BNI Minnesota & N. Wisconsin Blog

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I recently was out of town for about a week, twice in a 6 week span of time. I was running here and there and when I got back, all I could think of was that I craved the structure in my life, my routines. Some may view routines as a negative, something that confines them or keeps them in some kind of a box. I find just the opposite and wondered if I was somehow just playing into my craving for order. So I did the obvious, I asked all my friends on Facebook how they felt about routines? ((smile))

It was very interesting the replies that came back. Most loved their routines and said they couldn’t function without them. Some enjoyed routines but also liked the freedom they had without. Some even said they wished they DID have routines in place. The reason? All agreed that more gets done, when there is a routine in place. Very interesting, I thought.

I was listening to the Entrepreneurial Excellence Radio Show with Frank De Raffele last week and Frank said, “The more structure you have the more freedom you have…” The comment resonated with me because of my recent research on the topic and reiterated my conclusion. If we use our routines to accomplish the things that must get done, we are able to have more free time to do what we want to do.

As a small business owner, it wasn’t until I established routines for certain aspects of my business that I was able to start having free evenings and weekends with my family. This is the reason I started my business, so I could enjoy that freedom. It was also when I began to feel successful.

BNI is what I use for marketing my business so logically I enjoyed the structure there and the success it brought. Our BNI meetings have structure for a reason. We are able to get the things done that we need to. Our agenda is the routine or structure to the meeting. Is the agenda new? No, it was tweaked in the beginning, but has remained consistent for decades. Each item on the agenda is there for a reason. Yet, by using this agenda, we are able to get more done in less time. We are able to efficient and in turn, more effective.

Are there other routines that you use in your business? Would you be more productive if you did? Is there some portion of your business that you struggle with? Would establishing a routine help with the productivity and make it less of a struggle? Would you be able to enjoy more freedom with that structure in place?

Establish a routine today. Feel the structure. Feel the success. Enjoy the freedom.

Tara Schmakel- Entrepreneurial Excellence Business Forum, The Workroom at Tara’s

What are you putting your attention on?
 
From www.merriam-webster.com
Attention - noun - A condition of readiness for such attention involving especially a selective narrowing or focusing of consciousness and receptivity

The mind is a powerful tool that needs direction. Once you are committed, clear and putting your attention in the right places you can program that tool to help you achieve almost anything! 

In the book The Passion Test, co-authors Janet and Chris Attwood say, “What you put your attention on grows stronger in your life” and “Pay attention every day, every moment to what you are putting your attention on.”

Science has shown that neuro pathways, the connections in the brain, can be created by a consistent way of thinking. Once you are consciously putting attention on certain things or areas of your life, you will notice opportunities showing up to help you align your life with your passions. It’s not that the opportunities were not there to begin with. When you put your attention on something you are passionate about you will begin to recognize synchronicities, opportunities, people and the things you need to live your passionate life appear.  As an example, have you ever bought a new car that you thought was unique and you hadn’t see any like it only to find once you owned it that they are everywhere?

My challenge to you is to be conscious this week as to where you are putting your attention.  Notice what is showing up in your life in relation to that.  Are your results in line with the amount of attention you are putting forth?  Please take a minute to share your experience with me by commenting on this blog.

If you’d like help becoming clear on your passions, so you can put your attentions on only those things you love to do the most, check out the Passion Test on my website at www.luannb.com and feel free contact me directly at your convenience.

By LuAnn Buechler, PMC Events & Travel, Certified Passion Test Facilitator

By B. Scott Binion

Do this and don’t do that!  Concentrate here and you will be successful.  If you can make sure this gets done, watch out for the referrals!  We all have our “lists” to keep track of.  But what if we looked at networking from a different perspective - would that be helpful?  Most likely will.

So here goes - Do you know 4 sure-fire ways to NOT be a successful networker?  Here’s the list:

1. Show up to your networking meetings late most of the time.
2. Expect your sales force or chapter members to think of you when you’re not there.
3. Only meet outside of the networking meetings when asked.
4. Make sure to always leave your networking book of contacts in a drawer.

I know what you’re thinking - these are just way to simple.  After all, any networking education would lead you to another way.  Obviously, if you follow these rules, your networking success will be lacking.  But everyone needs to realize we all have made one or all of these mistakes before - or at least you should admit it.  I know I have!

Now here’s the way to be even more successful at your networking efforts.  Ready for the blinding flash of light?  Do the complete opposite of the four above!  Again the four suggestions restated:

1. Show up early and stay late for your networking meetings - you might even close some business.
2. Being in front of your sales force or chapter members allows them to get to know what makes you successful.
3. Be the first to initiate member meetings over and over again throughout the year.
4. Enter your networking or chapter members in your Blackberry or Droid or at the very least in your day-timer or portfolio.

Now you have no excuses - be that great networker that everyone looks up to.  Better yet, share your knowledge and networking success with others.

By B. Scott Binion, CPA

“Let Your YEA be YEA and Your NAY be NAY”

Have you heard this saying before?   I’m sure we all have from time to time.   It comes from Matthew 5:33 and is great advice for all.   Let me share what it means to me and my business.   In its simplest form – if you say it, do it.   If you can’t do it, say so.

We have all been in situations where something didn’t get done by another team member, co-worker or manager that adversely affected others and the overall company.   But they said it would be done, on time, and within budget!   We trusted them to get it done and then made our plans accordingly.    Again, they didn’t follow-through and we all had to suffer from their mistake.

Not a welcome outcome, but it is far too common.   I know in the past, I have been the one making this mistake, most likely you have too.   Let’s work hard not to see it happen ever again.

Here are a few simple sayings that can help everyone stick to what they say or to follow-through with greater success:

·          Practice saying NO more often

·          Say NO when you are unsure or have serious questions

·          Say YES when you can actually do it, without reservations

·          When something comes up, as it always will, let others know

·          Set a pattern or habit of doing what you say

If you want to learn more, go to my website www.InsightCos.com and sign up for the FREE Insight of the Week publication.  Over the next few weeks, I will go a little deeper into each one of these helpful suggestions.    

If there is anything that you need help with, call me at (952) 270-1800.  Make it a wonderfully successful day!

By B. Scott Binion

If you were outside in two feet of snow with temperatures below zero, would you take off your boots to shovel the driveway?  Of course not!  But did you know that a lot of business owners do that very thing, maybe not literally, but in how they operate their business?  They remove or change something as a pure reaction instead of thinking it through like they should. 

Here are a few examples:

• Let go of your “star” sales person due to a bad couple of months
• Spend needed funds on non essential things, such as that fancy new red sportscar
• Stopping what’s working like your networking activities because it takes too much time

I’m sure there are a thousand other examples of “when the boots come off in the cold” you can think of.  To put it bluntly, you most likely will sacrifice future gains for a so-called urgent course of action.  Which usually leads to unfavorable results.

Before you take those boots off, think about how cold it will be.  Same with your networking, count the cost before making drastic business-changing decisions.  It may cost you more than you think.

If you have cold feet right now, call one of us at BNI Minnesota and let’s see what can be done to get your networking activities ready for the New Year.

By:  Linda Aasen, Assistant Director, BNI - Minnesota

As we begin a new year I would like to share something I recently read.  The book title is “Choosing Civility” by P. M. Forni.  Mr. Forni is cofounder of the John Hopkins Civility Project.  The sub title of his book is “The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct”.

And…here are those twenty-five rules:

1.    Pay attention

2.    Acknowledge others

3.    Think the best

4.    Listen

5.    Be inclusive

6.    Speak kindly

7.    Don’t speak ill

8.    Accept and give praise

9.    Respect even a subtle “no”

10.  Respect others’ opinions

11.  Mind your body

12.  Be agreeable

13.  Keep it down (and rediscover silence)

14.  Respect other people’s time

15.  Respect other people’s space

16.  Apologize earnestly

17.  Assert yourself

18.  Avoid personal questions

19.  Care for your guests

20.  Be a considerate guest

21.  Think twice before asking for favors

22.  Refrain from idle complaints

23.  Accept and give constructive criticism

24.  Respect the environment and be gentle to animals

25.  Don’t shift responsibility and blame

It sounds amazingly like our BNI Code of Ethics in non-BNI terms.

Or, as BNI members say:  Givers Gain!

WIshing you a 2010 filled with considerate and productive networking!

B. Scott Binion CPA

Everyone has a need to know.  Cell phones are just not enough.  Got to have email on your PDA or wireless card built inside your laptop.  Better yet, got to read that text message during an important client meeting or at your son’s soccer game.

We must think society demands real-time or instant response – but do we or even should we think that way?  But customers or my boss demands it?  Again, do they really?

In all my years as a consultant, I’ve had only one client get upset due to not receiving his return email within a few hours or until the next day.  One out of hundreds!  I think it’s fair to say, we probably impose or impart some of the “constant contact phenomenon” with regard to our customers and clients.

Try these tips to keep your constant need to know in balance:

• Turn OFF your PDA or cell phone after 7:00 each evening
• Check your email only a few times over the weekend
• Better yet – leave your laptop or cell phone off ALL weekend
• Everyone needs a break – away from the distractions during family time
• Give your best clients your home number just in case of a weekend emergency

One thing to know – they will still be there tomorrow or on Monday morning.  Most likely the so-called urgent call or email is really not that serious.  It may be hard to use these tips at first, since our addiction to this type of constant contact is quite strong.  Try to get rid of this phenomenon and see if you can relax a little.  As you do it more and more, you will experience many positive changes that will last if you let them.

Have a great week!

What do we turn to when we can’t find something in the dark?  A flashlight helps, doesn’t it!  I recently heard a comment about light and darkness.  It went something like this – light simply punches holes in darkness.  Never quite looked at it that way, but it makes sense.  So what does that have to do with my job or my business?

In many businesses, key managers often make decisions while they are in the dark.  Sometimes, not knowing all of the key information can be compared to trying to find your lost keys in the pitch black.  Not having the right information available, when you need it, to make an informed decision is the same very thing.

Here are a few observations that may give you a new perspective on this very subject:

1. Light dispels dark – more info will often lead to better decisions
2. Your flashlight provides focus for your company’s direction
3. It’s hard to see where you’re going if you don’t have the right tools, like a flashlight
4. Make sure your flashlight is in good working order – last thing you want is for your light to grow dim or burn out when you need it most
5. Lastly, your flashlight needs to be working – guiding you along the path to profitability

Next time your power goes out and you reach for that flashlight, remember these few simplistic perspectives.  If you find it challenging to even find your flashlight or not even sure if you have one, seek help right away to lighten your path!