Dr. Misner is taking two weeks off from podcasting for the New Year holiday. The Official BNI Podcast will return on January 7th, 2009 with Episode 86.

Thanks for listening and see you next year!

Synopsis

BNI and local chambers of commerce can have a very positive synergistic relationship. The two are not in competition. Dr. Misner encourages BNI members to join their local chamber of commerce. Here are a few advantages of joining a chamber.

• Chambers of commerce allow multiple representatives from the same industry, so you can network with colleagues.
• Chambers of commerce host social events and mixers, as well as trade shows.
• Leadership in a chamber of commerce raises your visibility and credibility in the community.
• BNI directors offer networking trainings to chambers of commerce.
• Your BNI group may be able to join a chamber of commerce as a group.

If you find ways to help your chamber of commerce, they’ll find ways to help you.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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 BNI 085 Join Your Chamber of Commerce [8:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Synopsis

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by commitments and obligations. You can’t get wasted time back. Here are a few tips to help you get a high return on your networking investment.

1. Be “on” 24/7: opportunities can come at any time.
2. Learn to play golf—or something else that aligns with your interests and skills and those of the people you want to meet.
3. Have “purposeful meal” meetings that give you more than just calories.
4. Make first impressions count. Take a closer look at your appearance and body language.
5. Seek out a referral networking group or join a chamber of commerce.
6. Sponsor select events or host a purposeful event.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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 BNI 083 Get Value for Your Time [9:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Synopsis

Dr. Misner recorded this episode from the International Directors’ Conference for BNI in Long Beach, California. It’s almost like being at a UN meeting: at least 39 countries are represented. All BNI members are welcome to attend.

Here are some questions you can ask when you’re meeting someone for the first time. Remember not to do this as an interrogation. Your goal is to get people to open up.

• What do you do? How does that work?
• Who’s in your target market?
• What do you like most about what you do?
• What’s new in your industry?
• What sets you apart from your competition?
• Why did you start your business?
• Where is your business located?
• What’s your most popular product or service?
• How do you generate most of your business?
• What’s a good referral for you?
• What’s the biggest challenge for you in your business?

Suggested reading: Bob Burg’s Endless Referrals.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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 BNI 083 Ask Your Own Questions [10:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Synopsis

Today’s podcast comes from Dr. Misner’s new book, The 29% Solution.

There are two elements involved in becoming a networking magnet:

1. Your ability to attract people
2. Your approachability

In order to stand out from your competition, you need to be the go-to person, the one with a broad network, the one who knows other people who can solve problems.

To maximize your approachability:

• Be ready to engage.
• Focus on Common Points of Interest (CPI).
• Give flavored answers (e.g. “Remarkable” instead of “Fine.”)
• Don’t cross your arms at networking events. Ever.
• Conquer your fear of rejection.
• Wear your name tag. A name is the piece of information most often forgotten.

Thanks to Scott Ginsberg for the approachability tips.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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 BNI 082 Develop a Magnetic Personality [11:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Synopsis

This week Dr. Misner addresses a question a BNI member asked him: “What do you do stay on track?” Ivan sums his formula for success up in these quotable phrases:

1. Success is the uncommon application of common knowledge. (For example, Ivan Misner did not create networking; he focused it.)
2. Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way.
3. What you do thunders above your head so loudly I cannot hear you speak.
4. You may not be able to make a world of difference, but you can make a difference in the world.

Don’t forget the search function on this podcast site. Enter a search term into the search box at the top, and you’ll see every episode where Dr. Misner has addressed that subject.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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 BNI 081 Staying on Track [12:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Synopsis

If you want a referral, your description of your business should be detailed and focused on a specific aspect of your business. When you say “I do everything,” it doesn’t mean anything to your fellow BNI members. People don’t need general jobs done, they need specific jobs done.

People fear missing out on possible referrals by being too specific, but remember, you have 50 meetings a year. You can mention a different specialty every week. Your referral partners build up the big picture of what you do from the details.

Remember that your goal at BNI is to train a sales force for yourself, not to make an immediate sale. Design a curriculum for the entire year with topics you think your BNI chapter should know about.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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 BNI 080 Specialists Get More Referrals [8:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Synopsis

Dr. Misner is joined by his wife Beth to talk abut the new BNI Misner Foundation Monthly Heroes program, started in September 2008. Because of the large number of donations it makes around the world, the BNI Foundation needs to increase the donations it collects.

The Monthly Heroes program recognizes those who support the Foundation’s general fund, which provides mini-grants of about $1000 to charities that support children and education.

Chapters can also make directed contributions, which go to the chapter represented by the charity. 100% of donations go to the charity. Non-profit groups that are members of local chapters can benefit from these directed contributions.

The BNI Misner Foundation can provide additional publicity for a chapter’s charitable contributions.

Visit the new BNI Misner Foundation Website at www.bnifoundation.org or send e-mail to foundation [at] bni [dot] com.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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 BNI 079 Monthly Heroes [13:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Synopsis

Though listeners from all over the world tell Dr. Misner how helpful the podcast has been, many BNI members ask “What’s a podcast?”

Some important things to remember:

• All you need to listen to a podcast is a computer and an Internet connection. Just click on the triangle to listen.
• You can read the transcript or print it out for your chapter.
• Listening to this podcast (and others) is part of immersing yourself in a culture of learning.
• You can get an e-mail reminder to listen (sign up in the box to the right).
• You can subscribe and get new episodes automatically. (Click that big orange “subscribe” button.)

Action Item

Go to your chapter and share this information. Tell them how easy it is to listen to the Official BNI Podcast.

If you are doing something creative to get these podcasts heard in your chapter, please post a comment!

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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 BNI 078 What's a Podcast? [12:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Synopsis

Today’s podcast is based on a blog post Dr. Misner wrote this summer. As business professionals, we need to make sure we take time to notwork, not just time to network. Dr. Misner spends three or four weeks every year at his lodge in Big Bear with his family because he believes success is about having time to spend in a place you love with people you love.

But if you’re looking for balance and you own a business, forget about it. Strive for harmony instead of balance. Remember the phrase Be Here Now.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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 BNI 077 Notworking Is Sometimes Good [11:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download