Raising the Bar
Will this be your response in the new year?
by Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI

What does "raising the bar" mean for BNI? What does it mean for you? What does it mean for your prospects and customers?

While most of the world is shouting about the sky falling and the difficult times we are experiencing, I believe that right now we have an opportunity: to focus on the fundamentals of what we do best.  Both you as a business professional and BNI as a referral marketing network can raise the bar in 2009.

For BNI, "raising the bar" transcends growth - although the company will continue to grow as entrepreneurs and professionals around the globe embrace networking and word of mouth marketing to thrive, especially in the midst of international economic challenges.

As stakeholders in this company, we must strive to reach out to people around us and share the BNI story with them in compelling ways. Tell the testimonies that will excite them about business growth through word-of-mouth marketing. Be concrete as you outline how BNI membership can help them. And be a skillful listener: heeding their concerns, questions, and dreams.

"Raising the bar" for BNI means celebrating the success and contributions of every member and chapter-even as we lay the groundwork for success in brand new regions.

Most simply, it means looking to our future with clear vision, clear minds, and clear dedication to BNI's methods and principles.

A Commitment to You; A Commitment to Others

And you?  What does "raising the bar" mean in your life, your business, and your BNI chapter?

While only you can answer that question, I see you as a business leader who believes in the power of raising your game while others retrench.  I see you as an action-oriented mover and shaker who expects even more of yourself than those around you.

I see you as the kind of person who understands how the success-focused energy available through each BNI chapter boosts your ability to exceed even your own high standards for achievement.

That reality, in turn, impacts your prospects and customers.

How?  Look at yourself through their eyes. You influence them more than you might think-in the ways you conduct business, attend to their needs, and help them pursue success. By raising the bar for yourself, you help them--by your example--to also raise the bar in their own lives.

Raising the bar?  It's the commitment BNI makes to you.  When you do it for yourself, it's the gift you give others in your life and work.  And it's what we all must do for the health of the global economy in the coming year.

The economy is serving us lemons.  We choose to make lemonade.  My marching orders to directors around the world this year are to focus on the fundamentals.  Get back to basics.  Do what BNI does well and do it better than we have ever done it before.  We are committed to making BNI an even better organization in 2009.

Because of that we are moving forward with the most comprehensive project in the history of the organization.  We are investing the most capital we have ever invested in a single project and we are doing it now during a recession.  Why?  Because I believe there is an opportunity for BNI and for you as BNI members to excel while others stagnate.

By the end of 2009, we will introduce a comprehensive online social network to support BNI members throughout the world.  The project is called BNI Connect.  For some basic information about the project, feel free to go to www.BNIConnect.com and take a look at our vision for this program.

BNI is "raising the bar," moving forward with a plan that will reinforce BNI's position as the world's largest business networking organization. This will help members around the world to make effective use of our global network.

Help us "raise the bar" this year in your chapter.  Focus on the fundamentals, get back to basics, and immerse and engage in a culture of learning within your group.   Through BNI, you can have a great year in 2009.