Too busy to invite!

11/11/12

I asked a member recently why they didn’t invite anyone. I expected all sorts of excuses but all I got in reply were two words: too busy. Now I expect the person was indeed busy. But really, any more busy than the next person? Any more busy than me? I don’t know. But what I do know is the damage that they are doing their business. Or, should I say, their future business.

You see if they are too busy to spend a few minutes inviting a visitor, and let’s go mad here, a couple of hours, I can’t possibly refer them, can I? They have just told me that they are too busy to spend some time inviting, so, by definition, that also means that they are too busy to take on any more work.

I mentioned this fact to the person concerned and they said that of course they would take on more work. But, that now means I could never refer them. Why? Because it’s not that they are too busy to invite, they just can’t be bothered. Inviting isn’t important! So, how can I refer someone who isn’t bothered about helping their chapter? Their fellow members. Me.

Everything we do in our chapters has an effect on our credibility and, ultimately, the number of referrals we receive. Put simply, if you have no time to help other people, others will have no time to help you.

BNI put it pretty well. Givers Gain!