| Have you heard of the Butterfly Effect, and how | | | | with the strong relationship he already had with |
| one thing leads to another in the world of | | | | Beth Anderson, allowed us to ask him to |
| referrals? Well here is my BNI Story, a perfect | | | | participate in and support our International |
| example of the Butterfly Effect in action. | | | | Networking Conference. PMC Events, Get |
| I was invited to BNI by a young man that grew | | | | Connected Conferences are now a strategic |
| up in my neighborhood and played with my little | | | | partner of BNI, which has created the mutually |
| brother. His name is Craig Oslund. Craig and I got | | | | beneficial relationship Ivan speaks of as |
| reacquainted at a Chamber After Hours event | | | | profitability. |
| where I was promoting my new business in 2005. | | | | Dr. Misner since then has introduced several TLC |
| He invited me to visit his BNI meeting. I jumped | | | | Members to BNI as keynote speakers for our |
| at the chance to network with another group of | | | | director conferences. From this we struck up a |
| professionals. I joined immediately and became | | | | strategic partnership with Lisa Nichols, the |
| the education coordinator the second week of | | | | bestselling author of "No Matter What". Having built |
| my membership. After all teaching others is a | | | | credibility through both the organizations and these |
| great way to learn the organization for yourself; | | | | relationships, we were able to create a Get |
| and it worked. | | | | Connected Conference in Minneapolis that |
| I fell in love with the organization and its | | | | featured three TLC members along with Lisa |
| philosophy of Givers Gain. The more I learned, the | | | | Nichols. It was an extraordinary day of education |
| more I knew I was in it for the long term. So, I | | | | and inspiration. |
| set my sights on becoming a BNI Director. A | | | | At our first annual International Networking |
| mere inquiry made to Sue Henry, Area Director, | | | | Conference: Get Connected 2009, I was able to |
| in Southern Minnesota about just what it would | | | | spend time with another BNI Director and author |
| take to get there put me on the fast track to | | | | of "Remember the Ice and other Paradigm |
| become a BNI Director within a year of joining. | | | | Shifts"; Bob Nicoll, with whom, I am now |
| This of course, allowed me the opportunity to | | | | co-authoring a book on customer service using |
| meet Nancy Giacomuzzi, Executive Director of | | | | empowering word choice. He and six other |
| BNI Minnesota, among many other amazing | | | | speakers from that Get Connected Conference |
| people. Beth Anderson, who you may have read | | | | approached me at the 2009 International BNI |
| about in another story we wrote regarding | | | | Conference, with a proposal to help manage |
| visibility, credibility, and profitability was just one of | | | | seminars for them all over the country to help |
| those people. As I gained visibility in the | | | | increase their exposure. Yet, another mutually |
| organization and worked with other directors in | | | | beneficial relationship that grew out of networking |
| the region we gained credibility with one another, | | | | and supporting one another. |
| only to realize after four years that we had | | | | The butterfly effect from building these |
| complimentary skills and similar goals. Beth and I | | | | relationships through networking exposure |
| are now partners in creating networking events. | | | | continues to amaze me. The process has moved |
| It was Nancy G. however, who made the most | | | | my career along exponentially, expanding my |
| significant impact on my butterfly spreading its | | | | reach beyond my wildest dreams. Yet, the |
| wings. In recognition of a job well done, I was | | | | simplest of connections that I make every day, |
| given the honor of picking up Dr. Ivan Misner, | | | | from which who knows what maybe the long |
| Founder and Chairman of the Board for BNI, at | | | | lasting implications for others, continue to drive |
| the airport on a visit to Minnesota. I was to get | | | | me and excite me. It even gives me goose |
| him checked in at the hotel and bring him over to | | | | bumps when I know that the people I have |
| the party at Nancy's house promptly at 6pm. This | | | | connected are destined to do great things |
| gave us over an hour of free time to get to | | | | together. |
| know each other before the party. Being the man | | | | And it's all because Craig Oslund invited me to a |
| that he is, he asked me all about my business and | | | | BNI Meeting in September of 2005. Today, Craig |
| what a good referral is for me. Nearly a year | | | | is a BNI Ambassador on my team here in |
| later, I received a referral from him to the | | | | Southern Minnesota supporting the overall growth |
| Transformational Leadership Council; the most | | | | of BNI in everything he does every day; truly |
| amazing organization of transformational leaders | | | | living the Givers Gain philosophy as Dr. Misner, our |
| and fascinating people, for whom I have the | | | | leader does. |
| privilege of working with on their annual events. | | | | What is your butterfly effect? What allowed you |
| Strengthening the relationship and gaining credibility | | | | to get where you are right now, today? Think |
| with Dr. Misner through these events, coupled | | | | about it. |