I was recently fortunate enough to celebrate 10 years of membership in BNI Masterton. I’m a Real Estate Agent and sole trader in Masterton and my brand is Sold on Jude. Growing my brand is a big part of why BNI has been so successful for me. As a real estate agent I’m used to selling big ticket items, so obviously I’m not getting referrals on a weekly basis from BNI like other smaller businesses. This doesn’t mean the group isn’t of so much value for me, however. On the contrary, BNI has added hugely to my operation by providing my clients with additional services through the other businesses represented in my chapter.
From Left: Benn Milne, BNI Director Consultant, Jude Clark member of BNI Masterton and owner of Sold on Jude
BNI is a team
BNI isn’t just about referrals. Of course it’s great to get business, and growing your business is what it’s all about, but this doesn’t mean you should only focus on referrals. As an agent I see my BNI chapter as a team that is working for me. It’s doing this in a couple of ways:
- Spreading the word about my business: Our chapter is thriving and when members are out working in the community they let people know about my business. It’s a great way to spread the word about my services and grow my brand.
- Adding value for my clients: I keep a folder with business cards for every business in my chapter and when I see the opportunity I give them out to my clients. With a conveyancer, builders, security people and an accountant in my chapter, pretty much any service my clients need can be taken care of by a BNI member in my chapter. My clients really appreciate having access to businesses with quality offerings they can trust. It’s a point of difference for my business that strengthens my brand.
Trust is a key factor
When you have 10 years in an organisation, there’s a lot of trust that develops between individuals. That’s the case for me in BNI Masterton. I know the guys in our group and they know me. That means I can refer members with confidence knowing they will do a good job. Our processes back up my intuitions about members; we have a structured process that means feedback and comments are made public so everyone can see the good work that is being done.
Givers Gain
A key part of BNI’s philosophy is that Givers Gain. Basically the idea is that “what goes around comes around”; if you give to someone else, it will come back to you. This is absolutely my experience with BNI. I’m a real Givers Gain person – I love to give, not just money but also my advice and experience as a successful businesswoman. This is part of the reason I love being in BNI; being able to share with other businesspeople and support smaller or newer businesses as they begin to grow.
This means a growing business in our group – like the windscreen repairer – can benefit both from my knowledge and expertise as well as from my referrals. In the same way, I benefit from my fellow members. I also get a great feel for what is happening in the local community and wider business environment from attending meetings. Masterton is a growing region with a lot of new arrivals so BNI provides a good way to get an understanding of how our area is changing and developing.
Meetings
Weekly morning meetings with BNI are always a great motivator for me. I start the day with a fantastic breakfast and structured networking session with my fellow members – new and old. It motivates me to get out there for another week and find business for myself and others. By attending weekly meetings throughout the year, I’m able to see people grow and their businesses develop – it’s a beautiful thing.
Jude Clark, member of BNI Masterton and owner of Sold on Jude
