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”!

This is a great article that was recently sent to me and I wanted to pass it on to all of you! I’ve included the contact information to make it easier for members to follow up if you’d like more info or want to get involved.

What does summer have to do with my BNI meetings?

The answer  - “sometimes not much!” 

We say this because we hear from folks during the summer where the chapter momentum lags. We’re all used to having summers off like we did when we were kids, no matter how old we are, and it’s hard to muster the same enthusiasm for things we have to do during the summer. Excuses run high.

We’re finding that summer is actually a great time to focus on a chapter program where everyone steps off on the same page really ready to take advantage of the fall.  That’s one reason why we have the HOT summer regional promotion going - to help chapters get the fundamentals down so they can kick off their fall with engines revved and ready to go.  You can get more information on that at http://blogs.delfuego.com. We’ll talk more about it on our call this Friday.

And speaking of our call this Friday, we’ll hear from Tim Houston, Area Director, and his BNI experience. Then, we’ll answer your questions and yes, give a sneak preview of when the new BNI Visitor Experience CD set and curriculum will be ready - the sequel to BNI Networking Secrets.
Conference Call Information:
July 9th 10:00 AM Central Time
Conference Dial-in Number: (218) 895-3922
Access Code: FASTTRACK# (327887225#)
Fast Track Tip of the Week

If you want to change up your Fast Track program, here’s an idea other chapters are doing and really having a lot of fun with it. Select members, other than the Educational Coordinator, to deliver the Educational Moment.  You can draw from a hat, ask for volunteers, or choose a fun way to select - like the person who lives the closest to your meeting place, or the person whose birthday is coming up the soonest.  Sometimes having different members deliver keeps everyone on their toes and gives them another way to build their Visibility and Credibility with the chapter.  If you decide to do this, just make sure you help them prep with the Education Coordinator manual.

All our best,
Flynn, Sara, and Linda
512-736-8716
512-576-0556
“Lives that Matter, Lives that Work, Businesses that Succeed”

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.

“But Sue, I only use Facebook for personal, not business. I want to keep my personal and business lives separate!”

If I had a dime for every time I heard that comment, I’d be a very rich woman! I understand the sentiment, but the problem is this: There’s No Such Thing as a “Personal” Facebook Page!

It is important that you understand whoever looks at your profile is going to view it from their intent, not yours. The viewer is usually looking at your profile in an attempt to better understand who you are, your values, and the judgments you make in life as a whole. Are you giving them a favorable “first impression”?

“Google” yourself and you’ll find that your Facebook profile shows up close to the top of the search – this is what others will find when they search for you. Take a close look at your profile page through the eyes of a “stranger”. Are you someone you would want to know?

Here are 5 things you can do to successfully blend your “personal” and “business” images within your personal Facebook page:

1.   Have a photo that is appealing. Do you look approachable? Do you look like someone we’d like to meet? Can we see your eyes? Are you the only one in the photo so we don’t have to try and figure out which person you are in the group? Smile!

2.   If you are tagged in photos, what image do they portray? If these photos are sending out a “mixed” message, simply adjust your settings so that the photos those people post and tag you in are “hidden” to the general public. (do this in Settings) Remember the line, “birds of a feather”? If you are in some photos taken and posted by others that shed less than a positive light on you, people who read your profile may judge you unfairly. You control your own image. Take charge!

3.   Complete your profile by adding business interests as well as social and personal interests. Let people get to see the “whole” you.

4.   Vary your status updates to include a few business comments occasionally. Potential clients and customers are going to review your info anyway, so give them some great info!

5.   Delete or hide “friends” who make inappropriate or stupid comments. This would include the avid updater who is consistently posting irrelevant comments such as “I’m waiting in the car for my daughter”, then minutes later, “I’m driving my daughter home”, etc. You know who I mean! This also applies to political, sexual, religious, and racial content.

Social media has given microbusinesses the opportunity to create large PR on a scale that competes with the big companies. You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. It’s up to you to enhance and control the image others see. Tweak your profile to compel others to want to get to know you. Once they know, like, and trust you, business can happen. 

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!