Yes this post is a rant post for which I make no apologies.
Back in June of this year I posted my experience of the Business Network, BNI you can read the post here since that post I have received a number of, well lets just say verbal assaults from BNI members about what I had written. Disappointingly none of them went public with their comments on this blog, instead they chose the coward way and attacked me via email. Anyway I have sat on these comments and slowly stewed, but finally I want to put the record straight.
Firstly if you read the post, I have not exactly gone all out and slagged off BNI. For sure I have raised some issues that I had with the network and ultimately I voted with my feet but I don’t think that I went to town on them.
I’m pissed because I did not get any business
No I am not pissed that I did not get any business. In fact I highlighted that during my tenure as a BNI member I did indeed receive business and alongside that I met some decent people many of which I remain in contact. What I did however realise was that some of the business I was receiving was not the type that I wanted. Was this the fault of BNI? No it was just my business evolving as all businesses do. For the record I never blamed BNI for this.
I couldn’t cope with the rules
I loved this one. I spent 8 years in the Army, I am fully aware of rules and the need for them. True some of the rules, I did not agree with but that does not mean I could not cope with them. Lets take the “Lock out” policy, something that I really did not agree with. I run an IT company and as many people will know, IT covers an awful lot. But my category was “IT” which is fine, but when I talked about software development, web hosting etc I was told that this encroaches on other members “categories”. Now maybe I got the wrong end of the stick but to me these are elements of the technology industry. So my point was simply to state that BNI needed to reassess its categories and take a view that distinct categories do not always work for all industries.
I don’t know how to refer properly
I am struggling with this one. I am perfectly able to understand the concept of referrals and have given plenty of them over the years I have been in business and will continue to do so. What I will say is that I am buggered if I am going to refer a piece of work to somebody that I do not know just because that it is what expected of me. I personally refer work to people whom I am confident will do the work to the required standard not just any tom, dick or harry that happens to be in a networking group. If that means that I don’t know how to refer then I will live with that.
I did not embrace the BNI way
This brings a smile to my face. I will agree with some facets of this in so much that I refused to wear a badge on my left breast saying “I refuse to participate in a recession” who in their right mind chooses to participate in a recession? I don’t and do not feel the need to make a public statement that I don’t.
“Givers Gain” is another statement that makes me feel nauseous. Just because you give business to someone does not automatically mean that they will reciprocate and give you something in return.
So if those two things mean that I did not embrace the BNI way then I will agree, but given that I had good attendance and did my best to participate within the group then I think that I did my bit.
You hate BNI
No I dont hate BNI. I found it to be an experience and with all networking some are better than others. Personally it did not fit with me and I found that I needed to look at alternatives, after all that is the point of networking you have to find the level that works for you. I did not write my initial post to publicly slate BNI, but just gave an overview of my experience. I admire the loyalty of those individuals that felt the need to take a swing at me for lambasting BNI, but in reality your punches were misguided and just so we are clear “I dont hate BNI” it just does not do it for me.
Rant over………….
I think your article is very well written and thought out. Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback Niki. Glad you enjoyed the article!
SImon
An interesting article. Having read your first post, you put across your opinions fairly clearly. BNI won’t be for everybody and you recognise that. There are bits you liked and bits you didn’t like, but I don’t think you slagged off BNI, just gave your considered opinion.
My only comment would be that the “rules” have evolved over the 25 years based on what members have told us work most effectively to get them the most business (hence the lock out and attendance policy).
But as I said – it was well written and in no way a slagging off.
PS – I’m the UK National Director for BNI!
Thanks Tim for the comments to my post. I tried to post a considered opinion on BNI which I though I achieved and your comment backs this up – so thankyou.
Networking is very much a personal thing and I think you have to find one which is comfortable and suits your business. I appreciate that the “Lock Out” policy has evolved over 25 years, however I think that maybe it would be time that BNI reviews the policy and at least looks at how business has changed over those 25 years and considers that these changes have made some business types more difficult to classify in a single group.
Thanks again
Simon