Many of you – particularly if you have watched movies like Full Metal Jacket and Platoon, will be familiar with the Rifleman’s Creed of the United States Marine Corps, written by MGen. William H. Rupertus, USMC, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbour.
Without meaning to in any way lessen the sanctity of this creed, I adapted the words a bit to make it relevant to BNI members as a way to have some harmless fun – and as a timely reminder of how important our business card holders are.
As the education coordinator at my chapter, I got everybody to stand up and, holding up their business card holder, to repeat the BNI Business Card Holder’s Creed after me.
Here it is…
This is my my business card holder.
There are many like it, but this one is MINE.
My business card holder is my best friend. It is my business.
I must master it as I must master my business.
My business card holder without me is useless. Without my business card holder, I am useless.
I must refer more than my competitor who is trying to out compete me.
I must take my business card holder everywhere with me
My business card holder and myself know that what counts in business is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our bursts, nor the smoke we make.
We know it is the referrals that count. We will refer…
My business card holder is human, even as I, because it is my business.
Thus, I will learn it as a brother.
I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, and its contents.
I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage.
I will keep my business card holder clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready.
We will become part of each other. We will…
My business card holder and myself are the defenders of my business.
We are the masters of our competitors.
We are the saviours of my business.
So be it, until there is no competitor, but PROSPERITY.
Our chapter had a lot of fun doing this.
The point being that like a soldier without a rifle, a BNI member without their business card holder, is not networker at all.
