I’ve been part of BNI NZ for about seven years. and my mother was also a member (her employer Quin Law is a member of the BNI chapter First New Plymouth).
A couple of years ago I had to take a break from BNI because I had a heart attack. This health scare completely changed my life and business.
I’m a chiropractor with a focus on prevention, performance and longevity at my business www.cellworks.nz . After the heart attack, I began to focus on natural health care alternatives and taking precautions to avoid these types of incidents. I introduced a health assessment for my clients called the Executive Health Assessment that includes gene testing and blood pathology tests.
Dr. Craig Walsham and the Cellworks team
Sharing knowledge through BNI
The Executive Health Assessment takes 90 minutes and looks for risk factors known to be associated with heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. I identify with the patient the specific aspects of their lifestyle that need to change; such as, diet, vitamins and exercise. Recently, I had the chance to share my knowledge through a strange set of circumstances when I visited my son in the United States.
My son was studying at Dominican University in San Francisco and was close to graduation. He was living in a town called San Rafael.
He had been having some car trouble. Someone hit him while he was parked and busted up his bumper. On top of that he was having trouble with his brakes. They’d been repaired previously but not properly.
While Mum and I were visiting, we decided to help him get his car fixed. We weren’t sure where to go until mum suggested tapping into the BNI.
Draw on the BNI international network
So, we searched, found a local chapter BNI1stadvantage and found member Bonnie Estes, the owner of Vanguard Automotive Repair, who had a car repair business. Woman-owned and operated, it has provided reliable, affordable auto repair and maintenance services in San Rafael for over 45 years.
Mum and I looked at their website and it sounded like a good fit.
Bonnie Estes and the team at Vanguard Automotive Repair
We got in touch with Bonnie and she fitted us in right away. Quickly the car was repaired correctly and thoroughly. The brakes were functioning as they should and she had fixed the bumper at no cost to us! It was the type of service you would expect from a BNI business; the same service wherever you are around the world. To me that’s the power of BNI and Givers Gain.
Givers Gain
It’s great to know that BNI is an international network that you can plug into no matter where you are around the world. I recommend other BNI members who are travelling think about using our organisation overseas. BNI San Rafael treated me as a local member and I know we would do the same to international visitors who came to BNI Titirangi.
I also recommend people share knowledge wherever they are in the world. That’s what I did with Bonnie. We had a 1-2-1 and discussed health issues and omega vitamins.
I had this feedback from Bonnie that I wanted to share once I returned home:
“I love BNI members because we all have the same integrity and respect for each other not to mention trust. Meeting you through BNI was more than I ever expected. It was a pleasure taking care of your son’s vehicle. Loving having an international connection now. Just want you to know that I am really working hard to be healthier since our conversation 1-2-1. Last night was Meatless Monday and we had fish tacos with lots of fresh veggies, black beans, and white fish. Thank you for taking the time to show how amazing BNI really is!” Bonnie
We had amazing service with Bonnie at Vanguard Automotive. I believe any BNI member would get the same sort of service from a BNI business around the world.
Think global, act local when you are traveling and use our BNI international network to your advantage!
By BNI Titirangi member Chiropractor Dr Craig Walsham, Cellworks
