplier of products for the hospitality industry, recently helped a fellow member achieve their DREAM referral through the proper application of the GAINS exchange. When she realized that Li Zening, a supplier of bottle water, had an interest in golf and was looking for a referral in the hospitality industry, she leaned on that interest to make a vital connection for him.

Ms. Xuemin decided to reach out to an associate in the hospitality industry, Mr. Liu, in order to establish a formal relationship. After Mr. Liu invited Ms. Xuemin to golf, she used that as an opportunity to spark Mr. Zening’s interest and invite him to golf as well. During the outing, which also included BNI Vision chapter President Wang Yunjiang, Mr. Liu detailed his portfolio and conveyed that his group managed over 20 different properties. Additionally, he openly mentioned that his group was looking for a supplier for bottled water, which was in Mr. Zening’s wheelhouse. Not to mention, as a Wine Representative, Mr. Yunjiang was able to present some of his companies offerings.

4 hours later, with new connections made, Mr. Liu expressed interest in engaging in more business opportunities with Mr. Zening and Mr. Yunjiang. 

This success story, fueled by the GAINS exchange, shows how important these key pieces of information can be to a successful relationship.

The Intangibles Matter

Posted on by BNI Global

This Member Success story was submitted by Josh Hilton, Member of the Best of West Seattle chapter in Seattle, Washington, U.S.

I’m a proud member of The Best of West Seattle chapter in Seattle, Washington, United States. I’m also the owner of One Song Studios, a video production and video marketing company. I started One Song Studios after years of creating video for some of the biggest companies in the world and from a desire to take that experience and knowledge and help small businesses grow with video.  I see online video as a great equalizer and it is my goal to partner with small businesses and to implement video strategies that will help them surpass much larger competitors. 

I have been in BNI for about 7 months at this point, and it has been an awesome experience. My BNI story starts with a great mentor, Erin MacCoy, who initially invited me. Through the selflessness she displays with everyone in the chapter, she has been a tremendous inspiration for all of us. She has also been a great catalyst for my business with key introductions to contacts and a seemingly endless source of valuable information.

Initially, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to network. I’m usually the guy behind the camera, extremely introverted and about as far from excited about public speaking as you can be. My chapter has thankfully been very supportive and created an environment that is very welcoming and encouraging. Now I have no problem getting up at this chapter, or any other chapter that I visit for that matter.

To me, the real value of BNI is in the intangibles. The things that never crossed my mind when I joined have become the most important to me. The friendships I’ve made, the advice that I’ve gotten from more seasoned business owners, and the confidence that I have built have been unparalleled.

My number one priority at One Song Studios is in producing video that creates an emotional connection with the audience. I believe this is the keystone to building trust with and growing any business’ customer base.  Little did I know when walking into my chapter for the first time that an emotional connection was about to happen to me, but it did. And that just further proves my point. 

Joshua Hilton
Owner, One Song Studios 

Best of West Seattle chapter

Check out this video that Josh produced for his chapter.

A Weekly Antidote to Social Isolation

Posted on by BNI Global

Submitted by Virginia Green, PhD, MBA – Member, BNI Pipeline, Redondo Beach, CA for 13 years

Your friends with J.O.B.S say, “wow, it must be so cool to be able to set your own schedule. The meetings I have to sit in are so boring and unproductive…”

“Hmmm,” you think, “sure. I remember those days. But sometimes I can go all day without actually talking to a human. My cat, maybe, but an actually human voice?”

Probably the most challenging aspect of being a small business owner is the social isolation that can result from being on your own. Who do you bounce your great (and not so great ideas) off of?  Who can you call when your computer freaks out for no reason? What happens to your brain when you spend hours trying to figure out Quickbooks™ by looking at YouTube™ videos?

Human beings are hardwired for connection. We are a ridiculously vulnerable species, without fangs, claws or fur. We need each other for food, shelter, and support. When we get isolated, we suffer. Loneliness is no fun, and it impacts our ability to be that smiley enthusiast we know we need to be to grow our business.

Entrepreneurs are the bravest segment of the business world, mainly because 37% of us fail in our first year. And yet, many of us are therefore the most resilient, courageous and compassionate people, because we know what it takes to get back up when you fall.

Your membership in BNI is your recognition that connecting with your fellow entrepreneurs is a boon to your mental health. When I go to my BNI meeting every (sigh…) Thursday morning, I know that, when I get there, my friends and supporters will be cheering for me from the minute I open the door. (and there’s pancakes, not gonna lie.)

After thirteen years of supporting my fellow entrepreneurs and cheering them on, too, I know that, no matter what tricky situation overwhelms me, there’s always just a few days until my next BNI meeting. Or a one-to-one. Or a training. Where I can make that connection I need.

Virginia C. Green, PhD, Certified Daring Way Facilitator (based on the research of Brené Brown)

Stillwater Family Therapy Group, Inc.
2312 Artesia, Suite 1 
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310)378-2520 
www.stillwaterfamilytherapy.co…

Soft Skills Make Strong Networks

Posted on by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.

People who know me would tell you I’m not much of a “new-age” kind of guy.  I’m an author and businessman who started a company that now does business in more than 70 countries around the world.  Yet, I believe in the immense power of the Law of Reciprocity.  This concept touches upon the deep-rooted psychological urge to do something nice for someone who did something nice for you.

For people like me who understand the value of soft skills, but who would also like to see some evidence behind why those soft skills work, I can tell you there’s a lot out there to support the Law of Reciprocity, starting with Nash’s Equilibrium Theory (the acronym of which is, ironically, NET).

Nash’s Equilibrium Theory basically states that the best result will come when everyone in the group is doing what is best for themselves and the group—a form of Reciprocity.  The optimal outcome of a situation is one where no individual has an incentive to deviate from their chosen strategy after considering the other participant’s choices.

Reciprocal Altruism is another form of reciprocity.  It involves an equitable balance between Collective Altruism and personal need.  Collective Altruism looks at the needs of the group but doesn’t give strong consideration to the needs of the individual.  Reciprocal Altruism attempts to consider both.

In early writings by Socrates and Tocqueville on ethics and government, the concept of Enlighted Self-Interest was all about Reciprocity.  Enlightened Self-Interest is a philosophy which states that people who act to further the interests of others (or interests of the group or groups to which they belong,) ultimately serve their own self-interest.  In other words, it is possible to do well, by doing good.

In BNI, I incorporated the use of the term, Givers Gain® into the lexicon of our operations from the very beginning.  The underlying foundation of this term is predicated on the age-old concept of “what goes around, comes around.”   But it’s more complex than that.  Networking is about relationship building.  I have found that the best way to build a relationship with someone quickly – is to help them first.  If you can help someone (and I’m not talking about selling them your product or service, I mean genuinely help them) by giving them an introduction, information, article – anything that serves their need, you will begin a professional relationship with them.  Creating a relationship helps build trust.  Trust is the cornerstone of effective networking. When you practice Givers Gain often enough, you will be on the road to building a powerful personal network predicated on trust, built through helping to serve someone else.

This concept (whatever term you choose to use) serves as a bridge between individuals and a community of people for collaboration of all kinds, and it fuels individual and professional growth – not to mention increased referrals and business.

Research has shown that social cooperation is rewarding to our brains.  Cooperation increases the frequency of dopamine release within the brain.  Interestingly, dopamine decreases without social cooperation.  Each of the above strategies are about cooperation and collaboration, and each can increase dopamine production.

Some time ago, I received an email from Amruth, a BNI member in India with a great metaphor for this philosophy.  He said words to the effect of: imagine that you have two spoons.  A small spoon and a large serving spoon.  Which one are we using the most?  The small spoon serves only us, but the large spoon allows us to serve others.  The more that we all use the large spoon, the more we will all have plenty for the small spoon.

A networking group using the large spoon for everyone creates amazing success for all.  In the book Go Giver, co-written by my friend, Bob Burg, the authors say, “Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.”

Call it Nash’s Equilibrium, Reciprocal Altruism, Enlightened Self-Interest, or Givers Gain:  I believe that Reciprocity is about taking off your bib and putting on your apron.

This kind of networking is where individuals enter, and communities emerge.

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 latest book, Who’s in Your Room, The Secret to Creating Your Best Life,  is available at bookstores and at Amazon.com.

More Than Referrals

Posted on by BNI Global

This Member Success story was submitted by Mike Metzger, Ambassador in BNI Upstate New York and Member of the Business Brewers chapter. 

I’ll never forget how awkward I felt when I walked into my first BNI meeting. There I was — 25 years-old, new to my job, new to the area.

But, it was too early to talk myself out of anything. I lived an hour away, so I had to hustle to get in the door to make the 7:00am meeting time. It didn’t take long for people to welcome me. I was very surprised, being a younger guy who had never before attended any type of networking event.

“These people are excited that I’m here?” my tired brain wondered, but there was no time to think–there were so many people to meet! I thought I did an okay job when it came time to introduce myself to everyone. Actually, I must have said something right because after the meeting I was asked to join the group! 

“You’ve already got your cuts and scrapes!” Richard the Visitor Host exclaimed after I told him I had spent two years in insurance call center sales. He must have noticed the perplexed look on my face. “If you were brand new to your industry, we’d be a little concerned. But, you’ve already got your cuts and scrapes!”

That was 8 years ago. And over those years, I’ve been to a lot of meetings, I’ve met a lot of new people, and I’ve received a lot of referrals. As I’ve advanced in my sales career over the years, I’ve noticed that I’ve received a lot more than just referrals from BNI.

Here is a list of 4 lesser-know, BNI side benefits:

No need for coffee. I was not a morning person when I first joined BNI. To be quite honest, I’m still not. I used to be the kind of person who’d say, “It’s too early. I’m not ready to talk or have any type of human interaction without my cup of coffee first.”

Well, that certainly doesn’t work at BNI where you have to be “on” as soon as you walk through the door, first-thing in the morning. There’s no time to sip away on your coffee as you wait for it to hit your bloodstream–before the meeting even begins, you have client updates for other Members or you’re getting to know a new visitor. You don’t have time to “settle in.”

This has helped me in all other aspects of my business–early client appointments, A.M. presentations, or other types of morning mixers. I don’t use “it’s too early” as an excuse for not acting like a cool, confident professional. Because of BNI, my body and mind are trained to burst into action at the sight of new connections and new prospects, no matter how early in the morning!

Know how to network. I’ve been a Member of several chambers in the last 8 years. They’re different from BNI, as there isn’t a carved-out time for you to promote your business. Many other businesses (including your competitors) attend mixers and functions with very little regularity. It really is what you make of it.

Thanks to BNI, I know what I’m looking for. I have personal experience of working with so many different professions, so I know who my natural referral partners are. My “elevator pitch” has been developed over years of selling my business at BNI meetings, and I know how to be specific.

If there is another chamber member I think would make a good partner, I know the natural next step is to invite him/her to coffee so we can have a proper 1-to-1. And if the thought of being alone at a mixer gives you anxiety, you know there will always be some fellow BNI Members there to talk to in-between meeting new connections!

Know how NOT to network. Have you ever been “hard-sold” within mere minutes of meeting a new Member of the local business community? Perhaps a coffee date with a potential new referral partner turned into a full-blown sales pitch? 

Very few things irk me more than a premature sales pitch, especially in a networking setting. I don’t make mistakes like this anymore because I know about BNI’s principle of VCP – Visibility Credibility Profitability. Yes, as salespeople we need to ask for the sale and have that killer instinct when it comes to closing deals. But when it comes to establishing long-term relationships with referral partners, I know I must remain visible over a period of time in order to build credibility, and that is the only path to true profitability!

My own personal benefit. Being new to an area can be tough. Luckily for me, I’ve always found help from fellow BNI Members! Whether it was finding a new dentist, getting a DJ for my wedding, getting the mortgage for my first home, or finding a contractor to repair it–I’ve always been extremely fortunate to have knowledgeable, trustworthy people around me when I was in need.

What lesser-known, side-benefits have you experienced during your time with BNI?

M I K E  M E T Z G E R  Property & Casualty Specialist

MetLife Auto & Home®

Business Brewers chapter

Invest in Success

Posted on by BNI Global

This Member Success story comes from Cédric Mathieu, who is a member of 86-02 BNI du Pays Châtelleraudais in BNI France. Cédric is a first-year member who has seen phenomenal gains in the short time that he has been with BNI. It has transformed his life both personally and professionally.


“What I’m doing today thanks to BNI was unthinkable seven months ago!”

Each of us has moments of serendipity, but for Cédric, his moment has allowed him to fully realize the potential of a BNI Membership.

Every time a new entrepreneur visits a BNI chapter, it is the start of a new journey. One that involves a community of Members practicing the philosophy of Givers Gain® while supporting each other through the passing of referrals. For Cédric, the founder and managing Director of CCM Décapage, his initial experience was much more than that. He recalls it as being “A day that he would not forget”. A day that marked an inflection point in his life.

Sometimes the journey to membership is moving and emotional, as it was for Cédric. When his father became ill, while living in the Creuse, Cédric felt a need to move closer to his parents. At the time, he had been living in Paris and had been a partner in an industrial stripping company, with a focus on servicing underground car parks. When his wife, who worked for the “French National Railway Company” (SNCF), was granted a transfer, his family dropped everything and “moved to the Indre et Loire and the region of Vienne.” When they subsequently purchased a house in the area, their window blinds were not up to par. That led Cédric to the local branch of the Monsieur Store Chain, where by chance, he began speaking with Vincent Baudier, the store manager and a local BNI Member.

“I was starting from scratch…”

One thing led to another and they began focusing their conversation on Cédric’s profession. “I had just opened up a small company with a specialization in stripping. I was starting from scratch… During our conversation, Vincent told me that he was a member of a local BNI Chapter. He explained the Core Values and invited me!”

It was an A-ha moment, as Cédric was drawn to the energy of the group. He quickly applied and was approved as a member.

Since then, Cédric has experienced staggering success: in 7 months of membership, Cédric has received no less than 77 recommendations! “I realize that my services are in-demand: individuals, businesses, or communities, you name it… It’s no coincidence that 70% of my Chapter has recommended me…” It must be noted that Cédric responds in kind, and fully embraces the law of reciprocity.

“I only work off of BNI referrals now!”

And Business is good for Cédric: “I’ve made almost 110,000 Euros so far. By September I’ll be at 130,000 Euros. It’s quite simple, I only work through referrals and no longer have time to take on additional projects! What I’m achieving today thanks to BNI was unthinkable 7 months ago.”

As a result of his move and success, Cédric’s parents are reassured about his future and get to see him more often. “Thanks to all the work BNI brings me, my parents are secure, and I can also comfortably plan my children’s education…”

Hit Reset on Fatigue

Posted on by BNI Global

Mental exhaustion is bound to affect everyone, one way or another. Sometimes, we need to step back and take time to… notwork. As BNI Founder & Chief Visionary Officer Dr. Ivan Misner likes to say, it’s important that when reflecting on one’s career, you don’t say “Gee, I wish I spent more time at the office.”

“Notworking” is important to one’s mental health, especially when one considers the idea of “decision fatigue”, a common affliction among business owners.

In decision making and social psychology, decision fatigue refers to the exhaustion that sets in when someone is presented with the need to make one decision after another, back to back, over and over again.  This can play out in several ways–for example, it can be as simple as going to a grocery store and being confronted with one bad choice for food after another. By the time you are checking out, your willpower becomes weak and you buy that candy on the way out of the check stand (that’s why they have it there!)

It can also be related to a very long day of making many decisions. If you’re making tough calls all day long, the quality of the decisions will drastically diminish by days end.  Or it might play out over a very long period of time (weeks, months, or years) where you are confronted with one challenging decision after another.  Over an extended period of time, you feel exhausted and drained from having to make so many decisions about so many different issues that it is easy to experience “burnout” as a result.

As a business professional, the nature of ongoing and important decisions can often create a massive amount of sustained stress. It’s vital to recognize when the signs of fatigue are setting in and to take action to course correct. One way to combat this is to schedule “mental health days” or to spend quality time with your loved ones. The goal is to reset your mindset for a more productive and stress-free environment 

Decision fatigue is a real condition.  What, if anything, do you do to combat this feeling in your life?

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