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August 4th @ Clerkenwell BNI

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Seats were scarce during this week’s meeting of Clerkenwell BNI. It was a slow-motion game of musical chairs, as members, subs and visitors mingled (and did lots of business) before the meeting, and then hustled for seats as the meeting began. Luckily, someone mis-counted, and there were enough chairs for everybody when the music stopped (but only barely).

The chapter is very healthy, at 30 members, and the visitors and subs we had today were well received. They included:

Karl Wayt, Sports Bar and Grill (Farringdon)
Andreas Krueger, LockRite (locksmith)
Lucy Long, WPA (health insurance)
Peter Sherwood, Sherwood Diamonds and Gems (jeweller)

Mandy Hetherton (Insight to Action) ran a very good meeting, despite being let down by her alarm clock. Sounds like a referral-in-waiting for Chandra (Tangent Office Resources)

David Miles (Divadani)) entertained us with an amusing (and slightly tongue-in-cheek, or at least I hope it was!) Network Education slot focussing on “Gender-proofing your 1-1s“.

As usual, the Clerkenwell members gave informative, often amusing, and (mostly) targeted 60-second presentations. Standing out from the crowd was our visitor Lucy Long, whose dynamic demeanour and liberal scattering of money (sadly, only the Monopoly sort) won her the John Magee Cup for best 60 seconds of the meeting (we’re quite liberal here in London’s oldest chapter, and are very happy to recognise when visitors have outdone the members when presenting. It only raises our game). It was nice to see Adele Theron (Naked Divorce) back from her speaking tour Down Under. Also returning after short absences (fully subbed, mind you) were the Dynamic David Duo of David Taylor (2010 Media) and David Miles.

A slight deviation from the standard BNI meeting format saw us gathered into groups to discuss the sort of businesses we’d all like to invite (and add) to the chapter. Among the numerous suggestions were doctors, a solar panel-fitting company, wedding planners, builders and kitchen fitters. Special mention was made of the desire for businesses to compliment Ali Irving of Energise Personal Training, who is holding solitary court as the only business in the Health and Wellness sector in the chapter.

Next week we are holding our meeting at the newly opened Sports Bar & Grill (Farringdon), at which today’s visitor Karl Wayt is the General Manager. The address is:

Sports bar and grill Farringdon
19-25 Cowcross Street
London EC1M 6Dq

Personally, I’m looking forward to it, as I enjoyed a post-BNI 1-1-1 there with Chandra and John Wright (Opus Business Systems). Excellent cappuccino, plus a quite tasty second breakfast/really early lunch (the sacrifice had to be made, in the name of research!) served up by the attentive yet unobtrusive staff, left me with a very good impression.

Until next time!

Charles (Both Hemispheres Photography)

Posted in 10 minutes, BNI UK, Both Hemispheres, Energise Personal Training, Mandy Hetherton, Network Education, photos | Comments Off

June 30 @ Clerkenwell BNI

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

We began today’s meeting with Michelle Fanus (Event Manager, Dynamyk Events) once again sitting in for our Chapter Director Alison Trickey (Florist, Pollen Nation), who is poorly (get well soon Alison!). Michelle did an excellent job holding together the herd of cats that is Clerkenwell BNI, our thanks.

Howard Graham, stepping up to give the Network Eduction talk, detailed: “10 Tactics To Stand Out From The Crowd“. It’s worth it to visit this link to really settle these tactics in your memories.

A lively round of 60 second presentations set the tone for the remainder of the meeting, with our visitors and subs (Serge, Nicola, Robert and Simon) keeping up quite admirably, when it came to their turn. Particular mention should be made of Mandy Hetherton’s 60, today’s winner of the John Magee Cup (neé “the Silver Tongue”). Her very specific requests for Chief Execs of charities (Eddie Stride of City Gateway, Jan Tallis of School-Home Support and Rob Owen of St. Giles Trust) will help her fellow members refer her more easily to exactly whom she’s looking for. Much better than Charles’ vague request for “portrait clients” (you want more out of BNI? Be more specific Charles!).

Andrew Greenfield makes a strenuous point during his 60 Seconds

Michael Strelitz entertains during his 60 ("Did you know...")

Our 10 minute presentation today was given by Chandra Sharma of Tangent Office Resources (office supplies). Chandra began with a nod to the legacy of Mr. Wonderful, John Magee, and then proceeded to demonstrate why Tangent should be the supplier of choice for just about any profession (and especially for serviced offices). His presentation was supplemented by three take away items: the latest Tangent newsletter, a pamphlet detailing Tangent’s strengths, referral requests & testimonials, and a “goody-bag” full of useful stationery items. Good job Chandra, it’s great to have you back (and not merely for the chocolate biccies that Tangent sends on with their deliveries!).

Just one of the areas that Tangent offers superior products and services

Chandra dispenses Tangental wisdom

Wisdom received

Referrals today were very strong, we’re averaging in excess of two good referrals/member/meeting. Now all we need to do is to add to our strengths by becoming Visitor Inviting (and conversion) machines!

David gives out what would normally be a very respectable 5 referrals, if he'd not just followed Howard Graham's 11

Andrew Pegg smiles as he gives his referrals

Speaking (writing!) of visitors, please take note, everyone, of our next Visitor’s Day, July 14. This time we’re focussing on the Weddings and Events sectors, so please think of whom you could invite to support this sector of our Chapter (suggestions: wedding planner, venue manager, makeup artist, hair dresser, lighting company, DJ, Limo rental company, video production company).

Until next time!

Posted in 10 minutes, BNI UK, chocolate, flowers, Mandy Hetherton, Network Education, Pollen Nation, visitors day | Comments Off

May 26 @ Clerkenwell BNI

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

We were in the showcase “Westminster Room” at The Old Sessions House this week, lots of room to move, speak and mingle.

Moving, speaking and mingling with the best of them, Michelle Fanus (Dynamyk Events, event manager) was sitting in the centre seat at The Top Table. She was standing in for our illustrious Chapter Director, Alison Trickey (Pollen Nation, florist) who was “buried in roses” this morning, while she prepared for three big weddings this weekend. Michelle did a great job her first time in the Big Chair, the meeting went smoothly and we hardly missed Alison at all (kidding! Her absence left an almost immeasurable void in our lives… too much?).

David Miles (Divadani, internet marketing) thought that sitting beside the chapter’s photographer (Charles Gervais, Both Hemispheres Photography) would ensure that he’d avoid the unblinking gaze of the lens, and inclusion in this blog. David forgot that Charles’ camera, while large, is entirely portable, and that he could get up and shoot from a different angle (Charles and David obviously need to have another 1-1). Turns out that this was a good thing, because David had a lot to say during his Network Education Slot about finding and converting Visitors (this was an interactive Education slot, with several members adding their own strategies). Some of the approaches chapter members use for finding visitors include:

1) seek out people who are already part of networking groups, and ask them if they want to extend their networking circle (with the number one BNI chapter in London!).
2) talk to your clients and suppliers
3) when a cold caller calls you, turn the tables and invite them to BNI. This has been a particularly successful strategy for Ian Selvan (Centrepoint Software, accounting and CRM software)

Any other strategies? Share them in the comments.

There was a good round of 60 second presentations today, with our subs Claudia (Made Simple Group) and Riki Hutchinson (Drinks Lover, wine merchants) fitting in quite nicely to the rather unique chapter that is BNI Clerkenwell.

The 10 minute presentation was given by Debbie Neville (Neville & Rowe Ltd, business reporting software). Debbie used a polished visual presentation to detail the how’s and why’s of their business analytics software: “ImpactEdge”. Some of the members were surprised to learn that ImpactEdge was developed entirely in-house. Debbie is looking for referrals to Finance Directors of Manufacturing and Productions Companies, Hedge Funds, Pension Funds and to “Introducers” (accountants and businesses advisors).

The BNI-ness of the morning didn’t end with the conclusion of the formal meeting. As usual, many BNI Clerkenwell members retired to local cafés to have follow-on one-to-one meetings:

Until next time!

Posted in 10 minutes, BNI UK, Both Hemispheres, Druces, Network Education, Uncategorized | Comments Off

May 19 @ Clerkenwell

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

This week’s Network Education slot, given by David Miles (Divadani, internet marketing), was derived from this excellent Dr. Misner posting: “Top 10 Ways to Waste Your Time in BNI“. Definitely worth a read (you can listen to a podcast too).

David captivates the Chapter

Michelle Fanus (Dynamyk Events, events manager), our Chapter Membership Coordinator, talked us through why we hold the number one spot in London, but pointed out that we are still quite poor at converting visitors to members. Some wisdom, guidance, and whip cracking from the Top Table could be helpful here.

We're #1! We're #1! ...at most things

Mandy Hetherton (Business Coach) gave her first 10 minute presentation, after recently joining the chapter. Judicious use of illustrative props (including a spaghetti jar full of balloons, a map and compass, and tube of Vanish), as well as an engaging speaking style, had several members wondering how the presentation went by so quickly. She talked us through three case studies: 1) helping a busy MD to make better use of her time by delegating effectively, 2) enabling a newly-promoted senior manager to gain confidence and find his way, and 3) a quick session of “spot coaching” to help a chief executive make a sparkling presentation. Mandy asked us to listen out for people who say they don’t have enough time; who are lacking confidence; or who have an event such as a presentation which they are dreading, and to tell them that she offers a free 30 minute consultation to ensure that coaching is right for them.

Introducing: Mandy!

Mandy in action

Mandy keeps 'em interested

Until next time.

Posted in 10 minutes, BNI UK, Mandy Hetherton, Network Education | Comments Off

May 12 @ Clerkenwell

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

We started today’s meeting at BNI Clerkenwell with the very under-stated announcement that Clerkenwell has regained the #1 spot in London! (but #1 in London does not a #1 spot in the UK make: we were gently informed that we are merely 25th in the UK, so there is lots of room for improvement).

Chapter Director Alison Trickey (Pollen Nation, florist), inducted new member Nick Ainsworth (Churchill Insurance Consultants) today. This brings our numbers up to an even 30. Welcome to Clerkenwell BNI Nick! (that’s “Nick” everyone, not “Nigel”. Nick Nick Nick).

After a very educational education slot, given by Simon Manuel (Druces, LLP) on the subject of “Memory Hooks”, our normal 60 second presentations were spiced up by some new, very much on-the-fly, memory hooks from a few adventurous chapter members. Some of those might need a teeny tiny bit of polishing, but they got the message across in, well, a memorable way.

Special VIP guest Laura Hurren (Executive Director of BNI UK) gave a compelling 10 minute presentation on Power Teams. As an effective demonstration of where our strengths lie, she quickly organised the chapter members into their existing Power Teams.The “Weddings”, “Creative/Marketing” and “Property” Power Teams all had only a few members each,

while “Health & Wellness” was represented solely by Ali Irving (Energise Personal Training). The “Finance” dwarfed all of the other Power Teams combined (leaving Ali looking very lonely indeed).

This was an ideal opportunity for Laura to point out the very obvious benefits of building the smaller Power Teams in the chapter (one extra “Wellness” member would give Ali a single new relationship, but 7 more members would give the team 28!). If all that extra business sounds like a good idea, why not attend the special BNI Power Team Workshop being held on Tuesday the 24th of May, from 17.00 to 19.00 at MWB Business Exchange, WC2.

On a final note, Anuschka Fritz (Moustique Design, web designer) was given a special 1.5Kg gourmet chocolate egg by Charles Gervais (Both Hemispheres Photography) as a public thanks for the stellar referral she gave him last Winter. This referral led to his most successful commission to date (Charles hastens to point out that the next chocolate egg will only be awarded to the person who tops that referral…).

Until next time.

Posted in 10 minutes, BNI UK, Both Hemispheres, chocolate, Churchill Image Consultants, Druces, Energise Personal Training, memory hook, Moustique Design, Pollen Nation, power teams | Comments Off

BNI Clerkenwell – PocketCurrency on Camera!

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

PocketCurrency on Camera!

…here are some photos from our BNI Chapter meeting last week – courtesy, naturally, of our chapter photographer Charles Gervais of Both Hemispheres. He kindly decided to snap away during my ten presentation last week for Currency Solutions at BNI Clerkenwell.

Charles must have the art of discretion, a skill that any professional photographer should aspire to, pinned down …as I didn’t notice a single photo being taken yet Charles emailed me later that day with a whole gallery as you can see!

So a big thanks to Charles for getting snappy and also to the other Chapter members for the abundance of business referrals that streamed in following my presentation. I’m used to talking about our bank to bank foreign exchange services frequently, but with the presentation being on our brand new prepaid PocketCurrency Mastercard for holiday makers (AND my powerpoint refusing to come alive) there was a little more at stake. Just goes to show that BNI Clerkenwell is not only great for getting business but also for much appreciated support, ideas and comments on a brand new product.

Some of our members listening to the presentation

Can you spot Charles' work in post editing?!

Time to pass some business referrals.

Tags: BNI, BNI clerkenwell business referral
Posted in 10 minutes, Both Hemispheres, Currency Solutions | Comments Off

Great 10 minutes from Alison of Pollen Nation

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Alison of Pollen Nation did her 10 minute presentation recently, and her approach was particularly informative.

After setting up a little florist’s studio in the centre of our meeting room, Alison showed us her expertise and passion for her business by helping volunteer “bride”, Emma Wilson of Currency Solutions, to design her perfect table bouquet. As you can see from the accompanying photos (courtesy of Charles Gervais, Both Hemispheres Photography), Alison brought in an array of beautiful flowers and built a table setting right in front of us, according to the wishes of her “bride” (who did such a stellar job, I wonder if perhaps she is secretly getting married soon–kidding!). We got to see not only Alison’s creative side, but also how professionally she dealt with a nervous bride who needed a little emotional support and guidance.

Sometimes it’s difficult for BNI members to really understand the different businesses that make up our chapter. A demonstration like this, where you can see exactly what a person does, can be particularly effective. Well done Alison!

Charles (Both Hemispheres Photography)