March 2015 Volume 1, Issue 6 The Business Network insider Ala n nney cKi aM your trusted source for meaningful social strategies Be Part of Something Bigger! Entrepreneurial Best Practices for the 21st Century My vision for the future in NE Chicagoland is to both grow multi-million dollar chapters and We rented movies from storefronts that charged to create millionaire local/global entrepreneurs. late fees, and we still wrote checks at the grocery store. Here are 3 Things You Need to Know About Being a Global Entrepreneur: 1. For most of us, being a successful Global Entrepreneur is not a natural process. 2. There are gaps in our daily routines that must be bridged. The biggest“Gap” stands between what we know we should do and what we are actually doing. Continued on page 3 The first five people to contact me at [email protected] will receive their very own copy of my chapter from the newly released book Get in The Game . ALANA MCKINNEY HAS BEEN SEEN IN AND ON Claim Your Free Copy Today! Get in The Game! New Release! 2015 Member Extravaganza Program Page 3 | Congratulations Big Member Success Differences Page 2 | Networking Amidst Cultural Page 1 | Be Part of Something Bigger! Inside This Issue: When our“regional doors” opened in 1997 to introduce a new way to do word-of-mouth referral marketing in Chicagoland, our phones could not take pictures (see pg 3-Scott Lawrence took that picture with his phone). As the presence of the BNI brand not only grew, but thrived, our knowledge and understanding on how to create BNI Chapters that could generate multi-million dollar cultures also grew. Page 4 | I have been reflecting on how the BNI Culture has changed in the last 30 years. Alana McKinney PO Box 1245 Woodstock, IL 60098 the business network insider BNI Welcomes the Newest Members of Our Growing Family Member Chapter Michelle Langreder Andrew Cave BNI AAA BNI After Hours Carla Speer William Gray BNI After Hours Julia Matthews Aaron Abajian BNI Always Doing Business Dino Mantis Herb Bergstrom BNI Always Doing Business Niki Metropoulos Kuan-Ren Su BNI Always Doing Business Mary Jane Alagheband Debbie Weyers BNI Business by Referrals Michael Stern BNI Energy Referrals Tim Downey BNI Energy Referrals Michael Darling William Angelo BNI Energy Referrals Bradley Rasof Derrick Fairbanks BNI Let’s Do Lunch Jeffrey Miller, Jr. John Heil BNI Let’s Do Lunch Andy Sullivan BNI Luncheon Networkers of Schaumburg Ernest Belmonte Thomas Moriarty BNI Luncheon Networkers of Schaumburg Brad Walbrun Angie Landmesser BNI North Shore Professionals Debbie Borsic Ken Campbell BNI North Shore Professionals Roger Kippenhan BNI Schaumburg-Hoffman Kimberly Jeschke BNI Sweet Success Carol Gerardi BNI We Mean Business Fred Weiner BNI We Mean Business Justin Craggs BNI We Mean Business Kyle Butt Scott Lawrence BNI North Shore Professionals BNI North Shore Professionals BNI Referrals Express Jim Bilello Sean Burke Andrew Aswad 2 Sponsor Global Entrepreneurs Giving Back to the Community in Creative Ways Marla Davis and Dr. Tim Hayes of BNI Referrals ROCK Chapter are all-smiles for the camera during Open Networking. A grand total of $1,000 was generated at their 15 year Anniversary Celebration Fundraiser. A check was presented to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Joel Boeing Craig Pierson Alan Friedlander Through a Wine Tasting Event organized by Sean McDonald, President Gary Sookikian and Vice President Dan Hartwig, the BNI Key Referral Center Chapter was able to donate to the Illinois Food Bank $2,000. Accepting the check is Hannah Papp. Alana McKinney | 847.809.6019 | www.AlanaMcKinney.com | PO Box 1245 | Woodstock, IL 60098 the business network insider Be Part of Something Bigger! Continued from page 1 Attending Basic and Mid-Year Empowerment Training Sessions (see page 4 for upcoming dates) for our Leadership and Support Teams will help. Reminding Leadership of the fundamentals of our organization can be priceless. Not only will you be able to be eyeball to eyeball with those who have real success stories, but you will also be able to ask questions and learn from those who have failed and overcome in big, big ways. 3. Extraordinary Entrepreneur’s Formula: Intentional Growth + Attitude + Opportunity + Action = Global Entrepreneur If you want to be a part of something bigger in your life and business, perhaps bigger than you ever thought possible, then let BNI NE Chicagoland provide that opportunity. Networking Amidst Cultural Differences by Dr. Ivan Misner® Understanding cultural differences when doing business around the world is becoming more important in a global society. Even within large countries like the United States, there are definitely differences from one region to another. When you go beyond that and look at one country vs. another, the differences become even more impactful on business. When we concentrate on similarities with each other in business, the differences aren’t that important. Problems arise when the differences appear to be all there are. When entrepreneurs focus on the perceived differences between each other in business, these differences can become stumbling blocks to developing a strong relationship, which is, after all, the ultimate goal of networking. When you factor in differences in communication and behavioral styles, it exacerbates the perceived differences. Although many networking basics are universal, if you can factor in these and other cultural nuances you will definitely get a leg up when doing business in other countries. Your networking etiquette will be greatly appreciated as your business increasingly takes you into other countries, especially if you can learn a few words or commonly practiced traditions of that country. Showing this kind of respect will go a long way in making a smoother connection with the local business people you are trying to work with. Congratulations March 2015 MSP Grads! Chapters Represented in this Photo: BNI After Hours Chapter, BNI Referrals R Us Chapter, BNI Wildfire Chapter, BNI Above & Beyond Chapter, BNI Referrals ROCK Chapter, BNI Key Referral Center Chapter, BNI North Shore Professional Chapter, BNI Luncheon Networkers of Schaumburg, BNI Business By Referral Chapter * Special thanks to Scott Lawrence of Scott Lawrence Photography (312) 488-9797 for taking such an awesome picture. Alana McKinney | 847.809.6019 | www.AlanaMcKinney.com | PO Box 1245 | Woodstock, IL 60098 3 the business network insider Upcoming Events Important Dates to Remember 2015 Member Extravaganza! March 30th-May 29th Winners receive a 4-day, 3-night trip to Hilton Head Island, SC FOR TWO. Travel dates are Oct. 9th through Oct. 12th, 2015. Rules & Regulations * The Member Extravaganza begins March 30th, 2015 and runs through May 29th, 2015. Without exception, only those applications dated between these dates will be eligible. No other date applies. Drawing will be held no later than July 10th, 2015. * Members who sponsor new members into their chapter will qualify for the drawing when 6 or more new members total have joined the chapter. * For every set of FOUR (or every set of fewer than FOUR) qualifying chapters within a region, there will be at least one winner. * Sponsoring members get one chance in the drawing for each new member they sponsor. * Trip must be taken by the winner on the date above and is non-transferable. No cash value. * Chapters chartering betwen March 30th and May 29th, 2015, may be subject to other conditions and may not be eligible. * See your Director for details. * Your BNI membership must be current at time of drawingthe drawing. Spring Empowerment Trainings Plus Special Charity Opportunity April 17th, 2015: 10am-1 pm 31 Banquets and Catering 217 Front Street McHenry, IL 60050 * A special request for the Empowerment Training: BNI Northwest Business Associates (Algonquin, IL) have partnered with HABITAT For HUMANITY to collect donations of used electronics. Bring your electronics you wish to recycle and drop off before the training. The HABITAT donation truck will be parked out back of 31 North Banquets for easy recycling. April 24th, 2015: 10am-1pm Lambs Farm 14245 West Rockland Road, Libertyville, IL 60048. * Lambs Farm in Libertyville is a non-profit organization that provides vocational opportunities for special needs adults. The BNI Above and Beyond Chapter meets each week at Lambs Farm. Their business helps support the Magnolia Cafe and Bakery. Join us at this location for the Empowerment Training to help support this worthy cause. About Alana McKinney & Her Companies About Business Network International With over 176,000 members worldwide, BNI is the largest business networking organization in the world. During her time as Executive Director and Partner for BNI’s Chicago region, Alana took responsibility for the operations, marketing/PR and nurturing of a franchise of more than 90 BNI Chapters. Today, Alana advocates the benefits of social capital and word-of-mouth referral marketing to BNI members in chapters spanning three counties. About The John Maxwell Team As a member of the President’s Advisor Committee of the John Maxwell Team, teacher and speaker, Alana helps entrepreneurs, businesspeople and not-for profits across the globe using only the most successful, cutting-edge proprietary success strategies. About AGM Connects, Inc. With her own professional training organization, AGM Connects, Inc., Alana is a frequent presenter and a coach on networking strategies and techniques. She has worked with entrepreneurs in Action Coach International, State Farm Insurance, Aflac, First Midwest Bank, Service Master, Certa Pro Painters, The Brian Buffini Organization, Herbal Life, Mary Kay Cosmetics, SendOutCards, Shaklee Corporation, Signs By Tomorrow among many others. 4 About Alana McKinney Alana McKinney is one of the Nation’s foremost experts and advocates on the benefits of networking, word-of-mouth referral marketing, and social capital. Alana is an Award-Winning, Best-Selling Author. She has been honored by The National Academy of Best Selling Authors® with 2011 and 2012 Quilly® Awards for two of her best selling books: The Success Secret, which Alana coauthored alongside America’s #1 Success Coach and co-creator of the legendary Chicken Soup for the Soul best-selling book series, Jack Canfield; and Building the Ultimate Network, which Alana contributed to with world-renowned practitioner and teacher of networking, Dr. Ivan Misner. Alana received two 2014 EXPY® Awards from The National Association of Experts, Writers & Speakers in recognition for her achievements in media, communications and professional leadership training. Alana has been featured on The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, CNN, ABC, NBC, and CBS as well as in Forbes, The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times. Contact Us Contact Alana McKinney today to learn more about how you can build and leverage your social capital, the international currency of business and networking, to make the meaningful connections that can secure your professional success. Alana McKinney | 847.809.6019 | www.AlanaMcKinney.com | PO Box 1245 | Woodstock, IL 60098
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