BNI Minnesota & N. Wisconsin Blog

Are you one of the millions who hold back from opportunities because you feel you don’t know enough? You feel inadequate? You feel that someone else would be better than you based on their personality, profession, experience, etc? Or you’re afraid that you’ll look like a fool?

If so, this blog post is for you! J

The quote, “You can’t solve a problem with the same thinking that created it” also applies to our personal and professional growth. It’s impossible to achieve the next level of success or personal growth without changing our mindsets, skillset, and environment.

There will always be someone out there who is smarter, has more experience, etc., than you do. So what! This fact doesn’t negate what you offer and your ability to help others. The only thing that negates your influence is your fear of moving ahead and embracing growth.

Right now our BNI chapter incoming leadership teams are rounding out their support team. They will be looking for people who are willing to step up and help, just like so many others have helped in the past and made your chapter what it is today.

Are you open to learning new skills? Getting to know your members on a deeper level? And becoming part of a successful team?

Over the years I’ve held many positions within my chapter. Some of them I was good at, some of them I really grew into. And a couple of them helped me truly appreciate the person who filled my spot later. When I’ve been a part of the leadership team (including support positions such as visitor host, mentor coordinator, education educator, etc.,) I’ve received and given more referrals as a direct result of getting to know the other members better.

I hope that when someone taps you on the shoulder and asks for your help, you’ll step up to the plate and commit to doing it to the best of your abilities. There may be other members who you think would be better, but you were the one who was asked. You have something unique to offer that will make a positive difference.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Be “king” of your role and lead the others by being the best you can be. Set an example of commitment and dedication and you’ll find it comes back to you in countless ways!  In other words, just say “YES”!

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

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.

This past weekend I had the honor and opportunity to attend and present 2 workshops at Get Connected 2010. The crowd was small and conversations were poignant. One-to-ones were meaningful and focused. Connections were made and relationships strengthened.

Before leaving for the conference, I pondered on what referrals and introductions I should ask for. I was going to be bold in my “ask”! I knew that if I chickened out and didn’t ask, the answer was definitely a “no”. I decided to ignore the little voice that told me to be “realistic” because my passion was stronger than my fear.

Jeff Stay provided insights into a deeper level of referrals. He asked us to participate in an exercise where we met each person in the room and asked how we could help them. In my “boldness” I asked for personal introductions to someone connected with any of the home shopping networks for my Tiara Experiment Journal. I only got to meet about 10 people (we talked too long) but here’s what happened:

I didn’t get find anyone who could give me an introduction to someone connected with a home shopping network. I got something even BETTER!

I met someone who knew a program director (or something similar) for Dr. Phil. She said she’d make sure she made the connection after the conference was over. Yesterday I received the introduction!

To be honest, I don’t know if anything is going to come from the introduction. Time will tell. But if I hadn’t been bold and specific in my ask, the answer would have automatically been “no”!

by LuAnn Buechler, PMC Events & Travel

There has been a lot of buzz this week about Lisa Nichols coming to Minneapolis. Featured in The Secret, Lisa Nichols message is about how to overcome every obstacle in life, No Matter What! Lisa is an amazing, inspiring and motivating speaker. She’s received rave reviews on her international tour, and her book No Matter What is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best seller.

BNI Directors, who attended the National BNI Conference in Milwaukee, had the privilege of seeing Lisa in action as our keynote speaker. Nearly everyone who was present was inspired. Inspired to change, to persevere or to simply live life to the fullest No Matter What! obstacles seem to come your way.

I believe we can apply this philosophy to today’s economy. Many people are living in fear rather than facing the obstacle head on and looking for ways to overcome, to persevere to become even stronger because of it. No Matter What! We will survive. This too shall pass like it has in the history books many times before us. We will come out stronger than ever before if we hit it head on with a “No Matter What attitude”.

Focus on the positive opportunities to survive and thrive. Your customers can sense fear, if you are doing business with fear and apprehension. They too will worry that you may not survive. Any doubt can lead them to look elsewhere for your products/services. So, stand strong No Matter What!

If you need an attitude adjustment, if you need a boost to inspire you, to keep going in these challenging times, even if you just would like to be surrounded by great people to network with who are determined to grow despite these times…You should join us Friday evening at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The event is just two short hours, 6pm-8pm. Two hours that could change your focus, re-inspire you to commit to yourself and your business for 2009! It is a Free event, with the purchase of one of Lisa’s Books No Matter What. Books will be available for purchase at the door.

Be there, Friday, May 29^th, Minneapolis Convention Center, 6pm-8pm, NO MATTER WHAT! Click here for your FastPass!

by Beth M. Anderson

While I was at the BNI International Conference last week I was fortunate enough to have breakfast with one of the best speakers I have ever had the privilege of meeting - Frank De Raffele. Among other things, Frank has a radio show each week that is syndicated in 10 markets across the country. If you don’t live in one of them, you can listen to it on the web.

I have known Frank for years, always select to hear him speak over anyone else at conference, and he is a speaker at our International Networking Week event in Florida in February 2009. I have some visibility of what Frank does for a living, and know that he does a radio show, but I’ve never actually passed him a referral.

After talking with Frank last week (that’s him in the picture!) I realized that I could help him and help the BNI members in my area by promoting his radio show. So here it is, www.eeradioshow.com. Each Monday Frank has great guests to help you learn more about networking. Dr. Misner, founder of BNI, has a spot each week, as well as 9 other business professionals teaching you everything from taxes to marketing. Go to his website, sign up to receive notifications on the show each week, and then check it out on the air or on the web next Monday and let me know what you think. Or let Frank know!

So what are you doing this week to help your referral partners in a proactive way? If you do a newsletter, can you have others write tips to include. How about on your website? Do you list the people you refer on your website? Do you have your members’ marketing materials in your office, your waiting room, on a sheet that you include with every invoice? There are dozens of ways to be proactive in helping your partners get more business.

Click the comment button below and let us know what you are doing to be proactive in finding referrals!