BNI Podcast: Episode 198, You Do the Math

This week's podcast guest is another SoCal colleague, Dan Romero. Congratulations, Dan! You can listen to the entire podcast here:

President's Weekly Letter, Champions SoCal BNI

Woooooooooo, CHAMPIONS!!

The message this week will be short and sweet. Just the facts, Ma'am. The Champions welcomed guests (John Spann from Green Flag), subs (Luchansky and Vasquez)and reps from other chapters...all the way from the San Gabriel Valley...Alhambra, that is! That is Misner country folks. Douglas Lee thoroughly enjoyed the meeting and told me several times how much! We really enjoy it when people have a Champion experience.

Keynotes:

Here is something that none of us knew about Michael Figueroa before today.



Michael continued with a very passionate keynote on the reasons that he works so hard for Rite Loom flooring. Rite Loom has several BNI members throughout the SoCalregion and we are pleased that Michael is a Champion!

Chuck Tipton delivered a beautiful preamble to his keynote:



Both of the presenters provided detailed handouts of their ideal customer, ways to refer them, experience in the business and things to look and listen for. Personally, I would highly recommend either Michael or Chuck and can attest to their abilities!

International Tabasco Award:

The competition was fierce today! We had three songs...one even to the Arkansas fight song...which brought back substantial memories of forgotten Saturdays in Fayetteville Arkansas watching the Razorbacks. Dr. Real who won the award two weeks ago by singing his SMM to the "Yellow Rose of Texas, used a winning theme. Since I awarded the pepper this week, he thought that the fight song would soften my heart. It did, but the ask wasn't as specific as I had hoped. Two of our newest members made gallant efforts but exceeded the time limit...Kathy Penton and Christina Pham. In the end, the winner was our own EC, Mr. Jim Sando who quoted Ray Kroc...green is growing, ripe is rotten and asked for an intro to a mail services company. Wow! The ITA is blowing up!

GRC Team:

We have a new game designed to build a cohesive group that will commence on April 1, 2011. All of the one-to-ones and trainings completed this week will count. Extra emphasis will be placed on one-to-ones within the chapter and trainings. We even completed a training as a chapter today following the meeting. Thanks to Jim Sando for setting this up and to Gary Reeves for moderating! We learned a bunch about Power Teams. Great thanks to the GRC team...Michael Figueroa, Ela Corcoran, Jody Houseman, and Dr. Real for a great game and to Greg Beck for lending support during his busiest time of year...tax time!

Welcome Mr. 36:

That would be Mark Bill from Bill's Auto Body...sponsored by James Kashi and mentored by Gary Lorge. We are happy that you are a new and improved Champion, Mark! Welcome!

Some things to remember:

You are interested if you do it because circumstances permit
You are committed when you accept no excuses...only results

Please keep Rosanne Grigsby and her family, Glen, Grace and Christina in your thoughts and prayers.

Always bring a scaled drawing of the meeting venue when you attend a leadership team meeting...only if you want to be awarded the Champion Spark Plug Award for that week...a la Aric Gless!

Make it a Champion Week!

Your faithful President,

Allen Buchanan

Walk the Walk

Mohammad Favakeh truly walks the walk! Here he discusses his referral technique with one of his clients, Dr. Ivan Misner.

Chapter Success Forum

Aric Gless went to the BNI Chapter Success Forum, and wanted to pass along some highlights:

Strategic Referrals:

This is a person who is an ongoing source of referrals. It can be or does not have to be someone in a related field to you, but it someone who crosses paths with people with whom you can do business. Examples:

Architect and …Bankers (connection is bankers are first contact for funding of potential architectural purchases or projects).

AFLAC rep and ……Landscapers (connection is that landscapers have clients who are heads of business who have responsibilities over their company’s benefits).

Promotional Table:

When introducing a visitor to members, also lead them to the promotional table. Point out not only the members who have items on the table, but also the Testimonial Book, and invite the visitor to glance through it. In our case, the table would gain more visibility if it were rotated to be along the path of entry, rather than against the wall (away from view). People tend to look to their right more than their left, so maybe we put it on the other side.

Testimonials and Speakers’ Handouts:

Speakers handouts, if placed face down, do not become a distraction. The speaker can ask members to look at the handout, during the Keynote Speech.

In order to keep the meeting on time and moving along, and having Stand and Deliver be more than just talking, Testimonials should done only when accompanied by a written copy. That also encourages Testimonials for the book. Also, refrain from saying “Good job speakers”. It doesn’t carry any substance.

BNI Connect:

This is a BNI website that will be worldwide rather than local. It serves all of us in connecting to other regions and businesses that we may need in other areas. It should be available to the Leadership team this week, and later to the entire membership. For our regional events, like MSP sessions, continue to access those on socalbni.com. Direct any questions to Lem Bucago regarding this.

Other items:

BNI Extravaganza: This happens in April/May. Any chapter who receives applications (date on the app) in April and May, qualifies the inductees for a chance to win an IPOD. Ask Lem about the details.

Office Hours: 75 minutes with Lem in varying sites, to discuss BNI topics (Sales Manager Moment, Keynote Speech, etc.). Upcoming April 11 9:00 in Tustin. Contact Lem for exact address. Best of all………….it’s free.

Aric D. Gless, A.I.A., LEED AP

Gless Architects, Inc.

4931 Birch Street

Newport Beach, CA 92660

949-852-0585 (o)

949-285-9834 (c)

Episode 197: “Mobile Phones in BNI Meetings”

Would you answer a call from your mobile phone during a presentation with your best client? Dr. Misner confesses that he "shuts off his phone" before a BNI meeting and he runs a global networking oraganization. To hear the entire podcast, please click here:

Champions SoCal BNI President's Weekly Letter

Woooooooo, CHAMPIONS!

Well howdy y'all! That is the way that Jim McCracken, AKA the El Paso Kid, and a UFirst agent started his keynote presentation this morning. Jim's presentation was very well rehearsed and it showed! Jim's keynote spanned five topics...What is the problem and why should you care? Why did Jim decide to represent UFirst? Why must you buy the software? Is it too good to be true? And a closing statement. Jim used movement and hand outs successfully and kept the Champions rapt for ALL of his ten minutes. The first ever Angel bobble head doll was not awarded as ALL the Champions were awake the entire keynote! Nicely done, Jim.

EC Moment:

Make sure in your one-to-one meetings that your referral partners know how to refer you. Remember that is incumbent upon ALL of us to train our fellow referral partners on the "what to look for(s)".

Visitors, Subs, and our very own Ambassador!

Heather Begley, subbing for Robert Perez and a make up artist, noted that she felt very welcome and that all of the Champions had positive attitudes.

Blake Green, from Branding Personalities and a sub for Rutger, is focused upon joining a chapter where his category is not represented. Rumor has it that Premier Pros may get a look?

Lisa Stewart, a sub and employee of Doug Luchansky of ACI, really felt the welcome vibe!

Yessy Estrada, subbing for Chris Vasquez of Union Bank, thoroughly enjoyed the International Tabasco Award...and who wouldn't as Dr. Real crowned this week's champ (twice for those keeping score at home)...Ms. Mary Buchanan's oldest son??

Daniel Latch, of Global Solutions Unlimited, observed GREAT spirit from the Champions.

Finally, our very own ambassador, Bernadette Lazarra, felt the love today and appreciates the Champion's chapter immensely. It is always great to have Bernadette present for the flight of the Champions.

GRC:

Our crack GRC team, Michael, Ela, Hercules, and Jody, rolled out the game for April and May that will be focused upon one-to-one meetings within the chapter and trainings (workshops). The first training (workshop) opp for the contest period will be next week directly after the meeting at the Meridian Club. Thanks to our Director of Workshops, Mr. Lem Bucago and Jim Sando for arranging this workshop. The focus will be upon Power Teams! Cannot wait!

Awards and Chapter Biz:

Most 1-2-1s for February, Bo Lowe with 22
Most referrals for February, Chris Vasquez with 12
Most Visitors for February, James Kashi with 3

Greg reported:
Month to date referrals for the chapter, 93...avg monthly is 118
Month to date one-to-ones 197
Annual to date TYFCB $327,000...average $21,000 per seat on an annualized basis!

The Champion Spark Plug award this week went to Steven Stakley for filling in as Secretary Treasurer in Rosanne's absence! Great having you at the dais Mr. Stakley but we miss you Rosanne! Hurry up and get better!

Announcements:

Power Team Workshop for all Champions (who have signed up) next Tuesday March 29th after the meeting!

OCs Largest Mixer at the OC fairgrounds tomorrow the 23rd from 5:00-9:00. SoCal BNI will have a booth. Please stop by and say hello!

Leadership team meeting this Friday at 1:30 at Lee and Associates, Orange.

A special thanks to my wife, Carla Buchanan, an honorary Champion, who has helped your humble President with the speaker rotation, the Tabasco Award gluing, and generally keeping your President happy, healthy and presidential! I love you darling.

The meeting was adjourned with a quote, "We can no more afford to spend major time on minor things that we can minor time on major things." Your action for this week is to spend major time on major things!

Make it a Champion week y'all!

Your faithful President,

Allen Buchanan

Bo Lowe certainly knows enchiladas

We enjoyed dinner with the Lowes! We learned first hand about Hatch, NM chiles and the difference in New Mexico and regular enchiladas. They were yummy! Bo certainly knows enchiladas!