Having completed a very successful winter for BNI, it is almost leadership team change-over and training time once more.
The organisation has had a number of articles and mentions published in the New Zealand Herald, the Business to Business newspaper, Her Business magazine and a number of other newspapers and magazines.
Being a word-of-mouth organisation we have focussed our marketing efforts on public relations and building strong relationships with influential people and media within the community.

For example, BNI has recently reached a partnership agreement with NZ Business magazine (a national publication) that will see two members of the leadership team receive the magazine free during their term on the leadership team.
Also, over the next year each member will receive – at some stage during the year – a free subscription to the magazine for three months before being offered a regular subscription at almost half price.
BNI is also in talks with Home Business New Zealand (http://www.homebizbuzz.co.nz/) to raise our profile within that business community.
In addition, we are preparing for the first ever International Networking Week – which will be held around the world. We will celebrate the week with a Big Breakfast function around the country during the third week of February next year.
At the recent leadership team dinner in Auckland, BNI was pleased to have Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Barnett as a guest speaker, along with well known marketing personality Sean De’Souza of Psychotactics.
Towards the end of September we launched our first chapter in Dunedin (the 83rd in New Zealand) and a second chapter in the city is almost ready to charter.
We’re looking forward to a great summer with some interesting developments!

Wishing you a year of Givers Gain
Graham Southwell

A special partnership agreement between BNI New Zealand and national business magazine, NZBusiness – the authority for small and medium business – means that over the next year BNI members will receive a three month free subscription of the magazine.
BNI NZ Director, Graham Southwell, said NZBusiness will mail a free subscription for three months to rotating groups of 500 members (until all members have received a free trial subscription offer).
“At the end of the free trial subscription offer, each member will receive a discounted subscription offer for BNI members of $49 (normal rate $80).”

President and education co-ordinator to receive free copies for full term

In addition, when a member becomes president or education co-ordinator of a chapter, he or she will receive a free subscription for their full term in the leadership team.
In return, BNI has been included in the magazine’s partners section on the NZBusiness website, including a short description of BNI and a link to the BNI website.
 Magazine publisher Cathy Parker said editorial staff will look favourably on relevant editorial supplied by BNI for inclusion in NZBusiness magazine.
“I am sure this partnership will provide benefits for both parties, in particular for BNI members it provides immediate added value for office holders and members plus additional opportunities for publicity for BNI via the NZBusiness website and magazine,” Cathy said.

Here’s a great way to showcase your chapter members and increase your referrals while advertising your membership of BNI – the BNI Business card holder for your premises.
After a number of inquiries over the years, BNI NZ has taken the decision to supply these attractive business card holders to members at cost price. The cost price for the 30 pocket business card holder is $263 (GST inc) plus postage and packaging.

The price will be reduced if BNI NZ receives 100 or more orders. Email Fiona at BNI Support with your orders: fharrop@bni.co.nz

Leadership team members from the Auckland region gathered recently to celebrate their participation in the leadership teams during the last term.
More than 100 leadership team members from as far afield as Northland and Hamilton joined Aucklanders to hear the CEO of the Auckland Chamber of Business, Michael Barnett (pictured), and marketing personality Sean De’Souza.
This is an opportunity to network with other leadership teams during an evening of fun, conversation and fine food.
Wellington LT Dinner - October 26th.
Christchurch LT Dinner - October 25th.
For more information on a Leadership Team Dinner in your area, please contact your local regional director.

 

October is a big month for all home business owners around the country.
National Home Business Week starts next Monday October 9th and is a great vehicle to ensure the real economic importance of the home business sector is recognised.
For ideas on how you can ensure National Home Business Week helps you raise the profile of your own home business, check out http://www.homebizbuzz.co.nz/

Attending the Leadership Team Training events in October is essential for anybody serving on the leadership team – even if you have previously served on the leadership team.
Like other successful international companies, Business Network International is founded on a business SYSTEM for structured referral networking.
* Work the system properly, such as following the agenda, and you will succeed.
* Developed and refined over time, the BNI system is constantly updated and it’s important that you keep up-to-date with new developments.
* If you are not familiar with the components of the BNI system you will end up introducing your own modifications and moving away from the formula, thereby increasing the risk of creating all kinds of problems with the dynamics of your chapter.
By agreeing to serve on your chapter’s leadership team you are taking on the responsibility for the wellbeing and prosperity of your chapter – your chapter’s success will stand or fall according to YOUR contribution.
Please attend BNI Leadership Training near you:
* 9 October: Hawkes Bay, Quality Inn Napier, 311 Marine Parade
* 10 October: Palmerston North, Kingsgate Hotel, 110 Fitzherbert Ave
* 11 October: Wellington, Portland Hotel of Thorndon, 24 Hawkestone Street
* 12 October: Christchurch, Canterbury Club, Cnr Cambride Street and Worcester Blvd
* 17 October: Auckland North Shore, Bruce Mason Centre, Cnr Hurstmere Road and The Promenade, Takapuna
* 19 October: Auckland Sth, Pickles on Home Base Botany, 16 Bishop Dunn Place
* 24 October: Rotorua, Triple 1 Five Cafe, 1115 Tutanekai Street
* 25 October: New Plymouth, Devon Hotel, 390 Devon Street East
* 26 October: Hamilton, The Olde Creamery, 317 Kaipaki Road, RD1, Ohaupo
* 31 October: Nelson, Honest Lawyer, Point Road Monaco
* 31 October: Auckland Central, St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby
* 1 November: Whangarei, Cheviot Park Motor Lodge, Cnr Western Hills Drive and Cheviot Street.

More than 20 new members of the Dunedin chapter of Business Network International (BNI) gathered for the launch of the chapter at the end of September, making it the 83rd BNI chapter in New Zealand.
Local businessman and the chapter’s first president, Chris Lucas of Lucas & Lucas Barristers and Solicitors, said the concept of a small group of business people dedicated to finding referrals for each other is a good fit for Dunedin’s community orientated way of doing business.
“Some of the organisations traditionally relied upon for networking haven’t catered for people my age in the way I would have liked, or they have just been too much hard work.
“I like the BNI chapter because it has a very welcoming atmosphere and everyone is encouraged to get to know everyone else – there is a fluidity of social contact throughout the room,” he said.
One of the co-ordinators for the second Dunedin chapter, Robert Janssen of Wizard Home Loans, said the BNI chapters are something Dunedin has really needed.
“Dunedin is also a fickle market and belonging to a group like this is a point of difference. It is really formalising what Dunedin has always been about – as a small community we have to look after each other,” he said.

As a result of the exceptional effort by BNI chapters around New Zealand, BNI was able to hand over a cheque for $35,077.80 to Hospice New Zealand president Wilf Marley.
Mr Marley thanked BNI for its exceptional contribution and applauded members for their impressive gains from the $12,538.65 donated last year.

He told the dinner that Hospice was not only about dying, it was also about how one lived one’s life and how one leaves it.

BNI Area Director Paul Meyer has co-authored a book – The Naked Career – with Stephen Conway.
The book is currently featured on the BNI website at www.bni.co.nz as the book of the month.
Paul (pictured) describes the book as being about ‘Your journey to emotional and financial fulfillment’.

The book deals with how career choices influence your life, together with the authors’ experience, knowledge, wisdom and insights, it provides practical and creative tools to start or enhance your career.
BNI NZ Director, Graham Southwell, says the book brings a refreshing way to review career progress, for any employer, employee or business person.
"Helpful tool for those who are keen to future-proof their careers."

Educate your network on your product and your customers so they can help expand your client base. By Ivan Misner
When entrepreneurs try to develop a qualified, consistent and dynamic circle of networking partners who are going to provide them with referrals for new business, their tendency is often to "sell" those individuals on their product.
I don't disagree that in order for the members of your networking group to refer you effectively they must be familiar with what you have to offer; however, it's important to resist your urge to sell to group members. What do I mean by that?
Educating your networking group's members about the type of referrals you want – specifically, where applicable, even the names of the individuals with whom you want to meet and develop relationships – is much more important to the success of your networking in a closed contact network than selling to other members. This demands a shift in how you see your networking partners. They're not the clients; they are, in effect, your sales force. And for your sales force to sell you effectively, they have to know who to sell you to and how to sell you.
Below are four tips for incorporating this educational style into your networking meetings:
1. Teach your network members what your ‘dream referral’ looks like.
2. Share customer profiles and case studies of current customers. This will go a long way toward educating the group as to the type of person you wish to have referred to you.
3. Break your business down into its lowest common denominators. It’s very tempting to start your personal introduction with a statement like: "We're a full-service XYZ." Resist this urge! Don't waste the opportunity to highlight one aspect of your business by painting with the full-service brush. Get detailed!
4. Ask specifically for the referral you want. I often hear members of networking groups say things like ‘Anyone who needs . . .’ or ‘Everyone who’s looking for . . .’ Usually, when I hear ‘anyone’ or ‘everyone,’ I tune out, because I know so many anyones and everyones that I end up referring no one. This is an interesting dynamic that has to do with information overload.
By keeping your focus on educating your networking partners about what type of referrals you wish to receive, you'll find that the referrals you begin to get will be of a higher calibre and offer more chances of becoming closed sales than if you try to sell the members on what you’re offering.You should be trying to educate a sales force instead of trying to close a sale. Shift your intention in the group, and you'll find that the quality of your referrals will improve.