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You are Part of a Winning Combination

And that’s what it takes to succeed in the New Year!

By Dawn Converse, Director -- BNI Maryland, Baltimore County & City

Sometimes it takes an offhanded remark by someone to make us realize what we actually have in our hands.

In a recent 1-to-1, a former BNI member asked if the business I am helping my son to expand has any real potential for profitability. Surprised by the question, my first thought was that I would not be devoting so much of my time and effort to marketing something I thought was pointless.

A business owner for a long time, I know the work it takes to build a profitable and successful business. So, I thought for a moment about how best to answer that question. I ultimately decided that any business venture can be successful if you have a winning combination: the right network and the right attitude.

The New Year is an opportune time to take stock of where your business is and where you want it to go during the next year—and beyond. The New Year brings new goals, new challenges, and new successes. By being part of your BNI chapter, you have already advantageously positioned yourself.

The Right Network Is in Your Hands

We all know that it is very difficult to build a business alone. Many of you started your business because you are passionate about what you do. Your business is meaningful to you, and that is elemental to your success.

Your satisfied customers will help you build your business as they spread the word of your good products and service. However, they have no vested interest in your success, other than they want you to remain in business so you can continue to service them. Your BNI network is different. Your business is important to each member of your chapter.

Your BNI Network Has a Vested Interest: Your Success and Theirs!

The bottom line is that your fellow BNI members have truly embraced Givers Gain^®. Simply stated: What goes around, comes back around. That being the case, members will expend more effort to help knowing that they in turn will also be helped, directly and indirectly. As a BNI member, your business has the potential to grow even faster because you are an integral part of a group of professionals who become each others’ trusted advisors. In addition, you become part of each others’ marketing teams.

This works because you and your chapter members share a common goal: Success. Your fellow BNI members want you to succeed, because, ultimately, your success benefits them, as well. But it’s more than that. You will notice that the majority of the people you meet through BNI, whether in your own chapter or others, own the attitude of giving.

Where else is that attitude prevalent? In your own field, while there may be some people with whom you associate, in the end they are your competition. So you may ultimately find that you hold back some of your enthusiasm and ideas.

That is not the case in BNI.

In BNI the goal is for everyone to succeed; you become each others’ sounding board, critics, advisors, and word-of-mouth partners. You cheer on each other as you reach your goals, and you help one another stay on the path to success when challenges may otherwise derail you.

Own Your Passion

While having the right network in place will help you reach your goals, you must also have the right attitude. Remember why you started your business. Feel the passion that meant so much to you in the beginning and own it! When you are excited about your business and embrace the ideal of sharing and supporting your networking partners, they will want to return the same to you.

Your passion is obvious in your attitude. You display it by coming to your meetings regularly; setting the stage with solid 45-second introductions; giving well-prepared 10-minute presentations; and, participating in productive 1-to-1s. The process allows for others to learn about you while you learn about them, thus creating the atmosphere for sharing.

Your attitude is also very telling when things are not going as well as you anticipated. We all hit a slump every now and then. Stay away from pity parties and negative statements. Many times, we hear people say that things are “amazing” or “unbelievable.” Some of us may have even said that a time or two.

What people don’t know is that it is unbelievable that you are still in business because times are tough. Keep your eye on the end result, your success and that of others. Your network will be there to support you. So use your challenges as learning experiences. Grow from them, and hold your head up and remember that you are meant to be successful.

Perpetuating Growth

A new year is a beginning—and whether you are new to BNI or have been a member for years, you can have your best year yet by enthusiastically displaying your optimistic and giving attitude. Proactively help build your network with others who, like you, are seeking to grow, understand the art of working as a team, and have a positive attitude.

As I return to the original question of whether there is enough potential for me, or anyone for that matter, to pursue a particular business, my answer is this: It doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks as long as we have the right network in place and our attitude is focused on success. Those are undeniably my keys to success, and they can be yours, too.

Tags: 1-to-1s, attitude, BNI Membership, Chapter, Dedication, givers gain, January 2012 Edition, success

2 Responses to “You are Part of a Winning Combination”

Bonnie Tekampe Says:
January 4th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
It takes teamwork to create success! BNI provides the tools to bring up your level of networking and prove the system will work if you put time in your schedule to work the plan!
Debbie Damesworth Says:
January 9th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Yes, having the right network in place and the right attitude toward success is crucial. I would also state that believing in the company your represent or work for, believing in your product, and believing in yourself brings it all around to success.

2 Responses to “You are Part of a Winning Combination”

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