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BNI Optimum in Calgary, Alberta, was the first chapter in Canada to complete Fast Track, and now they will be the first chapter to complete it for the second time.

In August 2010 the chapter started the Fast Track program with 19 members.  The primary chapter goal was to add six new members for the 18 weeks of the Fast Track curriculum, for a total of 25 members.

“Within the first few weeks of the program,” says Julie Crawford, chapter president, “we had gained six new members, but we had also lost six members.  I wondered if we were actually going to be able to get to the 25-member mark, but I knew my chapter was determined to grow. We just needed to work on the fundamentals.”

By the time BNI Optimum finished their first time through Fast Track, their results surprised everyone.  Their membership on the day they finished Fast Track was 34—adding 21 new members. It was a 56 percent increase.  The number of one-to-one Business Building Interviews increased by 197 percent, which lead to an increase of 48 percent in referrals.  Closed business was up 28 percent.

With so many new members, they know that number will only increase as the relationships continue to grow and develop.

After they completed the Fast Track curriculum, the chapter unanimously decided to follow the curriculum again since more than half of the chapter joined since they started in August.  They will be starting again in April, just five weeks after completing the program for the first time.  The first time through, the goal was to work on getting more members.  This time around, they are focusing on increasing income.

Julie says, “People don’t join BNI for something fun to do, though we do have lots of fun.  I joined my chapter to make money, which takes time and work.  Joining BNI is not for everyone, but for those that want to put in the work, you can make money and lots of it.  We are using the “Show Me the Money” recording from del Fuego (http://www.delfuego.com/bni/ftc_02_03_2011_00.wax) to help us establish goals for how much money each member wants to receive from their BNI membership.  For sure we won’t reach a goal we don’t set!

“Just like BNI is not for everyone,” she continues, “Fast Track is not for everyone.  If your chapter wants better results than you are currently experiencing, if you are willing to put in some effort and change the way you do BNI, then this might be the program to take your chapter to a new level.  I saw it as a small investment of my time and money to gain thousands of dollars in return.”

BNI Optimum was featured on the December 10, 2010, and April 1, 2011, Fast Track calls.

For more information on Fast Track, go to www.delfuego.com/bni.


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