I originally joined BNI to help grow my business, but I have gained a lot more from my 4 years of membership. My networking and relationship building skills, public speaking and ability to quickly and effectively pitch my business have all improved significantly. I've forged strong relationships with other small business owners that have helped mentor me and also referred a lot of business to me. Many of the friendships I've made in BNI will last my lifetime.
I have been a member for coming up to 7 years. I would not have remained a member if I did not appreciate the benefits. The benefits are several:
Referrals leading to income for my business, support from what is a great community, access to products and services that have benefited me and my clients/friends/family
If you treat BNI as an integral part of your business, rather than an external attachment, I believe you will experience greater success.
Where else can you have 30+ people as sales consultants on the ground trying to find you referrals every week, without it costing an arm and a leg.
With Corona-19, it is more important than ever to have advocates for your business trying to help you survive. Better than being out there as a small business with fewer marketing/sales channels and fewer income streams doing it alone. Isolation can be terrible for any business. BNI is like a family.
I have taken on many roles within BNI, it feels better to give back, and be more of a contributor and less of a spectator. It’s all about Givers Gain.
People make the world go 'round. Joining BNI North Eastern has allowed for many possibilities including more connections, a bigger network, more business, greater opportunities in my local community, personal growth, challenges, support, friendships and, above all, the best way to start a new day. I do not know how I survived without my BNI network and couldn't imagine life (business or personal) without it. It really is easy to be Green!
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.
BNI has challenged me to determine my ‘why’ and has given me the tools to communicate my ‘why’ effectively. I’m now converting 85% more sales leads with higher value clients