BNi Rainbow

Gold Club 2 Diamond Member

Today please join me in congratulating Karl Thorpe from our Raimbow chapter to double diamon status for sponsoring 12 members into membership.

Karl also just hit his 15 year membership anniversary during which time he has been thanked for £300k of business, passed 600 referrals, brought 74 visitors with 12 members sponsored into membership - as well as currently our President for the BNi Rainbow chapter.



— with Karl Thorpe.

Today we would like to welcome Marcus Taylor from Wootton Taylor to our 1* Master Connector status in BNI which means they reached the milestone of bringing 5 or more visitors. Please join me in congratulating them...

BNi Rainbow updated their website address.

BNi Rainbow added a button to help you learn more about them.

Often, innovation happens when an individual or a group of people discover a solution to a problem they or a specific group of people are facing. If you’re looking for a way to flex your innovation and intellect, the best thing you can do is to connect with like-minded individuals who can contribute to the conversation and offer helpful perspectives.

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Networking should be mutually beneficial. Remember what people have done for you and make sure to periodically reach out and check in to see if there’s anything you can offer in return.

Likewise, if you’ve done something for someone in the past, don’t hesitate to reach out and request an introduction, ask for advice, or voice any other favors they might be able to help you out with. The worst that can happen is they say no!

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Your network doesn’t have to solely exist of people within your field of work, it can be composed of a variety of people! Coworkers, family, friends, professors, peers, professionals in your field, clients, customers, personal acquaintances, people you chat with at church, the gym, or other local community centers are all great!

Potential contacts are everywhere, so make the most out of the connections you have and never be afraid to send an invitation on LinkedIn!

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

When you join BNI be assured - you are the only profession per group.

Right now we are strong group with over 25 members! That’s over 25 different professions all with a huge network! No stress, no pressure, just pure business associates helping one another grow.

We know we can help other businesses grow!

Are you a

Just to name a few… come along and see for yourself how dynamic we are.

Wednesday 10am - Zoom

Does anyone know a charity who would like to join a networking group?

We’re on the look out for a local charity to join our ever expanding group!

Instead of reaching out to someone and asking them out to coffee to “pick their brain,” be considerate of their time and be specific with what you’re looking for. Here’s an example:

“Hey! I love what you’ve done with your business, specifically _____. I would love to accomplish something similar, do you have any resources you can recommend?”

This way, you’re throwing the ball in their court to offer whatever they can (like an article or connection), instead of requesting something that they may not be in a space to deliver (like an in-person meet up).

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

I’ve found that one of the biggest issues people have with networking is that they don’t have the confidence to approach new people and insert themselves into conversations.

If this sounds like a feeling you can relate to, remember this: people like helping people!

For most people, it’s an honor that someone would come to them and ask for advice or assistance! If someone came to you with a question or wanted your advice, you’d be flattered, right?

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

When you’re unsure how to approach someone new, lead with a compliment!

“I love your necklace!” or “That’s a great watch, it caught my eye from across the room!” are just two examples of great ways to break the ice with a compliment. Because who doesn’t love a little flattery?

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Plan ahead and have a few relevant points of discussion in mind so that you can be prepared to have a meaningful conversation that actually leads somewhere. These conversation points don’t HAVE to be about work, they just have to keep the conversation flowing and leave room for future meetups and conversation in the future.

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Get the support you need from people you can trust when you pose your question to your network!

Just be cautious of HOW you pose your question—some questions are appropriate for social media while others require a bit more discretion.

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

If you’re thinking of switching up your career, professional networking can help you land your dream job. Start this conversation by checking in with your peers and asking them what they love about their job. Inquire about their daily tasks and express the interest and experience you have doing that in your current (or a previous) role.

Make sure to end the conversation with something like, “I’d love to stay in the loop with any openings you have in your place of work, is there anyone you can connect me with so that I can drop off my resume?”

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Get the advice you need from people you can trust when you tap into your network of peers.

If you have a large enough network, posing your query into your community of people who understand your challenges can help you move past road bumps much faster than you might be able to on your own.

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Some of the strongest and longest-lasting friendships come from business relationships.

Why?

Because those who are in your field of interest are likely going to be like-minded to you with similar goals. Plus, the support you can gain from a peer in your industry can easily spill over to personal friendships.

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

When you’re caught up in your day-to-day work details, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut! By keeping up to date with others in your field or area of expertise/interest, you can gain perspective and insight that help you look at situations with new eyes and an innovative lens.

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Having a wide network of interconnected contacts means that you have broader access to new and valuable information, like who’s hiring and what’s developing.

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Is there anything you both struggle with? Is there any insight you can offer them or that they can offer you?

Not only is offering helpful insight a great way to help build your reputation as an innovative thinker, but you might be able to create something new out of your brainstorming sessions!

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Your network can be an excellent source for new perspectives and ideas to help you find inspiration in your next career move or freshen up the way you think about your current role.

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Studies show that 80% of jobs are never advertised—they’re filled by word of mouth! This means that who you know really plays a big role in professional opportunities and job listings.

If you’re in the market for a new job, reach out to anyone and everyone to check-in and start a conversation. You never know what might present itself!

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

We all have issues we’re passionate about and skills to offer. Volunteering is a great way to meet people and broaden your network while also providing a service to your community.

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Some situations allow you to create a professional relationship slow and steady. Other times, you have a fleeting opportunity that you need to take advantage of in the moment.

We call this the “elevator pitch” as it refers to a hypothetical situation where you happen to be riding in an elevator with someone important in your field and you have just under a minute to make an impression and articulate your value proposition (the skills you have and the position you’re seeking).

If you want to learn more about creating an elevator pitch, let’s connect!

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

A great way to get the discussion going with a peer is to lead with a compliment and end with a question. Here are a few examples:

“The way you handled that customer the other day was unbelievable! It’s like you knew just what to say. Do you have any pointers?”

“That PowerPoint you delivered last week was awesome. Clearly you spent a lot of time working on it. Did you come across any information or data in your research that really stuck with you?”

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

Seeking out opportunities to expand your network is as simple as starting a conversation. One of my favorite tips to give my clients is this: open with a compliment!

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!

You never know where opportunity will come from. That intern that just started at your office might end up running the company one day. That person who sat behind you in your Spanish class in college might have a great start-up they could use your help with. A good rule of thumb is to be kind to any and all networking opportunities because you never know what could amount from it!

Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!!