Like one or two others, I am now in my thirteenth year at BNI Clerkenwell.
Over that time, I have witnessed dramatic changes both in the make up of the Chapter and the way business is conducted.
I still remember very clearly that meeting at the Finsbury Business Centre in 1997 when we met for the first time with absolutely no idea what we were letting ourselves in for.
Now, all these years later, a fair bit of business has passed between us all and it is absolutely clear that we wouldn’t continue getting up at such a ridiculous hour if it wasn’t for the value that we receive.
What is particularly interesting for me is the new business types and business practices that we come across. When we first started, many of the businesses were very traditional – printers, accountants, lawyers, financial advisers. Now the variety is both fascinating and mind boggling. Cosmeticians, social media consultants, concierge services and a range of titles and descriptions that almost defy belief.
Furthermore, we are all now promoting our businesses using social media – Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, E-academy – the list is endless and so few of us have any printed material to hand out.
Yet despite all these changes, and all these new businesses, we all still seem to benefit from the networking principles of BNI – ‘givers gain’.
I still truly believe that people I give business to feel committed to reciprocating and finding me new introductions and generally BNI continues to work for me.
Howard Graham
If it stops, no doubt I’ll stop coming, but for the meantime, I am afraid BNI Clerkenwell I aint going anywhere.
And we are all very happy to hear that!
For me, tis only my third year but I can say the same, BNI is very much worth it, not only because of the business received but also very much because of the support network we have got here.