A 12-Month BNI Success Story

As I said in my Educational Moment in mid-July, I reported that 54% of my income for January – June 2008 was through BNI referrals. Better yet, BNI accounted for a whopping 85% of my income in June.

How did I accomplish this? What’s my “secret sauce?” What’s the recipe for the Kool-Aid I’m drinking?

Four words: “Givers Gain” and “Showing up.”

First, for January through June, I’ve given 80 referrals and received 33, among the tops in our chapter. I also had perfect attendance (only needed a sub once).

Second, of those 33 referrals I’ve received, 11 resulted in closed business in June alone:

• 5 were from members of my BNI Embarcadero chapter for their own writing/editing projects.
• 3 were from members of our chapter who referred me to their clients.
• And another 3 were from members of other BNI chapters for writing projects with their clients.

Third, the bottom line is to be more active. Network more. Have more one-on-one dance cards. Strive to show up every week. Make BNI a priority in your life. Pay attention at the meetings for trigger points in other members’ infomercials. And try to visit other chapters —  I visit/sub at a minimum of one other chapter per month, schedule permitting. This all results in giving and getting more referrals, resulting in more closed business!

NOTE: For the calendar year 2008, my total percentage of closed business through BNI referrals was 56% of my annual revenue. This was up from 50% of my income in 2007 vs. 30% in 2006 vs. 20% in 2005.