All BNI members know that they are only allowed to represent one category in their chapter. However, although a clash with another member, or potential member, is one of the most common problems in BNI, it even goes further than that. Many members, even if sticking to their category, try and include everything they can within their category, trying to grab as much business as possible, but not understanding that they are losing much more than they gain.

As a business you must stand out. What makes you different to someone else doing what you do? Doing everything, for anyone, is not different. You need to be special; have a category of one!

Take BNI as an example. BNI is the world’s largest referral organisation. It is not the world’s largest networking organisation. It is not the world’s largest membership organisation. It’s not in more countries than other organisations. You can come up with lots of things that BNI does, very well, but the only thing BNI talks about is being the world’s largest referral organisation.

Now you have to be brave to focus on just one thing; think of all that business you might be missing out on. But I promise you, if you are brave, you will see the rewards. Whereas, if you are the same as everyone else, offering everything, to everyone, you will get the same result – nothing special! Think about successful people: do they do the same as everyone else? No, of course not!

So, not because of BNI, but because you want greater success, focus on your core business. Give a clear message to your fellow members and watch your referral rate climb.

Blog: My BNI Day

BNI South / East Auckland directors Paul and Rosemary Meyer presented four members with their 10 year member pins, certificates and plaques.

Rosemary says this is an exceptional milestone because three of the 3 members were founding members of the chapter.

This was a cocktail evening  with formal dress code where Canapes, which was by invitation and included past presidents of the chapter. Paul did a 10 minute talk on “The Joy of BNI” with some brief chapter history.

“My visit to New Zealand was prompted by several factors, the first being meeting Mobility Dogs Manager, Helen Spence, online through the BNI network and our combined interest in Mobility Dogs. The second was I was in need of a holiday having not been away properly for some time now. The third was probably that I have always wanted to visit New Zealand and this gave me the ideal opportunity!”

In addition to her interest in dogs for the disabled, Samantha is a photographer and during her visit here she was able to visit BNI Parnell (where Helen is a member – there’s even a Mobility Puppy named Parnell after the chapter), where she also met commercial photographer Grant Southam.

“The link with Grant was generated by Helen. I am pretty new to BNI having only joined in March this year and wanted some hints as to how to do a good 60 seconds. When Grant found out I was coming to visit he kindly offered to take me on a shoot.

“However, when we met we got on really well and I ended up spending two days with him being his assistant. I really enjoyed talking ’shop’ with Grant and learning more about how he had developed the business. His work has really inspired me, and I have gained a new friend in the process which is always good.

“Grant gave me a grapefruit from his garden and I took this on my tour of the south island. Now I am in the process of putting together an album documenting the adventures of “Grant the Grapefruit”! Photographing him became quite an obsession for the whole trek group,” says Samantha.

Of her visit to BNI Parnell, Samantha says she found the group friendly, welcoming and much more relaxed than the groups she has seen in the UK.

“I enjoyed the fresh approach and the experience. I would like the thank the whole chapter for making me feel so welcome. I love the New Zealand way of life and felt like I had fitted in perfectly. I even asked Helen how I could emigrate to New Zealand!”

Samantha says highlights were trekking the coastline in the South Island and making new friends in the North Island!

“Mobility Dog, Chance, (also a member of BNI Parnell) was my official tour guide. Every day we went somewhere different and Chance got so much attention. We visited the Thermal Village in Rotoura, Rainbow Springs Kiwi Sanctuary and went on a Kiwi Adventure where the Kiwi’s were more interested in Chance than he was in them. Chance showed me cafes and restaurants where he used his VIP status to access all areas and privileges.

“I absolutely loved doing the parachute jump for the UK Dogs for the Disabled. It took me 5 attempts to complete the jump as the British weather kept hampering me, but when I did it, it was amazing. I raised nearly £500 for the charity!”

Pictured: Samantha and Chance

Janssen was the winner of 9 awards at this year’s prestigious Epson / NZIPP Iris Professional Photography Awards and a finalist in the Landscape Category.

NZIPP’s Honours Chair Kaye Davis said that this year’s entries contained a lot more imagery that is visually simpler, cleaner and less cluttered. “The judges are looking for consistency, quality, technical execution and command of the craft of image making.”

She said that the winners showed superior levels of photographic practice that made them stand out from other photographers.

“Each year I am amazed at the creativity and professionalism of the award entrants,” said NZIPP President Craig Robertson. “These photographers continue to push their own creative boundaries and this filters down to their day to day work putting them at the leading edge of the profession. The entries we’ve seen this year nudge us into the realm of fine art as we see image making and communication through the medium of photography.”

Organised by the NZIPP for more than 30 years, these annual awards celebrate the excellence of New Zealand’s professional photographers, providing a platform for recognition within the industry and the wider public. The 2011 awards attracted 934 entries with the largest numbers occurring in the landscape, portrait, wedding and student categories.

“Winning Iris Awards is very special because it means my work has passed high quality levels in the eyes of some of the most successful professional photographers in both New Zealand and Australia,” said Harry.  “It gives my clients the confidence that they have picked the right guy for their job”.

Harry is a Master of Photography, has 30 years experience as a professional photographer and regularly tutors both amateur and professional photographers. He says “Entering the awards pushes your own personal skill levels to the max. The awards give you the incentive to keep exploring and trying new things.  They encourage us to be creative at levels where we might not normally go.”

“The awards give photographers an opportunity to push the boundaries, and to see how their work is judged against the rest of the industry,” said NZIPP President Craig Robertson.  “As a result, the bar keeps getting raised higher and higher and this year was no exception.”

You can view Janssen’s award winning images at www.redzebrastudio.co.nz

‘”What we learned is that when it comes to the brain and cooperation, the whole is definitely greater than the sum of its parts,” said Fortune, of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. “We found that the brain of each individual participant prefers the combined activity over his or her own part.”’ (Read the full, fascinating article here)

We’ve known for years that we work better together. Now the scientists are confirming that we’re actually wired for cooperation – which begs the question, why aren’t we cooperating more?

BNI creates an ideal environment for inter-company, inter-person cooperation, but very few of us take full advantage of the benefits of working together beyond referrals, dances and ‘off the cuff’ advice.

Here are some ideas for closing the cooperation gap:

1.     Form a hub of inter-connected Business Facebook Pages so that your broader networks are exposed to people in your BNI chapter (social media)

2.     Conduct joint marketing efforts to combined databases i.e. a shared newsletter (cross marketing)

3.     Post on each other’s blogs (content marketing and backlinks marketing)

4.     Link to each other’s website (search engine optimisation)

5.     Brainstorm joint ventures or joint sales drives, utilising each other’s strengths in various areas (joint project work)

6.     Provide recommendations to each other’s LinkedIn pages, or testimonials for each other’s websites (influencer marketing)

7.     When somebody in your chapter writes a press release or blog, share it with your network via your blog, LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter (content syndication)

8.     Hold ‘master mind’ group meetings over a coffee or a wine to help each other grow or tackle difficult problems (mutual support)

9.     Organise an event together (seminar, expo, business solutions clinic)

10.  Share resources (marketing research, bulk buying of stationery, advertising, paper, ink etc)

Colin Kennedy is a keynote speaker, writer and content marketing consultant. As BNI New Zealand’s marketing director he is responsible for the organisation’s communications strategy, and also serves as an assistant director for North Central region of BNI.

BNI Parnell member and Eventz on Show director, Hayley Buttimore, says the day trip travels to Helensville for a picnic lunch, taking in the beautiful Auckland waterfront and Waitakere scenery.

“There is a pickup option at Papakura and Newmarket stations on the way. The hour stop at Helensville will allow time for lunch and a stroll through the Helensville station, which has been restored by local volunteers.

“It features a museum showing the history of rail in the area. The main street is only a short walk away and a well developed walkway borders the tributary to the Kaipara Harbour,” says Hayley.

There is just room for 350 travellers on what promises to be a great pre-Christmas event, so book now and at the same time enable Hospice to continue its ‘free’ specialist medical and nursing palliative care service for more than 700 families every year.

“Hospice South Auckland must raise $2.8million dollars per year, this is over and above their partial Government funding. It is a huge challenge for the hospice, which relies very heavily on the community to help in this regard.

“The hospice is embarking on a redevelopment of the Hospice to double its size due to demand, and as a result must now raise an additional $6.75 million dollars to increase the In Patient beds substantially.

“By ensuring they have a facility available for acute, non acute and respite hospice palliative care has been indentified as a significant regional infrastructure need,” says Hayley.

BNI Parnell member and managing director David Rouse says this a first for the automotive industry in NZ.

“We hope to lead others in the industry to do the same for a long term clean up of one of our problem industries. Its been a great experience, and we recommend others take up certification – it helps you see things you possibly haven’t even considered, and undertaking certification has actually created savings over and above the compliance costs!”

David says that customers who order tyros, car repairs, servicing and WOFs from Auckland Auto Clinic will have peace of mind knowing they’re dealing with people who have long term sustainability values.

http://www.autoclinic.co.nz/index.cfm

Dr Poelsma, who is also president of the New Zealand Chiropractors Association, says he was humbled by the award given by the Alumni Association of the New Zealand College of Chiropractic.

“Looking at it from the perspective of my wife and children, my staff and colleagues, they all support me and make it possible.”

BNI Hawkes Bay Chapter event coordinator, Frank Heuser, says three chapters participated – BNI Hawkes Bay, BNI Hastings and BNI Wine Country.

The full breakfast programme featured BNI members introducing their guests (60 members, 100 guests) and 3 guest speakers – Helen Blaxland (General Manager, Cranford Hospice), Frank Spencer (Director, Logan Stone) and Peter Holley (CEO, Mission Estate).

Frank says organisers wanted to collaborate with the chapters as a region to showcase BNI to potential visitors, and to raise funds for hospice and Christchurch.

“We offered the opportunity for sponsorship to raise funds and the entire 160 people there were all formally introduced within the time frame – the feedback was absolutely amazing.

“Of course Hospice is dear to all our hearts, the cause is worthy, needy and just!”

Chapter Event Coordinators Frank, Richard Fox, Vivian Dickson, Jan Mackie and regional director Fred Lewis were the key organisers.

The evening features casino gambling, wine and nibbles followed by an auction of donated prizes ¬– the ticket money will cover the costs of holding the event, but all the money raised from the auction at the end of the casino evening (plus any extra from tickets sales) will go to Amitabha Hospice in Avondale.

The goal is to raise $3,000.00 for hospice.

Visitor Host at BNI Rangitoto and NZ Internet Services director, Peter Masefield, says chapter members believe Hospice is a widely respected and called upon organisation that needs assistance.

“So many of our BNI members have had experience with them, either through family members or friends. By raising funds for Hospice it raises awareness both within our chapter and other chapters associated with the event (BNI ProBiz and BNI Parnell) and guests about the part hospice plays in our community.”

Tickets cost $30 per person and include $1million casino money, plus nibbles. A cash bar is available.

Chapter Event Coordinators Frank, Richard Fox, Vivian Dickson, Jan Mackie and regional director Fred Lewis are the key organisers.

For more details, email Peter Masefield peter@nzinternet.co.nz