We can all use some positivity in 2020!
The Co-Founder of the global positivity movement, Norm Dominguez, joins us on the podcast with some insight about why positivity means so much to him and how it can impact all of us.
Find out more at http://www.possiglobal.com/

BNI4Success Podcasts

The Voice of BNI Greater Los Angeles; Where we’ll talk about referral networking that works!
http://bnipodcast4success.com

Each week at BNI4Success, we'll talk about referral networking networks. We'll discuss networking tips, strategies and action steps that are designed to help entrepreneurs and businesses work together to create quality referral business and explore new opportunities.

Welcome to this month's BNI Decoded. It's been a fabulous first week of September for us so far. Before we get into to our topic today, which is “Does Size Matter?” I want to talk a little bit about the format of BNI Decoded.

It is kind of a conversational thing. Whichever Director is staring in this, which today it's me, I'm Cys Bronner, I'm the Executive Director for BNI Greater Los Angeles Regions. Whichever Director we have will talk to us a little bit about a topic and then we kind of get the room going on it. This session is designed to be 30 minutes to 45 minutes. We have a hard stop at 45.

We tend to get a little excited and go over, and today I really want to commit to having it be a shorter run because that's part of running a successful meeting, isn't it? Starting and stopping on time.

Out here in LA on this fabulous Thursday, I had an opportunity to present this same topic with one of my favorite chapters and I have to admit I came back and I then Google the same topic afterwards and I found out that in BNI New Zealand - which is more than four steps away from LA, right? - we had another Director who was working with the chapter, Nikki Gunning, and she had almost the same things to say. It was so incredible to see this.

So, you know, we are different in our personalities and our professions, but business issues and what we're tackling are kind of the same worldwide, aren't they?

And you know, she had a chapter that was very strong at the end of last year. And you know, this chapter I was working with was very, very strong too. And the conversation that that we had really brings home how size matters.

We started our new year with this chapter going our first chapter back in person - all of our chapters here in Los Angeles have been slow to restart and some of them are just becoming hybrid. Some of them are still online and this is the only one that's fully in person and we lost in a huge swoop 19 members. But what really struck me about these people today is these are these members that are left are a very excellent dedicated Corp. They're not just dedicated in the fact of, “oh, I love BNI, and I love my people and I want to have breakfast with them”, but they're dedicated in their respect of having a meeting of excellence, and to me - and I think you might agree - that's pretty darn important, right?

So, in talking to these people and working with them, it becomes really inspirational. You know, when you have everybody who wants to be there, and everyone participating wants a fun and professional meeting it really kind of reinvigorates you, when the visitors come, you know the conversion rate begins to be high, even though there's small group, right? And I love it.

And so, I want you, everybody who's listening to this on the podcast, or who's ever here today wants you to take this into consideration when I ask you If size matters?

I think our first step really is to dream big. Because results go with goals, don't they?

Way back in the beginning of my time in BNI, I as a member, shall I share that with you?

I joined BNI in 1997. You know what? I don't even have kids that are. Well, I do have kids that were around, actually. 1997 was some time ago and we had a chapter that was also kind of ebbing and flowing in its numbers and it went from 26, it went down to 17, it went back up and there was a conversation of where we could end early.

BNI4Success Podcasts

The Voice of BNI Greater Los Angeles; Where we’ll talk about referral networking that works!
http://bnipodcast4success.com

Cys Bronner, BNI Executive Director, CRO and The Constant Social Media Networker asks if you closed your business just a little too early (and often!) for the holidays. We all deserve a break but sometimes if can lead to a bigger step backwards than we imagined.
Transcript:
Hullo, I’m Cys Bronner, BNI Executive Director and the Constant Social Media Networker and today I want to ask you, have you closed your business just a little too early (and often!) for the holidays?

I love the holidays, don't you?

For me it's the spirit all around us, it's a true Givers GainTM embodiment and that's wonderful to see and have all around you.

For me it starts around Halloween. I absolutely adore seeing everybody all dressed up whether it's spooky or cutesy, big or small, I have the opportunity to open the door and share some goodness with them, stickers or sweets, smile and wave and wait for the next one.

Thanksgiving is another one to share my table with the people around me that I love and are close to my heart is just as amazing and giving as helping to feed our community.

Then December, wow December, in our home as in many there's a frenzy of decorating and gifting and feeding and gift wrapping and so many, many, things that I just can't even begin to list like holiday parties and mixers and business get togethers, all the way through to New Year’s Day.

In fact, the more I look at this month by month the more I realize that August is the only month on the calendar without a holiday that I am personally aware of, but I usually take the first week of August off to do some type of community gifting so it's not just December is it?

Many businesses slow down during the holidays, while others struggle to reach those year-end numbers. But what do they have in common? Existing business relationships!

One thing I see that many businesses or entrepreneurs do is take their current business relationships and set them aside saying “oh let's get together or meet after the holidays are over”. I even see our BNI chapters stop meeting for several weeks during this time of year - it happens during the summer too - and it just boggles my mind. If these are the businesspeople that I've worked so hard and close with during the other times why would I meet with them less and basically close the door to my business with them?

It reminds me of a story Dr. Ivan Misner once told, about how a chapter didn’t believe that meeting weekly was really necessary, so they asked if they could try meeting every other week for 6 months and test it out. After 3 months, the chapter President told Dr Misner that the referrals had dropped by 50% and would like to return to meeting weekly. So, there you have it, if you want more referrals, meet more often!

4 Ways to Make the Most Out of the Holiday Season

1. Keep your usual business commitments and meetings on calendar – don’t disappear for 2 months!

2. Still swamped? Set up a planned meeting for after the holiday. Reach out to at least 4 people (1 for each week of January!) you’ve been meaning to catch up with.

3. Is it a slower time of year for you? Host a Holiday Coffee & Cocoa morning at your office for your network and their business friends too.

4. Set aside time to reassess your goals for the coming year. Make adjustments to your schedule, if your January pipeline isn’t up to the goals you set.

Thank you so much for being a part of today’s session. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments about how your holiday and other times of the year went!

BNI4Success Podcasts

The Voice of BNI Greater Los Angeles; Where we’ll talk about referral networking that works!
http://bnipodcast4success.com

Five Money Making Activities at BNI
What if I told you that there is a formula to chapter and member success? BNI Executive Director and CRO (Chief Referral Officer), Cys Bronner, knows that in BNI we know which activities to rinse and repeat for success, both for the member and the chapter. These activities are not difficult or new, but each of the 5 are truly money-making activities.

BNI4Success Podcasts

The Voice of BNI Greater Los Angeles; Where we’ll talk about referral networking that works!
http://bnipodcast4success.com

The Positively Remarkable Forum with Host Cys Bronner and Guest Speakers Ron & Cristina Kirby, BNI Executive Directors, SC Lowcountry, Positivity Advocates
Each week we discuss the pillars of strength that make up Living Positively every day:

Show That You Care

Accept Responsibility

Keep Your Word

Enjoy A Little Craziness

Always Think Remarkable

Treat With Respect

Never Give Up
Our guests today will be sharing insights on how you can Treat people With Respect

BNI4Success Podcasts

The Voice of BNI Greater Los Angeles; Where we’ll talk about referral networking that works!
http://bnipodcast4success.com