Showing posts with label 7 Training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 7 Training. Show all posts

Sunday, 26 February 2017

Are you in the Frame?

I made my first visit to BNI Surbiton recently and was made to feel very welcome. I saw a great meeting with a lot of business being passed but what really impressed me, because it stood out as being special, was the way members presented their testimonials.

A verbal testimonial is always better than a ‘nothing today’ during the Contribution Round. However, a nicely printed letter is by far the best way to give a testimonial. Always remember to give two copies: one for the member and one for the chapter's Testimonial Binder. Often the testimonial will also be added to the chapter’s website and, of course, the member’s website. It might also be used in advertising and - even better - framed and displayed at the member’s place of business.

All of these things are extremely useful, not just for the member receiving the testimonial, but also for the person giving it.

But at BNI Surbiton they take the giving of a testimonial a stage further. They present one copy of the printed testimonial already framed. Not only does this look great when it is presented but the person receiving it is able to display the testimonial immediately; no having to go and buy a frame (or not getting round to it).

Dave Goodman - Utility warehouse

Often as these things happen, a few days later I visited Amanda Lord, of Ad Alta Sports Therapy, for some physio, and on display was a framed testimonial given to her by Dave Goodman of the Utility Warehouse. The testimonial reassured me that I was in good hands and, of course, I noted Mr Goodman’s name and business.

Although this might seem like a small thing and certainly a little effort is required but, if you are looking for ways to improve your business, then I think it’s well worth the investment in time and money.

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

What’s up your sleeve?

Recently I was at a meeting when a member gave five referrals, read out a testimonial and had also brought along a visitor. It was great. And they received, a deserved, standing ovation.

It reminded me of an occasion in my own chapter a few years ago when one of our members did a similar thing. However, there was a big difference between the two members. You see for our member it was pretty much a one-off event as they were often short of a weekly contribution (a member in the red), whereas for this recent member it was common place, they are amongst the best ‘givers’ in their chapter; always at the top of the green in the traffic lights.


A weekly contribution is key to your success in your chapter as members tend to forget the great one-off contribution but they remember someone who gives every week. And that is very important to you (being remembered for giving every week) if you are going to get the best from your chapter. It will mean more referrals.

Now, as you will know if you regularly read my blog, I don’t think members bring enough visitors to their meetings but the other thing they don’t do is give as many testimonials as they could. Now I’m not talking rubbish testimonials here (Fred did a great job), but really useful feedback on work done. Testimonials that truly build the credibility of the member (receiving it), in the minds of everyone who hears it.

The reason I don’t think enough testimonials are given is because every good referral given could lead to a useful testimonial. And more testimonials would lead to more business for every member, due to increased credibility, not only for the person receiving it, but also the member giving it.
And the great thing is that there is no real time pressure on a testimonial. So if you struggle a little for a weekly contribution why not keep a good (written) testimonial ‘up your sleeve’ for a week when you have nothing else to give.

Tuesday, 13 December 2016

Feature Presentation is a bit of a Lottery!

Sometimes it can be hard to think of a topic for your Feature Presentation; sometimes the thought of doing one can be just plain scary. So how about this for an idea?

I saw this presentation some time ago but was reminded of it while attending a recent Member Success workshop. It’s clever, easy to put together and requires no special presentation skills. But what I like best about this presentation is that you are totally in control.

It’s a variation on the ‘Any Questions?’ presentation where you just spend 10 minutes answering questions and of course giving the answers. The problem is, and I’ve seen it, with this type of presentation is that often members can’t think of any (or enough) questions to ask. And there are worrying silences. Then, of course, you have the pressure of having to ‘think on your feet’ to give good answers, added to which the questions asked might not be the ones you really wanted to answer.

So how was this presentation different?

Firstly, it got every member involved and so was very interactive. As I’ve already said it was fun, there were more than enough questions, but the best part was that the only questions asked were the ones that demonstrated exactly what the presenter did and how he could help them.

He gave one member a bingo machine to operate (with 49 balls in) and every other member a folded piece of paper with a number on (1 to 49). Some members were given two numbers.


The bingo machine was spun, a number popped out, and the ‘caller’ gave the number. Then the member with that number, unfolded their paper, read out the question and the practiced answer given.

It was the perfect answer, to the perfect question. Just brilliant!

Just one thing to note; you do need to prepare 49 questions in advance.

So, if you are ever stuck for an idea, or nervous about giving a Feature Presentation, then why not give this a go?

Sunday, 6 November 2016

I’ve not got a referral yet!

It’s not something you want to ever hear from a member, unless of course they have only been a member for few weeks, but I have to say that I was stunned this week when I heard the words.

You see I was visiting a chapter and sitting in on the Visitor Orientation. So was one of the substitutes that day, and it was the substitute who chipped in with ‘Well, I’ve not got a referral yet’.

It soon became clear that out of the five people sitting around the table only one was a true visitor. There were two ‘visitors’ who had been a number of times before and were never going to apply to join (I asked them), and two substitutes, one an ex-member, and one, the person without a referral, who subbed so often that they were in effect getting free membership.

There are a couple of important lessons that can be learnt here:

1) A visitor may attend a meeting up to two times but obviously if it is clear that they are not going to apply on their first visit then there is no second visit.

Personally I don’t have a problem with a visitor attending for a third time as long as they are coming with a completed application form.

But have you ever wondered why we have this policy? There are in fact a number of reasons and two that are key, which would have avoided the situation at Visitor Orientation, are first that they are not going to see or hear anything different the third or fourth time but can be a negative influence and second, are most likely only attending in the hope of getting some business. Neither of these things benefit the chapter or its members.

2) Likewise the Substitutes. A substitute really shouldn’t come to a meeting more than twice and certainly not more than twice within a six month period. And to be attending so regularly that they expect referrals is a definite sign that something is very wrong.

Again I can see why you might think differently about this; in fact in my own chapter we had a police officer who came along a few times for a member.

But there were a couple of important factors here which you could argue make it different. He didn’t become the ‘chapter's sub’ and also he didn’t have his own business to promote.

A substitute who is eligible to apply (and doesn’t) and attends so often that they are getting, in effect, free membership (not even paying for their own breakfast), is totally different and again of little benefit to the chapter and again can be a negative influence, as this one was.

Substitutes on occasion can be hard to find but if you put in the effort to find them you will see the rewards and your chapter will be the better for it.

This blog might help youhttp://bnigivers.blogspot.co.uk/2008/02/death-and-taxes-only-certainties.html

Thursday, 20 October 2016

A Service Manager

The following happened at my own chapter some time ago, but I recently told the story as a mini-education slot and it occurred to me that the lesson would make a great blog.

For nine weeks in a row one of our members asked for an introduction to a service manager at a garage. He changed around what he said each week but at the end he always asked for the same thing: a service manager at a garage. I would write this on our ‘Referral to look for’ sheet, racking my brain for a Service Manager, while making sure I didn’t miss the start of the next 60 Seconds. No one ever came to mind.

Between meetings nine and ten the member went to a Referral Skills workshop. At the next meeting once again he did pretty much the same 60 Seconds but at the end he changed it. He asked for the Service Manager at Vauxhall in Chiswick. He was very specific. This time I instantly thought "I don’t know that person" (it was easy) but, my next thought was, I did know the Service Manager at my local Alfa garage. Because that’s the make of car I drove at the time.


After the meeting I spoke to the member and asked if this contact would help him. And of course it would; he said he had been asking for just such a contact for 10 weeks. Obviously I contacted the service manager and was able to pass the referral later that same week.

Now you might be thinking I’m a little, or maybe rather, stupid, and that might be so, but by being specific the member made it easy for me, and it led to a referral.


So my message is to be as specific as you can be. Don't think by trying to cover everyone it will give you a better chance of getting someone. If you can make connections easy for people you will get more referrals.

Thursday, 19 May 2016

Hawaii Five-0

The man sitting opposite me was dressed in white Chinos and a very bright bold patterned short sleeved shirt. I wasn’t in Hawaii or on the film set of Hawaii Five-0. I was at a BNI meeting, and before you ask, no there wasn’t anything special happening at the chapter that morning.

However, what I did know was that this particular member wasn’t getting many referrals. I listened to his 60 Seconds and I have to admit that it was very good; even had a great memory hook. So what might his problem be?

Now many of us spend a fair amount of time working on what we are going to say but do we spend as much time, proportionally, on how we will say those words and how we will look while presenting them? Now there have been many studies on this sort of thing (Albert Mehrabian 7% mentioned in our workshops) and I think that image is part of this member’s problem. You see he is an IFA, and, like it or not, we all have an impression of what, we think, an IFA should look like. To most an IFA should be suited and booted.

Now I know this member is great at his job but, because of the way he chooses to dress, he doesn’t get as many opportunities as he should do to prove it. An IFA should be serious - not a fun, relaxed type of guy!

So, how much time to you spend thinking about how you look? Do you even think about how you look?

Think of your BNI chapter as your biggest client. How would you look if you were meeting your best client (it should be the same for all of your clients)? This is how you should look at every chapter meeting.


Okay now you have some great words to say and you look the part. Now – how are you going to say them?

Saturday, 22 August 2015

Martin Lawson

My first memory of Martin was when he and Gillian ran workshops together. They were very useful workshops, but it was the dynamic between the pair that really made them special events.

I also remember Martin presenting the Member Success workshop at BNI Head Office. Over the years I’ve seen many directors give this workshop, but none were a match for Martin. He made the BIN pin seem like the most important tool that your BNI membership gave you.

However it was a One-2-One that I had with him that I remember the most. I had recently trained as a BNI Director and thought that a One-2-One with my boss would be a great idea; luckily Martin did too.

So one evening I found myself at the BNI Head Office and shown into his office. Martin was surprised that I had asked for a One-2-One because not many directors did.

Having been trained well I thought I would play the ‘you game’ and ask about Martin first. But I was talking with a professional and it wasn’t long before we were talking about me.

Firstly, Martin asked about me, and my family, and how he could help me. Then he asked about my business and how he could help me there, and finally he asked about how I was finding being a BNI Director and if there was something he could do that would help me.

I got so much from my time with Martin that evening and it shaped a great deal of my thinking about BNI, networking and what was good referral-giving.


Just as a matter of interest – I did find out some fascinating things about Martin that evening; I will miss him.

Monday, 4 May 2015

Fun Free Tombola

I attended a meeting last week where a member organised a Fun Free Tombola. Laid out on a table were all of the prizes, nicely wrapped, with a ticket number taped on top. There were enough prizes for every member, plus five extras.


Then as each member (and visitor) signed in, they drew a ticket from a hat, and claimed their prize. Now, as I say it was a fun tombola, so half the prizes were a Mars Bar, while the other half were more valuable. There were things like: high-lighter pens, Thank You cards, CDs, books, a dinner for two and vouchers for the member’s services.

It really was good fun and as usual got me thinking.

How about this for an idea?

A Free Tombola for (eligible) visitor bringing. You could run the tombola in exactly the same way, and depending on your chapter’s funds, you could run it for just a month, or two months, or even three months.

Let’s assume your chapter has the funds to run the tombola for a month. From your Palms Report find out what your average monthly visitors are. Then add, say, 20% to the number and that’s how many prizes you will need. Now you need to buy the prizes and/or get them donated. Remember half will be just Mars Bars (or similar) and you need a few really good prizes.

Wrap and number them all and put the counterpart number into a hat. Now you are ready to play!

Each week anyone who brings a visitor picks a tombola ticket and collects their prizes from the prize table. And of course they get a ticket for each visitor they bring.

Of course the better your ‘Star’ prize is the more incentive there will be for members to bring visitors. An iPad maybe? With this in mind a shorter time with better prizes may work best.

I think this could be great fun (who doesn’t like a draw?) and help grow your chapter.

If you do try this please let me know how you get on.


NOTE: If you do run a tombola please email me first for one last piece of advice.

Tuesday, 21 April 2015

Vote Wakeham

Last Thursday I subbed for Peter Voice of PHP Heating & Plumbing at BNI Guildford. It was my first visit to the chapter and I have to say it was great. Forty people in the room, some very good 60 Seconds and I even sold a couple of my books.

The best part of the meeting? The 60 Second round. There were some brilliant 60 Seconds but one stood out above the others: the member getting a spontaneous round of applause and later winning the Best 60 Second award.

So what made it so good? Well, pretty much everything. It was of the moment, the acting was superb, it was very clever, included humour, and told us exactly what the member did, how they helped people and the sort of business they were looking for.

The opening line was (pretty much) – “Ladies and Gentlemen – I stand before you as the BEL Letting Party – your lettings candidate and current member for Guildford.”


Glenn Wakeham is the owner of Belvoir, Sales and Lettings, and the way he stood, spoke and moved would have been up there with the very best politicians.

Glenn then went on to tell us about his achievements over the past five years.

Job Creation: up 500%.

Wealth and Opportunities.

I liked this line, “The NHS – our health service – our excellent record will continue to ensure doctors and nurses live in affordable houses near Royal Surrey.”

Welfare.

Immigration.

Housing had another wonderful line, “Others may speak of ‘Right to Buy’ but we say ‘Right to Buy to Let.”

Everything was covered and he ended with “Vote Belvoir, for five more years of a better Guildford.”

What made Glenn’s 60 Seconds so good? Well, as I’ve said before, he became the story. A story that others would tell their friends and contacts about; exactly what I’m doing right here.


Glenn Wakeham certainly gets my vote!

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

A Blank Page!

Image this if you will. You are looking through one of those A5 Local Magazines. It’s full of articles, editorials, photos, adverts, it’s got a ‘What’s On’ page and of course crosswords and puzzles. Then you come across a blank page.

What do you think? Has the printer made a mistake? Is there an article missing? Did an advertiser forget to submit their copy for their advert?

Of course this wouldn’t happen, especially an advertiser who had paid for space, not bothering to supply copy for an advert. But it does happen in your chapter. Don’t believe me? Well isn’t it just the same as a member being absent without a Sub?

They have paid to advertise their business every week but any time they are absent (without a Sub) they are in effect running a ‘blank page’. In fact it’s far worse than just not running an advert because being absent also hurts their credibility. It limits their ability to find referrals for other members. Plus a whole host of other important things.

It is far more damaging to run a ‘blank page’ at your chapter than it is in a printed magazine. Yet many members do it. I also know that those same people wouldn’t dream of running a blank page, they had paid for, in a magazine.

So, if you ever think about being absent from your meeting consider these two things: 1) would you run a blank page in a magazine? 2) the damage it will do to your reputation?

And please don’t be fooled into thinking that you being absent will not damage your reputation - because it will!

No one will come up to you and say, ‘being absent last week damaged your credibility’ but someone in your chapter will think twice about giving you a referral they might have done

It’s just that you will never know.

Monday, 2 March 2015

Only one message in your 60 Seconds

Most members will know that you should be specific in your 60 Seconds. Not just to the exact person or company that you are looking for but also to what single product or service you are offering.

Your 60 Seconds shouldn’t cover everything you do but instead should focus on just one thing. The trouble is that many members can’t get away from thinking that if they miss out something they do, they may miss a sale. However, what I can tell you is that by trying to cover everything you will miss out on business. And what’s more you can prove it. Yes - you! Not me.

After your next meeting, no cheating here (suddenly start taking lots of notes), write down everything that people ask for and do. I bet you can’t. But on the other hand, whereas you won’t remember more than two or three things out of a whole list of what someone does, you will remember the one thing that a member does.

You can also do the maths. Say you have 30 members in your chapter and you all include five things you do in your 60 Seconds. That’s a staggering 150 things you would have to listen to and remember. Be honest, do you really think that’s a great idea?

But how about this for an even better idea?

It came to me after attending a meeting recently. I had been chatting with someone during open networking and then when it got to their turn to give their 60 Seconds they talked about something completely different. And I mean really different. I was now confused about what they did. Result? I sort of forgot them.

So, my idea. How about making your whole meeting about just one thing? Have your 60 Seconds as the icing on the (your) cake. You chat about your one product/service in open networking and then your 60 Seconds is the punchline. Imagine just how effective that could be. One meeting; one message.


Why not give it a try and see what results you get? And please do let me know.

Monday, 16 February 2015

How to really say thank you for a referral!

Something I’ve written about before is how little thanks some members give for the referrals they receive. It’s almost as if they think it’s their right, that’s what BNI and being part of a chapter is all about, so why would they have to put any effort into thanking another member for a referral they are given.

Well, if for no other reason than it’s just polite; a smile and a warm hand-shake is the least that anyone can expect, surely? But how about an email after the meeting, or a phone call, or even a card in the post, thanking the person concerned and letting them know how much you appreciate their efforts?

After all, isn’t it about building great relationships with your referral partners and even maybe giving them the incentive to find you another referral? Certainly, if I have worked hard to find someone a referral and all I get in return is a muffled thank you, I’m not inclined to put myself out again for that person.

And that’s what made what happened at the Isis Chapter in Ealing last week. So great! During the 60 Second round, Yaro Kowalczyk of Compcontrol IT, asked another member to stand, Raj Sohal of Archer Bond Property Investment. It seems that Raj was rather surprised to be asked to stand but not as shocked as he was when Yaro presented him with a free iPad.

Yaro Kowalczyk of Compcontrol presenting iPad to Raj Sohal

The reason? Raj had given Yaro his dream referral and he wanted to let Raj know just how much he appreciated his efforts.

Now I don’t know about you, but with a thank you like that I would be looking for another similar referral for Compcontrol and not just in the hope that I might be lucky enough get another iPad, but because I knew just how much it had meant to the person.


Now I not suggesting that you rush out and add to Apple’s profits, but I am suggesting that you think about the amount of thanks you give to the members that find you referrals. Because you just never know what it might do to your relationships with the people concerned.

Thursday, 12 February 2015

Simply Brilliant!

My last blog, Super Trouper, got me thinking. Were there many 10 Minutes over the past 12 years that I remembered? Sadly, I have to say that the answer is no.

I can call to mind some that went badly wrong and a few that were pretty good, but I can’t remember who did them; so not particularly useful for any of the people concerned.

But I do remember one 10 Minute from a few years ago; pretty much in every detail.

I was at the Hogarth chapter in Chiswick. The 10 Minute Speaker was introduced and given the room and with that asked us all to stand and to please follow him as fast as we could. And with that promptly left the restaurant.

We all rushed after him. Left out of the door and left into a side road, where he had stopped and stood in front of three cars. This was a 10 Minute by Ashley Winston of Palmdale Motors – Car Finders.

Ashley said a few words of introduction and then presented the owner of each car in turn. They then told us how Palmdale had found them their dream car and at a price that they couldn’t have got it for themselves. And with a lot less hassle.

Ashley ended by adding a few words before asking us to follow him back to Carluccio’s. By the time I sat down again we had been exactly 10 minutes.

It had been the perfect 10 Minutes. Memorable, it had visuals, stories, client testimonials (in person), told us what Palmdale did and how they helped people, and exactly what sort of business they were looking for. And it took 10 minutes.

Of course I now had to email Ashley and ask him about it. In no time at all I received a reply telling me that people still talked about the morning and he also included his notes about his presentation. I think the notes are even more impressive than his 10 Minutes!

Everything is detailed, with photos, maps, and exact timings. His clients needed to get their parking slots by 6.00am (doesn’t that say something about their relationship with Ashley?), and each was asked to stand ‘…on the street-side of the car leaning against the front wing.’ What amazing attention to detail.

But I guess I should have expected nothing less knowing how Ashley runs his business.

I have to say that this is a great example of how a brilliant 10 Minute presentation can work for you for years. Just out of interest Ashley did his 10 Minute on the 27th May 2010. My favourite car? The Mustang of course!

Not the actual Mustang but one I would love

So, as I said in my last blog, what can you do in your next 10 Minutes that will get you remembered (for the right reasons) for years to come?

Sunday, 25 January 2015

Super Trouper

This blog is a little self-indulgent as it’s mainly about me, but I think it’s okay as it serves to make a great point.

I did a 10 Minute; one that was very different for me and way out of my comfort zone. It had music, dancing (not planned) and it got me a lot of referrals.

It was an amazing morning - with the whole chapter joining in.

The music I played, rather loud, was all by ABBA. The songs were ‘Does your Mother Know?’, ‘Take a chance on me’, The Name of the Game’, ‘SOS’, ‘Chiquitita’, ‘Knowing me, knowing you’, ‘Money, Money, Money’, ‘I have a dream’, ‘Super Trouper’ and ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’

‘Super Trouper’ led by Rosena Johnston and Dinah Liversidge really was something to see. Wish I had a video.

David Wimblett with Rosena Johnston - ABBA

Other than thinking “You like ABBA?!” you might also be thinking what do ABBA have to do with my business. And, more importantly, why am I telling you this story?

Well to answer the first question, I wanted to do something different, stand out, and in fact every song was connected to a point I was making about my business. Even if I say so myself, it worked rather well.

Why am I telling you? Well someone contacted me just last week because of my 10 Minute. Nothing unusual about that you might be thinking; that’s the point of a 10 Minute.

What’s unusual is that I did this 10 Minute in March 2009. Six years ago!

My ABBA 10 Minute is still bringing me contacts today and from people who, not only weren’t in the room that day, but aren’t even BNI members.

So, what could you do in your next 10 Minutes that will make you remembered for many years to come? Do that and the referrals will follow.


NOTE: My 10 Minute also resulted in a group of us going to Richmond Theatre for an ABBA sing-a-long!

Tuesday, 23 December 2014

When you say the right thing!

I'm having some work done on my new home at the moment. This includes making new doorways and bricking up other doorways so that the layout of the house is just the way we want it.

Doing part of the work is a builder, a good friend of mine, and during one of his tea breaks we were deliberating on Arsenal (there's no need to comment!) and life in general, which of course included our respective families.

David Wimblett watching Arsenal at the Emirates
My children are all now grown up but my friend has a son who is making his GCSE choices this year. I asked if his son had any idea as to a career, as at his age I hadn't had any idea, and to my surprise he said, 'Yes. A sports lawyer'.

I have to say I was impressed, not just because he had an idea of what he wanted to do, but more so because he knew exactly what he was going to do. My friend added that the only problem was that he didn't know how to advise him as neither he, nor his son's school, had any experience of how you become a sports lawyer.

And that's when there was a 'click' in my head; I know a sports lawyer. In fact this person had been involved in some Arsenal transfers. I told my friend that I couldn't promise anything, but that I would see if my contact could give him some pointers.

Well, to cut a long story short, my friend's son has now met the sports lawyer on three occasions, been to a seminar that he was speaking at, and had lunch with him. All in all, pretty amazing.

So, why am I telling you this story? Well, if my friend had just said that his son wanted to be a lawyer that probably would have been it. I know lots of lawyers and solicitors but it was the 'sports' that was the trigger.

And it's exactly the same when you are asking for referrals, or giving a 60 Seconds; for the best results you must be specific. Because just by adding one word, as in this case, can make all the difference.

Being general, trying to cover everything you do, simply doesn't work; well, not if you want great results.

So how about this for an idea? A New Year's Resolution that not only can you keep but that will also help 2015 be a great year for you too. Be specific.


Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Friday, 12 December 2014

The Expert

Recently I saw a 10 Minute which I thought was brilliant and which turned out to be very effective.

It was by a video company. There was no personal stuff, no qualifications or how long they had been in business, no 'what makes a great referral', no request for target clients, no selling and no questions. Not even a memory hook.

The person concerned didn't even show any of his company's own videos!

The title of the presentation was 'What makes a winning video'.

We were educated on what makes a great video: from why a business needed a video, to planning, scripting, location, shooting, lighting, sound (very important), titles and length. At each stage we were shown videos (short clips) which demonstrated the points being made.

As I say it was a great 10 Minutes: very professional, well planned, well scripted and executed. What came across was that this man knew his business; he was an expert in his field.

He did get one quick question at the end, from a visitor, 'Do you make videos?' His simple answer was 'Yes'.

During the referral part of the meeting he received three referrals: one from the visitor, who had asked the question, and two from members who wanted a video shot for their own business.

Now I'm not suggesting that you go out and do a similar 10 Minute next week, and I know you shouldn't sell to the room (he did no selling), but


I do think that if you get seen as an expert in your field you will get many more referrals. So it's worth considering how you can use this idea not only in a 10 Minute presentation but in everything you do.

Thursday, 9 October 2014

Across the dance floor!

Don't know about you, but when I was in my early twenties it took a great deal of courage to cross a dance floor and ask a beautiful girl if she would like a dance.

Again, if you were anything like me the answer was a curt "No thanks", and you had to make the return trip to your starting point - knowing that everyone watching knew exactly what had just happened. I would imagine those gifted at asking a girl to dance feeling pity for me, while those more timid than I just thanked their lucky stars that it wasn't them doing the walk of shame and took another sip of their beer.

But if not that night, another night, I would try again and I kept on trying, as I expect you did, until a lovely girl said yes.

Well that was a long time ago, but the experience is still very valid today.

You see when I ask members if they have tried inviting visitors by letter, or postcard, by email, by text, or even asking people they know if they could suggest someone, I more often than not get the reply, "Oh. I tried that once and it didn't work".

Can you imagine the number of unmarried men there would be around if they had used this same principle when asking a girl for a dance, or even a date? She said 'No'. I'm not trying that again!

So, why is it that those very same people only try inviting a visitor once?

I guess it comes down to a combination of fear, ambition, priorities and even credibility.

There was a lot of fear in asking the girl of your dreams for a date. However, for most men to have a beautiful loving girlfriend was something they dreamed about. And other than football on Saturday, it was their only priority. There was of course credibility at stake, as no-one wanted to be the only person without a girlfriend.

So, if you find it hard to get visitors along to your chapter, cast your mind back to those days on the dance floor; for some of you it may have been just last week!

And instead of trying to find a visitor using one particular method just the once, keep trying until you succeed. After all, you know that if you keep trying you will succeed.

And ladies, this doesn't let you off the hook, as I'm sure you have your own example!


Good Luck.