The B2B powerteam has put together a business clinic named “How Not to Participate in a Recession”. This event will be on March 17th, 2010, at the Trussville Civic Center from 11:30am to 1:00pm sharp. We have a few speakers that will be covering some good topics on how to strengthen your business in this type of economy and how to get more business without spending a ton. There will ONLY be 25 seats available to get registered before they sell out. Click the icon for more information.

Well, after 11 years of meeting on Friday mornings at 7AM at the St. Vincents East Hospital (used to be Medical Center East) we have finally moved. Our new location is going to be at the Trussville Civic Center. We are excited about the new location and we are looking forward to meeting there starting on November 6th, 2009.

If you do not know where the Trussville Civic Center is please contact us through the form on the site, or click here for a map

What a great day to do business!

A huge milestone was reached in the Trussville Chapter of BNI. We are now at 30 members and applications are still being processed.

New members include:

Terry Trott, Total Merchant Services, sets up credit card processing for businesses.
Donna Lowery, McGowin-King, is our new mortgage consultant.
Alan Duke represents a group and individual health insurance provider.
James Lovell, Steel City Stone, fabricates and installs natural stone products.

Great things come out of a business networking group of 30. The one that stands out the most is the 33% increase in business referrals.

Our goal is 40 members. Don’t you think it’s time to visit our group and see how referral networking can help grow your business?

What a great day to do business!

Our Personal Services Power Team has been busy planning special events for business networking.

April 10, 2009 will feature all things to do with cosmetics and skin care. Mary Kay, Arbonne, Avon, and Independent Sales reps. Specialty beauty care products such as soaps are also welcome to visit.

Reserve you seat today. 27 seats have been filled. This will be a great day to get your product or service in front of other businesses involved in cosmetics and skin care.

What a great day to do business!

Time to introduce readers to our newest members. Members are actually investors in our group. They invest time and effort into business networking and receive great benefits (new business) in return.

In Southern California there are many huge, tall, lush eucalyptus trees that topple over fairly easily in the high winds that occur almost every year.  When they’re uprooted and blown over, you can see that their root system is broad and wide but not very deep.  I think this is a powerful metaphor for what to consider in building your personal network.  To go deep in establishing your network, you can do three things:

1.  Build quality relationships. Take time beyond normal business interactions to deepen your relationships with referral sources.  Invite them to social functions, learn their hobbies and interests, and help them pursue their personal goals.

2.  Network in new places. Other than your strong–and casual–contact groups, look for new areas to find partners with common interests, such as charitable organizations and professional support groups.  Don’t prospect right away; let the relationships mature.

3.  Focus on others. Rather than having a “What’s in it for me?” mind-set, ask yourself, What can I do for this person?  Continually look for ways to bring business and benefits to others in any group you’re a part of.  Make yourself known as the person who always has something for others.  This is a powerful way to both deepen and broaden your network.

If your network is a mile wide and an inch deep, it will not hold up in the winds of today’s economy.  Go deep in building relationships and you’ll do well in these challenging times.

Here are the ingredients needed for making money.

Begin with a large membership of trusted business leaders who eagerly recommend other members products or services to their clients. This will be the “Givers“.

Add an organized weekly meeting of “Givers” sharing their requests for new customers and building business relationships. The “Givers” will then pass out new business referrals. This will be the “Gain“.

The resulting product will be the easiest method for obtaining new business opportunities and all members enjoy a huge portion of “Givers Gain“.

I extend to you an invitation to a Business Networking Event with a difference! Be a part of the Trussville Chapter of BNI Visitor’s Day.

 Date:  Friday, January 30, 2009 

Time:  7:00 am – 9:00 a.m.

Place:  St. Vincent’s East, 50 Medical Center Dr, Birmingham, AL 35235 – Main Entrance – 2nd Floor – Conference area adjacent to cafeteria.

Consider having exclusive access to being referred by our many members because filling the open category will lock out your competition.  So, now is the time to visit the BNI Trussville Chapter!

I personally want to introduce you to my colleagues who have already given me more business! The informational meeting will enable you to accurately assess this opportunity of establishing a steady source of referral business and to learn a little more about BNI and why it is so successful it helping businesses grow their client base.

The meeting is free to visit. Please call George Barnett, Chapter Vice-President, 205-856-1720, if you have any questions.  Remember to bring at least 200 business cards to pass around, as you will meet many local business professionals!  

Please feel free to bring others with you who may also be interested in finding out how to generate more business through “word-of-mouth” referrals.  This is a really exciting opportunity for any individual or organization to increase their business!

RSVP – Please RSVP by Tuesday morning to ensure available space.

To make your reservations and directions, you can email me bnitrussville@yahoo.com or call me at (205) 856-1720.

This event is open to all businesses in Jefferson County and surrounding areas including Birmingham, Pinson, Clay, Gardendale, Tarrant City, Irondale, Leeds, Moody, Springville, and others.

What a great day to do business!

Did you work harder this year than in previous years? Did it pay off? Are you getting a bonus for all the extra time you have dedicated to the success of your business? Want to earn a bonus before the end of the year without putting in even more hours?

Visit our next BNI meeting where the bonuses you seek could be waiting.

During the time period beginning the first Friday in January to the middle of October, our members have passed 1010 business referrals. What stands between you and a bonus? A free visit any Friday morning, free introductions to our membership, a free presentation of your service or product to the group, and free time to network with local business leaders. Free up 90 minutes this next Friday morning and see why our members say, “I refuse to participate in a recession”.

We have immediate openings for a financial advisor, attorney, advertising representative, dentist, send out cards, clothing specialty, interior designer, architect, personal trainer, travel agent, and many others.

Call Chapter Vice-President, George Barnett, 205-856-1720 for more information.

“How’s business?” one attendee asked another at a networking event.

“This economy is killing me. We’ve got people canceling right and left and trying to get prospects to buy anything isn’t happening — things better turn around fast.”

The above exchange was real. Although we can probably all agree with the sentiments of the salesperson — fuel prices through the roof, unemployment creeping up and low consumer confidence — talking about these facts can make your personal economy worse. The person who asked, “How’s business?” very likely could have been a prospect. Ouch!

So what’s wrong with telling the truth? A lot! No one (I repeat no one) wants to hear doom and gloom — especially not someone who might want to do business with you.

Could there be anyone worse to share the misery with than a potential prospect? Well you might think your manager or boss tops the list, and you’re right to think they don’t want to hear this bad news (and by the way, they already know about these conditions). What they want to hear is that although times are challenging, you will prevail. They want to hear that you’re doing things to produce the results they pay you for. But the person who is most adversely impacted by this negative nay saying is you!

By even thinking negative thoughts, forget saying them, you put yourself in a mental state of failure. You subconsciously tell yourself the odds are against you, and you are doomed to fail. I’m sure you know that both positive and negative energy are contagious. Your actions reflect your thoughts and people will consciously or unconsciously detect your outlook. Ask yourself would you rather buy from someone who acts desperately to stay afloat or from someone who is convinced of the benefits of his product? From someone who complains about the economy or from someone who makes any economy work for him and his clients?

People want to do business with winners. The average person, including businesspeople, takes great security in doing business with successful businesses. If you’ve ever purchased something from a person or company that has gone out of business, you know what a pain that can be. Minimally it’s going to cost you extra time calling or physically running around to find another service agent. Worse is when you find out that the product can’t be supported at all. There are two simple yet powerful ways that you communicate that you’re a winner or not, that you’re thriving or struggling in this economy: verbally –your choice of words and nonverbally – your choice of dress.

So, better ways to answer “How’s business?”:

“Our new marketing campaign is really taking off” or “Our new marketing campaign is bringing us lots of new customers.” (You don’t have to mention that your “new marketing campaign” is you making dozens of cold calls each day.)

“We’re growing market share?”

“Even with rising costs, we’ve been able to maintain our current pricing.”

Hopefully you can also say, “Customers are raving about our new product.” If you can’t, assuming your product is a good one, solicit positive responses from your customers. This can be done early in the manufacturing process, even before your product has been officially released with a small focus group. It can also be done after your customers have enjoyed and benefited from your product. Once you have obtained these glowing kudos, share them on a regular and consistent basis with customers and prospects.

Why go through this bother? Because people are innately followers. Prospects are drawn to successful businesses and typically follow the positive experiences of others. Successful businesspeople take responsibility for obtaining positive messages and passing them along.

These positive messages will also cheer you up and help you create your own economic boom.

What a great day to do business!

Opportunity is knocking. Were you there to hear it? Our visitor, Cassie Hare, marketing coordinator, with Scruggs Trailer & Equipment heard it loud and clear.

The Trussville Chapter of BNI has a very strong business to business “Power Team”. The group eliminates leads and concentrates on qualified business referrals and introductions. Do you hear something, now?

The Cleaning Superhero, George Barnett, asked for introductions. To: Real Estate Agents, Blind and Window Treatment Sales Reps, Property Managers, Business Owners and Managers that cater to the general public, Office Professionals or their Office Managers, Friends, Family, Neighbors, Women, and other BNI Members for the purpose of providing the following services.

1. Ultrasonic Blind Cleaning and On-Site Cleaning of Window Treatments
2. Stone, Ceramic Tile, Grout, Shower and Bath Area Cleaning to Eliminate Soap Scum and Mildew / Mold Treatments
3. Carpet Cleaning for Residential (Intensive Cleaning) and Commercial (Economical and Effective)
4. VC Tile Maintenance Involving Stripping, Waxing (Refinishing), Buffing, and Economical Floor Maintenance Programs

Contact George at 205-856-1720 or visit www.CleaningSuperhero.com

Our Cleaning Superhero

We are expecting visitors next week in the Payroll and Communications Categories. They also hear opportunity knocking. Plan on visiting our chapter this next Friday.