LIFE AFTER HELGA !!!!

I nearly fell off the sofa when you told me the cost of this 'club' yesterday Ian. I felt bilious when I put the phone down.
 
Eggs said:
I nearly fell off the sofa when you told me the cost of this 'club' yesterday Ian. I felt bilious when I put the phone down.
Click to expand...
Have we found out yet where the money goes?
 
As I mentioned previously, I was in a BNI (Business Networking Chapter) Farnham Surrey Branch for 5 years and it provide me with loads of referrals and helped me build my client base. It was started in the states many years ago by a chap called Ivan Misner who came up with the basic idea of people do business with people they like, also educating people in how to introduce/network themselves in a more efficient way, rather than spend loads of money on blanket advertising. Remember this was years before social media was even thought of.
The £150 one off joining fee goes straight to the BNI, The annual membership was £450/475 each year, plus £32 per month to cover venue & breakfast costs. When I was a member, The £450 per year went towards funding the BNI and its member website, regular training events showing how members could grow their businesses, plus all the training manuals, and area group management meetings, showing the reasons some groups were achieving more referral business than others, and talking about potential opportunities for new groups to be started in areas that didnt have a BNI presence.

I left the BNI when I retired in 2007/8, and would probably still be in it if I hadn't closed the business, as it not only kept me thinking on my feet with regard continual marketing,building my client base, but also helping others in getting more business. The BNI is a worldwide networking success model, but it needs commitment and determination to make it happen, getting up at 4.30AM every thursday to make it to my Thursday 6.00 start meeting 52 weeks of the year in all weathers was the biggest commitment I can tell you.
This focussed me into getting the most out of attending that meeting, being there early to take and thank any members that may have generated a personal referral was of prime importance, as they had worked to get it for me, all being well I would have done the same and got some referrals for them also.
Year one nett profits for me in referred business (just from BNI) in 2001 was £24/25K, it fell in the second as our group floundered a little, but it was back up to £25K, and rising when I reached retirement.
Whether you are on the top table i.e Chapter Secretary, Treasurer, you still have to pay the same as everyone else in the group,those that are in those influential roles are just doing it to grow/maintain the group numbers and encourage more business referrals for each of its members, and themselves of course.
For a group to be effective it needs at least 21 members plus, the more members the more referrals can be given and received.
I was of course getting referrals from my existing clients & Professional Introducers, but I must say that the Business referral training I received whilst being a member helped to hone my referral skills, in getting closer to my clients/introducers with a better 2 way proposition to get even more new business.

So yes it is vastly more expensive than it was for me back 2007/8, and when Ian told me of today's costs I was very surprised. I would imagine they would now struggle to sign up any business sole trader that wasn't already fairly well established, but looking to grow even further.

However these higher fees will keep out those that think they can run a part time sideline/hobby business from joining as their commitment in getting business for others is also going to be half hearted also,
(Utility Warehouse franchise springs to mind) and they may be taking a valuable chair position locking out someone that is committed to growing their business on a full time basis.

That's about it in a nutshell, I am pleased I did it when I did,my business turnover improved through hard graft, and remember social media was still in its infancy back then and I along with most folks didnt even dream about using it for developing new business.
PS: I am still not on any social media platform with the exception of Fun, and will stay away from FB, Twitter,and all the others as long as I can.
Lastly: The Polish Builder that we had in our group, got so much work from our referrals initially , that lead to direct introductions/nominations from Architects to new works projects that he left, cos he didn't have the time to come along anymore(y):giggle:
LES
 
When I started my own business in 1991 I realised there was nowhere for local businesses to meet on a regular basis to “network” and chat. So,I started a Business Breakfast Club (BBC,haha). I believe it’s still going to this day.
We used to have breakfast in a local pub or hotel each month,and sometimes a speaker.
If any member had something to say,he’d get 5minutes or so,to put it across.
The only cost was £5 for breakfast!
I bore the minimal cost of telling members about each meeting.
It was good fun,not too serious..........I do remember one month we had a conkers fight competition,and on another occasion a marmalade tasting,each member who could be bothered brought their own marmalade. One bloke gave us a wee talk about marmalade and it’s history!

That thing which you nearly joined sounds like a waste of money,well done for avoiding it.

How about going round the local suppliers,retail and wholesale,and telling them what you do,and leaving cards etc. Good luck,I reckon you’ll do well.
 
Podney said:
When I started my own business in 1991 I realised there was nowhere for local businesses to meet on a regular basis to “network” and chat. So,I started a Business Breakfast Club (BBC,haha). I believe it’s still going to this day.
We used to have breakfast in a local pub or hotel each month,and sometimes a speaker.
If any member had something to say,he’d get 5minutes or so,to put it across.
The only cost was £5 for breakfast!
I bore the minimal cost of telling members about each meeting.
It was good fun,not too serious..........I do remember one month we had a conkers fight competition,and on another occasion a marmalade tasting,each member who could be bothered brought their own marmalade. One bloke gave us a wee talk about marmalade and it’s history!

That thing which you nearly joined sounds like a waste of money,well done for avoiding it.

How about going round the local suppliers,retail and wholesale,and telling them what you do,and leaving cards etc. Good luck,I reckon you’ll do well.
Click to expand...
Hi Podney, your breakfast club sounds similar and hats off to you for having the idea, I would have been there in a blink of the eye(y)
However I must disagree that The BNI is a waste of money, as it is world wide with chapters probably in every town in The UK. The model works and has been proven, however I think its for more established businesses these days who want to get new business from qualified personal recommendations.
I was surprised at how the BNI costs have risen, but as I said the position for a builder would be the most sought after, as most people would know someone needing something doing on their property, even an extension, especially these days as everyone seems to have builders & skips in their drive.

I hope Ian gets off to a flying start on his own merit, maybe he will get another invite to another BNI chapter in the future, then have the spare funds to invest as they are all tax deductible after all.:giggle:
I know we all wish him well.
LES
 
TinaL said:
Hi Podney, your breakfast club sounds similar and hats off to you for having the idea, I would have been there in a blink of the eye(y)
However I must disagree that The BNI is a waste of money, as it is world wide with chapters probably in every town in The UK. The model works and has been proven, however I think its for more established businesses these days who want to get new business from qualified personal recommendations.
I was surprised at how the BNI costs have risen, but as I said the position for a builder would be the most sought after, as most people would know someone needing something doing on their property, even an extension, especially these days as everyone seems to have builders & skips in their drive.

I hope Ian gets off to a flying start on his own merit, maybe he will get another invite to another BNI chapter in the future, then have the spare funds to invest as they are all tax deductible after all.:giggle:
I know we all wish him well.
LES
Click to expand...
tax deductable is only an advantage if your paying tax not a problem ian has at present

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
TinaL said:
Hi Podney, your breakfast club sounds similar and hats off to you for having the idea, I would have been there in a blink of the eye(y)
However I must disagree that The BNI is a waste of money, as it is world wide with chapters probably in every town in The UK. The model works and has been proven, however I think its for more established businesses these days who want to get new business from qualified personal recommendations.
I was surprised at how the BNI costs have risen, but as I said the position for a builder would be the most sought after, as most people would know someone needing something doing on their property, even an extension, especially these days as everyone seems to have builders & skips in their drive.

I hope Ian gets off to a flying start on his own merit, maybe he will get another invite to another BNI chapter in the future, then have the spare funds to invest as they are all tax deductible after all.:giggle:
I know we all wish him well.
LES
Click to expand...
I understand your point. However,I think that the amount of money involved would be better spent elsewhere.
As a small business,in an environment where it is difficult to get any builder,let alone a good one like Ian,he only needs a couple of decent jobs to get him up and running.
It would be different if he wants to build an “empire”,but I don’t think that’s his goal. He needs small or medium sized jobs with a good profit margin,keep overheads low,and keep good control of works being done.
 
mitzimad said:
tax deductable is only an advantage if your paying tax not a problem ian has at present
Click to expand...
Little Acorns & all that, I was being optimistic for Ian, Ltd company end of year 2, launch Company on the Aims listings sell shares to raise capitol end of year 3, then set up Offshore account end of year 4, end of year 5, Retire on proceeds, put feet up:giggle:(y)
Not that I was mapping out his future in any way, you understand:LOL:
LES
 
Good morning,,,

thanks for all the cheerful advice,, a lecture from your dad is always nice first thing! Lol

ok this is how I’m starting my day, and I have no idea what I’m doing after this,, and I don’t care!!
image.jpg

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
TinaL said:
As I mentioned previously, I was in a BNI (Business Networking Chapter) Farnham Surrey Branch for 5 years and it provide me with loads of referrals and helped me build my client base. It was started in the states many years ago by a chap called Ivan Misner who came up with the basic idea of people do business with people they like, also educating people in how to introduce/network themselves in a more efficient way, rather than spend loads of money on blanket advertising. Remember this was years before social media was even thought of.
The £150 one off joining fee goes straight to the BNI, The annual membership was £450/475 each year, plus £32 per month to cover venue & breakfast costs. When I was a member, The £450 per year went towards funding the BNI and its member website, regular training events showing how members could grow their businesses, plus all the training manuals, and area group management meetings, showing the reasons some groups were achieving more referral business than others, and talking about potential opportunities for new groups to be started in areas that didnt have a BNI presence.

I left the BNI when I retired in 2007/8, and would probably still be in it if I hadn't closed the business, as it not only kept me thinking on my feet with regard continual marketing,building my client base, but also helping others in getting more business. The BNI is a worldwide networking success model, but it needs commitment and determination to make it happen, getting up at 4.30AM every thursday to make it to my Thursday 6.00 start meeting 52 weeks of the year in all weathers was the biggest commitment I can tell you.
This focussed me into getting the most out of attending that meeting, being there early to take and thank any members that may have generated a personal referral was of prime importance, as they had worked to get it for me, all being well I would have done the same and got some referrals for them also.
Year one nett profits for me in referred business (just from BNI) in 2001 was £24/25K, it fell in the second as our group floundered a little, but it was back up to £25K, and rising when I reached retirement.
Whether you are on the top table i.e Chapter Secretary, Treasurer, you still have to pay the same as everyone else in the group,those that are in those influential roles are just doing it to grow/maintain the group numbers and encourage more business referrals for each of its members, and themselves of course.
For a group to be effective it needs at least 21 members plus, the more members the more referrals can be given and received.
I was of course getting referrals from my existing clients & Professional Introducers, but I must say that the Business referral training I received whilst being a member helped to hone my referral skills, in getting closer to my clients/introducers with a better 2 way proposition to get even more new business.

So yes it is vastly more expensive than it was for me back 2007/8, and when Ian told me of today's costs I was very surprised. I would imagine they would now struggle to sign up any business sole trader that wasn't already fairly well established, but looking to grow even further.

However these higher fees will keep out those that think they can run a part time sideline/hobby business from joining as their commitment in getting business for others is also going to be half hearted also,
(Utility Warehouse franchise springs to mind) and they may be taking a valuable chair position locking out someone that is committed to growing their business on a full time basis.

That's about it in a nutshell, I am pleased I did it when I did,my business turnover improved through hard graft, and remember social media was still in its infancy back then and I along with most folks didnt even dream about using it for developing new business.
PS: I am still not on any social media platform with the exception of Fun, and will stay away from FB, Twitter,and all the others as long as I can.
Lastly: The Polish Builder that we had in our group, got so much work from our referrals initially , that lead to direct introductions/nominations from Architects to new works projects that he left, cos he didn't have the time to come along anymore(y):giggle:
LES
Click to expand...
4.30 once a week,,heaven,,had usually been at work ant least an hour before that at least 5 days a week for many years,,best time of the day ???BUSBY..
 
ianthebuilder said:
Good morning,,,

thanks for all the cheerful advice,, a lecture from your dad is always nice first thing! Lol

ok this is how I’m starting my day, and I have no idea what I’m doing after this,, and I don’t care!! View attachment 359549
Click to expand...
That looks bloody horrible Ian,,who cooked it, BUSBY???
 
TinaL said:
Hi Podney, your breakfast club sounds similar and hats off to you for having the idea, I would have been there in a blink of the eye(y)
However I must disagree that The BNI is a waste of money, as it is world wide with chapters probably in every town in The UK. The model works and has been proven, however I think its for more established businesses these days who want to get new business from qualified personal recommendations.
I was surprised at how the BNI costs have risen, but as I said the position for a builder would be the most sought after, as most people would know someone needing something doing on their property, even an extension, especially these days as everyone seems to have builders & skips in their drive.

I hope Ian gets off to a flying start on his own merit, maybe he will get another invite to another BNI chapter in the future, then have the spare funds to invest as they are all tax deductible after all.:giggle:
I know we all wish him well.
LES
Click to expand...
You bet he will get another invite,,look at the fees,,Nice easy income for some one.Very clever,,wish I had thought if it,,better than working for a living..BUSBY.
 
ianthebuilder said:
Good morning,,,

thanks for all the cheerful advice,, a lecture from your dad is always nice first thing! Lol

ok this is how I’m starting my day, and I have no idea what I’m doing after this,, and I don’t care!! View attachment 359549
Click to expand...
Lieing down with indigestion, probably :(
 
robnchris said:
Phew tFood envy....that is a lovely breekie but only one egg? No sausage or black pudding....

I had to be happy with a bowl of weetabix...
Click to expand...

rob,, I had two eggs,, one was under the beans! It was bloody lovely!! X

if you look closely, you can see the white poking out! Lol x and there was a slice of fried bread at the bottom !!
 
Eggs said:
were you in construction/ gr



I missed this bit earlier, come join our club for 14 hundred quid and we'll let you pay 15 nicker for a breakfast.

It gets more and more appealing with every turn...
Click to expand...
Yes but no one has still not come up with where it goes, is there a head person who collects all the money for their self, a group or what, where does it actually go, if ianthebuilder says there is thirty there , that's thirty grand a year , no small amount, must confess this a completely new thing to me , never heard of anything like it before.
 
chaser said:
Yes but no one has still not come up with where it goes, is there a head person who collects all the money for their self, a group or what, where does it actually go, if ianthebuilder says there is thirty there , that's thirty grand a year , no small amount, must confess this a completely new thing to me , never heard of anything like it before.
Click to expand...

there very popular Charlie,, in Norwich alone I was told there’smaybe four or five different groups!
 
ianthebuilder said:
there very popular Charlie,, in Norwich alone I was told there’smaybe four or five different groups!
Click to expand...
:Eeek: the mind boggles, that's £150,000, just around Norwich , where the hell is it going?
Pity you can't set your own group up, beats working:unsure:
 
Sorry to keep on about this but I'm intrigued, what's to stop you all meeting up in a pub and buying a breakfast or whatever, or even at night , no need to get up early, why have you got to pay a grand for the privilege?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top