28/7/08
In my area (Twickenham), every time visitors are mentioned, over saturation of chapters is also mentioned as a reason for not being able to get any.
Well, frankly that is rubbish!
Now, I’m not going to tell you that we should cram more and more chapters into the area and I’m not going to give you the BNI statistic that says a population of so many thousand businesses will support this number of chapters. But, what I will tell you is this:
I have lived in this area for all of my life, through infant, junior, senior school and college. I have been a parent governor, commercial manager at Hampton FC, involved with the Horse Rangers, been the director for a local amateur dramatic group and played both cricket and basketball for local teams. And, more importantly, run my own business in the local area from the age of 21.
Added to this I have been a member of my BNI chapter for over five years, as a BNI Regional Director help another three local chapters, and have been to most of the other local chapters and workshops too many times to count.
All of this leads me to my point – in all of that time, in meeting all of those people, I have only ever come across three people in BNI that I had known before!
And, another interesting fact – search on the web for builders in the TW area and you will find that there are over 350.
Over Saturation? I don’t think so.
Monday 28 July 2008
Sunday 27 July 2008
Topless!
27/7/08
Well, almost ....
Katy Spragg our chapter's personal trainer (Fitness from the Heart) had a subsitute this week, a lady I knew from another local chapter.
Katy loves to get our pulses racing a little faster during her 60 seconds, so often has the whole group up on our feet bending, stretching or jogging on the spot. However, even we had not expected what Clare Brown her Sub had in store for us.
When Clare was asked to give Katy's 60 seconds she jumped on to her chair and asked everyone to stand. It was what happened next that will no doubt have this 60 seconds talked about for months to come. She crossed her arms and whipped her t-shirt off over her head!
She then gave us a fifty second workout in just her bra and trousers that I can asure you not only got our heart rate up but also got a fair few members pretty warm!
Clare's 60 seconds was followed by a cheers and a wonderful round of applause - we all pitied the member that had to follow her with their 60 seconds.
Not only will I remember Fitness from the Heart because of a great 60 seconds but I will remember (for a very long time) Clare Brown from Morgan Brown - Reliable Female Decorators - 07966 166152.
So, be inventive and get remembered.
Katy Spragg - www.fitnessfromtheheart.co.uk
Well, almost ....
Katy Spragg our chapter's personal trainer (Fitness from the Heart) had a subsitute this week, a lady I knew from another local chapter.
Katy loves to get our pulses racing a little faster during her 60 seconds, so often has the whole group up on our feet bending, stretching or jogging on the spot. However, even we had not expected what Clare Brown her Sub had in store for us.
When Clare was asked to give Katy's 60 seconds she jumped on to her chair and asked everyone to stand. It was what happened next that will no doubt have this 60 seconds talked about for months to come. She crossed her arms and whipped her t-shirt off over her head!
She then gave us a fifty second workout in just her bra and trousers that I can asure you not only got our heart rate up but also got a fair few members pretty warm!
Clare's 60 seconds was followed by a cheers and a wonderful round of applause - we all pitied the member that had to follow her with their 60 seconds.
Not only will I remember Fitness from the Heart because of a great 60 seconds but I will remember (for a very long time) Clare Brown from Morgan Brown - Reliable Female Decorators - 07966 166152.
So, be inventive and get remembered.
Katy Spragg - www.fitnessfromtheheart.co.uk
Saturday 26 July 2008
I’m entitled!
26/7/08
This was something I was told was given as a reason for being absent from a meeting when the Membership Co-ordinator had rung a member to see if they were okay. The member was just taking one of the absences that they were entitled to.
Entitled!
No! Sorry - a member is not entitled to any absences. The BNI Policy says – A member is allowed three absences in any six month period. And, the most important word there is ‘allowed’.
But what I can’t understand is why would you not want to go to your meeting in the first place?
Let’s start with the selfish reason – the referrals that you might receive that week. Okay, so you might be thinking ‘well they will contact me with any referrals I get given anyway’ and I guess you would be right. But if you don’t do a 60 seconds that week – will anyone be able to find you referrals for next week?
What about the 10 minute presentation that you miss – do you think you will be top of the speakers list for referrals that week? – I don’t think so.
And, what if the members find out that you didn’t attend the meeting because you couldn’t be bothered – do you think anyone will be looking out for referrals for you?
But, what about a more practical reason for not being ‘just’ absent?
Say you don’t bother to attend your meeting one week – no reason, just don’t feel like it. Then a couple of weeks later one of your children is sick and your really can’t get to the meeting – a perfectly good reason. And, a couple of months later you go out to start the car and the battery is flat – another perfect reason for missing a meeting.
But, suddenly you have three absences against your name – your membership of the group is under threat. And, at the next committee meeting your attendance record is discussed – how will they view your commitment to the group.
Well, a member of the committee says ‘the first absence was because they couldn’t be bothered to turn up, fancied a morning off’. If it were to come to the crunch – do you think that they would give you the benefit of the doubt?
I can tell you that the answer is – No!
So, no - you are not entitled to a single absence from your group, but you are allowed to be absent in an emergency.
To get the best from your group you have to build goodwill and trust – so please don’t ever think that your are ‘entitled’ to miss a meeting.
This was something I was told was given as a reason for being absent from a meeting when the Membership Co-ordinator had rung a member to see if they were okay. The member was just taking one of the absences that they were entitled to.
Entitled!
No! Sorry - a member is not entitled to any absences. The BNI Policy says – A member is allowed three absences in any six month period. And, the most important word there is ‘allowed’.
But what I can’t understand is why would you not want to go to your meeting in the first place?
Let’s start with the selfish reason – the referrals that you might receive that week. Okay, so you might be thinking ‘well they will contact me with any referrals I get given anyway’ and I guess you would be right. But if you don’t do a 60 seconds that week – will anyone be able to find you referrals for next week?
What about the 10 minute presentation that you miss – do you think you will be top of the speakers list for referrals that week? – I don’t think so.
And, what if the members find out that you didn’t attend the meeting because you couldn’t be bothered – do you think anyone will be looking out for referrals for you?
But, what about a more practical reason for not being ‘just’ absent?
Say you don’t bother to attend your meeting one week – no reason, just don’t feel like it. Then a couple of weeks later one of your children is sick and your really can’t get to the meeting – a perfectly good reason. And, a couple of months later you go out to start the car and the battery is flat – another perfect reason for missing a meeting.
But, suddenly you have three absences against your name – your membership of the group is under threat. And, at the next committee meeting your attendance record is discussed – how will they view your commitment to the group.
Well, a member of the committee says ‘the first absence was because they couldn’t be bothered to turn up, fancied a morning off’. If it were to come to the crunch – do you think that they would give you the benefit of the doubt?
I can tell you that the answer is – No!
So, no - you are not entitled to a single absence from your group, but you are allowed to be absent in an emergency.
To get the best from your group you have to build goodwill and trust – so please don’t ever think that your are ‘entitled’ to miss a meeting.
Sunday 20 July 2008
How many times have you seen your favourite film?
20/7/08
I must have seen my favourite film at least a dozen times and I’ve watched every episode of The West Wing three times and each time I watch them I notice something more. There are always bits I don’t remember and, more often than not, parts that make more sense seen a second or third time in watching – the odd line that I didn’t fully understand the significance of becomes clear.
The point is every time I watch I get more out of the film and in some ways it’s more fun. Okay, I know who dies and how the film ends, who is going to be the next president in the West Wing, but let’s face it, when 007 gets into a spot of bother we know he is going to be okay. We are just interested in how he will get out of it this time!
Now you may be thinking, that’s all very well, but what has it got to do with BNI?
Well, it’s amazing how many members I meet that say, ‘Oh. I’ve done that workshop. Why would I want to go again?’
Clearly there are the obvious reasons: workshops develop and change, the networking possibilities with a different set of members, motivation. But what about the simple fact that first time round you won’t have taken everything in?
I’ve been to some workshops over half a dozen times and every time I pick up something new. Suddenly something will become crystal clear in my mind because the speaker explained it in a slightly different way. I’m reminded of something that I’ve stopped doing or in fact sometimes something I’ve never done.
You can only benefit from attending a workshop. So if not for your own business, please go along as often as you can for your fellow chapter members - you may just find that you benefit anyway!
I must have seen my favourite film at least a dozen times and I’ve watched every episode of The West Wing three times and each time I watch them I notice something more. There are always bits I don’t remember and, more often than not, parts that make more sense seen a second or third time in watching – the odd line that I didn’t fully understand the significance of becomes clear.
The point is every time I watch I get more out of the film and in some ways it’s more fun. Okay, I know who dies and how the film ends, who is going to be the next president in the West Wing, but let’s face it, when 007 gets into a spot of bother we know he is going to be okay. We are just interested in how he will get out of it this time!
Now you may be thinking, that’s all very well, but what has it got to do with BNI?
Well, it’s amazing how many members I meet that say, ‘Oh. I’ve done that workshop. Why would I want to go again?’
Clearly there are the obvious reasons: workshops develop and change, the networking possibilities with a different set of members, motivation. But what about the simple fact that first time round you won’t have taken everything in?
I’ve been to some workshops over half a dozen times and every time I pick up something new. Suddenly something will become crystal clear in my mind because the speaker explained it in a slightly different way. I’m reminded of something that I’ve stopped doing or in fact sometimes something I’ve never done.
You can only benefit from attending a workshop. So if not for your own business, please go along as often as you can for your fellow chapter members - you may just find that you benefit anyway!
Saturday 12 July 2008
Referral Reality Check
12/7/08
This week I was at a meeting when during the Referral Reality Check section the details of a referral from the previous week were read out and the recipient asked how things were progressing.
Nothing wrong with that. However, what followed really demonstrated the benefit of the part of any BNI meeting.
The member that had received the referral said that as yet nothing had happened – he had not been contacted. At this the member who had given the referral got defensive about it and said that the member concerned had already been contacted. The member said no he hadn’t! There then followed a couple of minutes of each member trying to prove their respective positions.
It turned out that the member who had received the referral had in fact been contacted!
What caused the confusion was that he didn’t know who was going to contact him and the person who did contact him (the member receives calls from a number of other sources) didn’t know who had recommended him.
In the end everything was fine and the referral proved to be good.
But this situation could so easily have been avoided had the referral slip given been completed fully in the first place! So, next time, and every time, you give a referral please ensure that you give every piece of information needed to make the referral complete in itself.
And, one last idea that I have found useful: when giving a contact a member's business card - write your name on it.
This week I was at a meeting when during the Referral Reality Check section the details of a referral from the previous week were read out and the recipient asked how things were progressing.
Nothing wrong with that. However, what followed really demonstrated the benefit of the part of any BNI meeting.
The member that had received the referral said that as yet nothing had happened – he had not been contacted. At this the member who had given the referral got defensive about it and said that the member concerned had already been contacted. The member said no he hadn’t! There then followed a couple of minutes of each member trying to prove their respective positions.
It turned out that the member who had received the referral had in fact been contacted!
What caused the confusion was that he didn’t know who was going to contact him and the person who did contact him (the member receives calls from a number of other sources) didn’t know who had recommended him.
In the end everything was fine and the referral proved to be good.
But this situation could so easily have been avoided had the referral slip given been completed fully in the first place! So, next time, and every time, you give a referral please ensure that you give every piece of information needed to make the referral complete in itself.
And, one last idea that I have found useful: when giving a contact a member's business card - write your name on it.
Friday 4 July 2008
Sharp intake of breath!
4/7/08
Have you ever been at a meeting where a visitor gets up to do their 60 seconds and as soon as they mention what they do, there is a sharp intake of breath around the room?
The visitor clashes with one of the members of the chapter and that member is looking like thunder!
I’ve witnessed this, I’ve even witnessed a similar reaction when a clash has been discovered at the sign-in table (this was followed with a great deal of rushing about the room by the member concerned telling everybody that would listen that the visitor couldn’t speak).
But what I’ve never understood is why these members get so upset.
If it happened to me - I would of course have a quiet word with the member who had invited the visitor after the meeting and find out why they thought that there wasn’t a clash. But that’s about it.
Now you might be thinking that I’m mad – but think about it for a minute.
I’ve been a member of my chapter for five years, I have good relationship with most of the members, some of the members are good friends of mine, and my company Imperial Printers I believe is well respected.
Is it really likely that if another printer got up and did a 60 seconds that all the members of the chapter would suddenly flood that person with referrals?
I don’t think I really need to answer that question – but if it ever happens to you, don’t worry about it, be calm and polite, after all however good they may turn out to be, they can’t come back a second week!
Have you ever been at a meeting where a visitor gets up to do their 60 seconds and as soon as they mention what they do, there is a sharp intake of breath around the room?
The visitor clashes with one of the members of the chapter and that member is looking like thunder!
I’ve witnessed this, I’ve even witnessed a similar reaction when a clash has been discovered at the sign-in table (this was followed with a great deal of rushing about the room by the member concerned telling everybody that would listen that the visitor couldn’t speak).
But what I’ve never understood is why these members get so upset.
If it happened to me - I would of course have a quiet word with the member who had invited the visitor after the meeting and find out why they thought that there wasn’t a clash. But that’s about it.
Now you might be thinking that I’m mad – but think about it for a minute.
I’ve been a member of my chapter for five years, I have good relationship with most of the members, some of the members are good friends of mine, and my company Imperial Printers I believe is well respected.
Is it really likely that if another printer got up and did a 60 seconds that all the members of the chapter would suddenly flood that person with referrals?
I don’t think I really need to answer that question – but if it ever happens to you, don’t worry about it, be calm and polite, after all however good they may turn out to be, they can’t come back a second week!
Tuesday 1 July 2008
Air conditioning not working
1/7/08
Recently I had a One2One with a member who owns a lawn cutting franchise. After we had finished our meeting and as I was near to the garage where I have my car serviced and its air conditioning was playing up - it was acting more like a heater - I decided to pop in to see if they could have a look at it for me.
Having been a customer for many years they said that they could have a look at it on the spot. I watched the mechanic at his work for a few minutes, but could soon tell that all was not going well, so took myself off to wait in reception. However, I soon got bored of watching the receptionist type invoices and began to think about lawns – I really wanted to get this member a referral or two.
But where to start?
After a while it struck me that I had a captive audience – the receptionist – there was no telling who she might know! So, I stood up, crossed over to her desk, and said,‘Excuse me. I don’t suppose you know someone with a large garden and a lawn that needs cutting?’
She said, ‘No' , looking somewhat surprised, so I sat down again.
A couple of minutes passed before my failure began to play on my mind. I couldn’t give up; after all there were lots of members I could find referrals for. So I crossed to the receptionist again, this time I said,
‘Sorry to disturb you again, but as well as this brilliant lawn cutting company I work with a number of other really great local business owners, such as a plumber, tiler, electrician, bank, IFA, web designer...So if you need any of those.....?'
'No', she said again. Not to be totally defeated I suggested that now that she knew that I knew loads of good business people that she could call me if a need ever came up.
She smiled and said 'Of course.'
Just as I was about to return to my chair, she said,
‘I need a couple of doors repaired in my hallway at home. Have you a carpenter that you would recommend?’
We have a wonderful carpenter in my chapter, so I gave her his details, got her details for him which included the best time to call her at work. At that moment the mechanic appeared at the door to say that he had discovered the fault on my car and that they would have to order a part.
I left my garage a few minutes later feeling really pleased, as I had a referral to take to my chapter meeting the next morning and the best thing? It had cost me nothing to get it – just a little thought!
Referral possibilities are everywhere, and not always where you expect. It’s just that sometimes you may have to get a little out of your comfort zone to find them!
Recently I had a One2One with a member who owns a lawn cutting franchise. After we had finished our meeting and as I was near to the garage where I have my car serviced and its air conditioning was playing up - it was acting more like a heater - I decided to pop in to see if they could have a look at it for me.
Having been a customer for many years they said that they could have a look at it on the spot. I watched the mechanic at his work for a few minutes, but could soon tell that all was not going well, so took myself off to wait in reception. However, I soon got bored of watching the receptionist type invoices and began to think about lawns – I really wanted to get this member a referral or two.
But where to start?
After a while it struck me that I had a captive audience – the receptionist – there was no telling who she might know! So, I stood up, crossed over to her desk, and said,‘Excuse me. I don’t suppose you know someone with a large garden and a lawn that needs cutting?’
She said, ‘No' , looking somewhat surprised, so I sat down again.
A couple of minutes passed before my failure began to play on my mind. I couldn’t give up; after all there were lots of members I could find referrals for. So I crossed to the receptionist again, this time I said,
‘Sorry to disturb you again, but as well as this brilliant lawn cutting company I work with a number of other really great local business owners, such as a plumber, tiler, electrician, bank, IFA, web designer...So if you need any of those.....?'
'No', she said again. Not to be totally defeated I suggested that now that she knew that I knew loads of good business people that she could call me if a need ever came up.
She smiled and said 'Of course.'
Just as I was about to return to my chair, she said,
‘I need a couple of doors repaired in my hallway at home. Have you a carpenter that you would recommend?’
We have a wonderful carpenter in my chapter, so I gave her his details, got her details for him which included the best time to call her at work. At that moment the mechanic appeared at the door to say that he had discovered the fault on my car and that they would have to order a part.
I left my garage a few minutes later feeling really pleased, as I had a referral to take to my chapter meeting the next morning and the best thing? It had cost me nothing to get it – just a little thought!
Referral possibilities are everywhere, and not always where you expect. It’s just that sometimes you may have to get a little out of your comfort zone to find them!
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