I joined BNI on the insistence of the Caitlin Baker from Vogue Print Savers who was doing the printing for my clinic and a member of the chapter. She was at me for months about the benefits and it took me a while to take action but I am so glad that I did.

I am now a 6 year member of the chapter and I have built great business relationships, a network of trusted advisors, trusted businesses that I can refer to and most importantly some great friends. This last point is a strong one as we often have visitors to our chapter that are members of other BNI chapters and they almost always remark about the 'feeling' in the room. Warm, friendly, camaraderie, happy, fun are just some of the terms that frequently get used.

On top of this, the services that I have used in my chapter over the journey have been hugely valuable to me in my personal life.

So not only has BNI given me a great business network, it has also given me some great personal relationships, it has enhanced my personal life and it has happened through attending a weekly meeting that is a thoroughly enjoyable use of time.

Just typing this I can see why Caitlin was relentless in getting me to join. My question to others, why wouldn't you want to get the same outcome as I have?

BNI has taught me how to develop key referral partnerships with other businesses that meet my customers before I do. In the last quarter, sales generated through BNI has accounted for a third of my turnover.

BNI has helped me to identify my ideal client AND how to approach them. To top it off, I am now also a confident public speaker.

I have been in BNI for 9 years now and it really has been the most incredible journey. I have grown as a person and business owner and have met so many wonderful people that will be life long business colleagues and friends. There is so much support from an organisation like BNI and today the business that I am receiving from my chapter accounts for 30% of my total business. I can't imagine being in business and not being in BNI.