In the latest issue of SuccessNet, BNI’s online newsletter, there is a great article by BNI Founder and Chairman – Dr Ivan Misner about a reality TV show which demonstrates the benefits of belonging to BNI.
Imagine being dropped off in the middle of the metropolis of a foreign city, with nothing but a few hundred dollars. Then you’re told you must start a successful business that beats out your competition before you can go home.
So is the premise of the BBC television show called “The Last Millionaire.”
Twelve of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs competed this year on the series. Each of the contestants lead extravagant lives, living in castles and mansions, driving luxury cars, and dining at the finest restaurants.
On the show their lives of luxury are left behind, as they compete in the world’s toughest markets to build a business from scratch.
Stripped of all their home comforts (they live in hostels), they have to make more money than their rivals. The last contestant is named “The Last Millionaire.”
So, where does BNI come into this mix? Let me explain.
The show was down to the last two contenders: Natalie and Lucy. They were taken from the UK and dropped off in the middle of Hong Kong, where they were then given the equivalent of a few hundred US dollars and were told to create a product and sell it in five days. They could recruit student helpers from a list that they were both given; otherwise they were on their own.
Natalie started calling the student contacts for help. Lucy, however, went to an Internet café, and googled “business networking.”
Take three guesses what company came up #1 on the search. You probably can guess – yes, that’s right, “BNI.”
What the show didn’t highlight is that Lucy’s company had been a member of BNI, and she had a great experience with the organization. So, Lucy called the president of one of the BNI chapters in Hong Kong and asked if she could visit their next meeting.
The BBC narrative states: “Lucy’s discovered a business networking meeting taking place in two days’ time. It’s a high flying group of Hong Kong executives and company owners…”
Cut away to Lucy visiting the Hong Kong Attraction chapter of BNI. The president is shown up front talking about how the meeting runs (and there’s a big BNI banner in the background – nice!).
Queue announcer: “Lucy is in her element networking with Hong Kong’s top entrepreneurs!”
Cut away to scenes of Lucy networking with BNI members and getting referrals for contacts that will design, produce, and sell her product. These referrals lead her to the largest merchandising agent in Asia and one of the top manufacturers in Hong Kong.
When the contest was over a few days later, she earned 16 times her start-up capital and made more than four times the amount of money that Natalie made!
