Successnet

31/7/11

Our quarterly magazine Successnet is always crammed full of really useful stuff and the current Summer edition is no different. Andy Bounds is on the cover and, as I think he is a brilliant speaker, I was interested to see what he had to say.

However it wasn’t until I was having a meeting with one of my Ambassadors, Geoff Alexander, that one of Andy’s comments hit home.

Andy was talking about presenting and the fact that for every 60 Seconds he gives he still spends at least 30 minutes writing and practising it. Now Andy, as I have already said, is a brilliant speaker and yet he still spends a minimum of 30 minutes for every 60 Seconds he gives. Maybe that is why he is so good!

But, and this is really the point of this blog, as a business mentor and long-term BNI member, I am amazed at the number of members who think that they can get the best out of their membership without any practice. Geoff and I discussed this and wondered where things changed as we, as people, grew.

As a baby we all took weeks to learn how to walk. First we would crawl, then stand, fall over, gain our balance, walk a bit, then a bit more, fall over again, and then finally walk. It might be another year before we were good at this walking lark. But, once we had it mastered we were away!

It was exactly the same with our favourite sport, getting a date, learning the job we do, in fact with everything else that we are good at. We continue to learn all of the time.

But, some member’s, think that they can find referrals and visitors, build relationships, without any practice, without learning any new skills, without putting in any real effort and, to be honest, that amazes me.

Everything we do well took a great deal of time and practice and it is exactly the same with our chapter membership. So, my question is – how long do you spend learning and practising to get the very best from your chapter membership?

Note: Just been watching Saturday Kitchen – Lenny Henry was a guest. He said he understood and was able to play Shakespeare’s Othello having studied it for 6 years.

Use your mobile: two

23/7/11

I have another simple way that I use my mobile.

I’m not sure who said it, but I really believe that in a great many cases what they said is true: “Greatness is really about doing the ordinary, everyday things, consistently well.”

For example, if you invite visitors every week, week in, week out, to your chapter, they will come to your meetings. I invite people every week, using very simple methods, and I average about one visitor every couple of weeks. I really believe that it’s all about being consistent and keeping it simple.

And, that’s where my mobile comes in again. Okay, it’s not the textbook way of inviting (people you know, using their name), but it’s another visitor stream that when added to my other inviting helps to give me my results.

I have a simple message on my mobile: ''If you can handle more business please give me a call. David.” And when I’m out and about and see a mobile number on a sign-written van, or similar, I just send a text.

Now I have to admit that the returns are low, but it’s simple, takes no time, and the few visitors I do get with this method are worth it.

What do you think? Plain crazy?