Its 14 years since I attended the inaugural meeting of Clerkenwell BNI in a small room in Martin Hudson’s office in Clerkenwell.  I can still remember balancing my scrambled eggs on my lap as 8 of us listened to Laura Hurren explain the format of the meeting. 

 I still recoil at the horror of hearing that I’d be expected to speak for 60 seconds about what I do.  I sat there thinking that this would be my one and only visit to BNI, that I didn’t like any of the people in the room, and that I wasn’t a natural networker! 

A lot of water has flown under that bridge since then,and here I am, 14 years later, still attending BNI every Thursday, with undoubtedly a lot to be thankful for. 

Apart from all the great relationships, both personal and business, that I have developed as a result of BNI and the confidence it has instilled in me as a public speaker and a networker, it’ has also helped me build my business with great support from other BNI members. 

BNI doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s worked for me and 14 years later, it still does. 

Thank you Laura for inviting me all those years ago.

Howard Graham