Eastern Bays Hospice Trust Friends Support Fundraiser Film Evening
Posted on 9th. March 2012 by Colin Kennedy
BNI Blog
This is the blog of BNI (Business Network International) New Zealand
BNI Blog
Mike Tennent has come a long way, literally – now he’s going further for hospice
Posted on 7th. March 2012 by Colin Kennedy
He lost 20 kilograms in a couple months and went from being puffed after running just one kilometre to being on the eve of attempting one of the world’s tougher trail runs – the 60 kilometre Tarawera Ultra Marathon.
Central North Island BNI director, Mike Tennent, weighed 112 kilograms and was aware that his father had died of a heart attack around his current age.
“I didn’t want that to happen to me, so I went on a diet of three meals a day (no carbs at dinner), and I cut down my tea and coffee consumption. There was a forest across the road from us, so I thought why don’t I try running that for excercise? It might help the diet. Now I can’t get enough.”
Since then he has achieved his 92 kilograms goal weight and last year alone he completed 16 events, including doing under three hours for the 26km Classic Traverse.
“This Tarawera Ultra Marathon (on Saturday March 17) is another whole level and puts me right at the end of my limit.”
Mike will do the 60 kilometres of trail running – there are 85 and 100 kilometre options too – and will be lining up against one of the finest ultra marathon fields ever assembled in New Zealand.
“My running buddies suggested I do it and I told them that they would have to pay me to do it. Then I started thinking that this may be an opportunity for hospice and one thing led to another,” says Mike.
The sponsorship proceeds will be split amongst the hospices in the Waikato, including Rotorua, Tauranga and Taupo.
The Tarawera Ultra is a point to point run from Rotorua through to Kawerau. The vast majority of the run is on singletrack trails through native bush or forestry roads with less than 10% being on a sealed public road (between Blue Lake – Tikitapu to just past the Okareka Aid Station). In the Tarawera Forest the race follows deserted forestry roads, some of it, alongside the river.
It is a net downhill run with a 357 metre (840 foot) elevation loss. The running surface is excellent with free-draining volcanic soils with some technical roots and rocks on the Oaktaina and Tarawera section of the course from Humphries Bay to The Outlet. There is a river, lakes and creeks for runners to cool off if they start to feel hot during the run.
To sponsor Mike, please email him mtennent@bni.co.nz
Mike looks after 18 chapters in the region that he serves, as well as carrying out Member Success Programme and Leadership Team training. He is a coach builder by profession, but has been a professional salesman since his 20s.
New BNI Director Northland: Hannah Blake’s mission to tell the BNI story
Posted on 7th. March 2012 by Colin Kennedy
Her lawyer, her mechanic, her printer, her carpet cleaner… all BNI members, all suppliers and partners who contribute to the framework of Hannah Blake’s business and life – and that’s why she’s so passionate about BNI.
The new regional director for Northland, Hannah is determined to tell the BNI story far and wide and to communicate a deeper understanding of what the organisation is really about.
It’s a task that, as a public relations agency owner (BlakePR in Whangarei) and experienced journalist, she’s well qualified for.
“When I first started getting to know BNI and talked to people about it, there were some who complained it was too expensive compared to some of the free networks around.
“I want to show them the reason you join BNI is because you’re buying a whole new marketing team and you make your money back within one or two referrals. Not only that, the relationships, support and advice that comes with it is priceless.”
Also the Funding Development and Communications Manager for North Haven Hospice, Hannah is looking forward to strengthening ties between the two organisations.
“I have a real vision for BNI and I plan to work hard to build the membership.”
Hannah is responsible for four BNI chapters in Whangarei and one in Kerikeri.
When does going faster, make things slower?
Posted on 7th. March 2012 by Ivan Misner
I start this blog with a riddle: When does going faster, make things slower? Well the answer is: when you are rushing a relationship.
A few years ago a close friend of mine, Dr. Emory Cowan, contributed an article for my book Masters of Networking. I’m sharing his contribution in my blog today because I think it is a great concept to think about as we start the new year.
Building a word-of-mouth marketing plan requires developing a trusted network of partners — which means cultivating relationships. But relationships require time, energy, persistence, and, most of all, patience.
I believe that patience gives us the most difficulty. We live in a quick-fix, immediate-gratification society where patience is neither valued nor encouraged. We want our sales now, our business fully grown now, our satisfaction in wealth now. But when I grow impatient with the tedious process of developing relationships, one of life’s many humbling lessons comes back to remind and instruct me: Drink no wine before its time.
Many years ago, I bought some peaches at the farmers’ market in Atlanta. They were the famous Georgia peaches, grown in orchards in the Fort Valley region and renowned for their sweet, juicy taste and wonderful aroma. I took them home, visions of peach pies and cobblers dancing in my head. We ate some right away; most sat out on the kitchen counter.
One morning I was awakened by the aroma of peaches filling the house. I knew that something would have to be done with them soon or they would spoil. Wine, I thought. Why not make some peach wine? I knew my parents, who lived fifteen miles away, had an old ceramic crock and an old family recipe for fermenting wine from fruit. I found the crock, cleaned it, and, on the way home, bought cheesecloth for the top, along with yeast and sugar for the ingredients.
By the time I got home, my excitement over this project was so great that I could almost taste new wine as I cut up the peaches, added the sugar and yeast, and closed the top with the cheesecloth. But the process of making wine is slow, and I was impatient. With the crock safely stashed in the cool basement, I drove home from work each day with growing excitement. I would go immediately to the crock and smell the brew. As the days went by I became more intent on having the wine ready for consumption. But it was not happening fast enough for me.
So, one afternoon, frustrated that it was taking so long, I carried the crock to the kitchen, determined to speed up the process of fermentation. I removed the contents, used a blender to further emulsify the peaches, and added more sugar and yeast. Smug and satisfied, I returned the crock to the basement, and three days later I had — vinegar!
My vinegar-making triumph has become a life-shaping parable for me. When I am tempted to rush the process of forming relationships, whether in business, in a networking group, or in my personal life, I am reminded that some things just take time to happen. I am aware that letting my impatience force the process can turn the potential of new wine into vinegar.
Patience in developing relationships is a virtue. It leads to solid networked contacts who can help you with your business, your interests, and your life.
This is a powerful lesson for us all to consider for life and for networking. Good wine and great relationships both take time.
What are your thoughts about this story? Have there ever been times where you tried to rush a relationship and had a bad result? Share your story here with us here.
Care or care less? You decide
Posted on 7th. March 2012 by Colin Kennedy
Not for nothing is the BNI mantra “Givers Gain”. Being a giver implies ‘caring’ about the next person and is key to successful BNI outcomes – if you do not care about the success of other members in your chapter, you will not enjoy tremendous success.
By going through the motions, attending meetings, doing your 60 second, having a one-on-one every fortnight or so… you’re doing the right things, but it requires more than doing – it requires thinking and feeling the right things too.
If you genuinely care about the success of others in your BNI, you will be thinking about them and you will be looking out for opportunities for them – and as a result of this ‘top-of-mind’ awareness you will find opportunities for at least some of those people.
When people notice your efforts (and they will), and when they realise that you ‘care’ about their success, they will begin to care about you too.
Of course there are those who will be oblivious, or who are in it for themselves, but inevitably you will stop caring about them, their success will decline and they will leave.
The people who remain will be your real assets. It’s a natural selection process, but to part of it, you must participate in it – physically, mentally and emotionally.
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.
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