The Official BNI Podcast

Misner Audio Programs: www.misneraudioprograms.com. Including the Maximize BNI Package, the Your Business Starter Package, and Dr. Misner's Complete Audio Library! — **Episode 979: A Better Word Than Honesty** Sep 23, 2026
Synopsis

As a new BNI member, you need to look at every aspect of the way you present yourself to your chapter and your prospects. That includes your word choice. Using expressions like “honestly” and “to be honest” can backfire. Someone who’s just met you may wonder whether the rest of what you said was dishonest. They may wonder whether what you’re saying now is dishonest. Just make your statement.

If you have to qualify the statement, Dr. Misner likes to say “In my experience.” Guest Jim Meadows prefers “to be clear” if you’re putting something in simpler words. If you say what you mean and back it up with your actions, people will know you’re honest.

Links

Listen to Episode 7: Simplify Your Story.

Read the Reliable Insights Blog.

Listen to Episode 858: The Makeover of Your Weekly Ask.

The Official BNI Podcast is sponsored by Misner Audio Programs.

Complete Transcript of Episode 979

**Priscilla:**
Hello everybody, and welcome back to the Official BNI Podcast. I’m Priscilla Rice, and I’m coming to you from Live Oak Recording Studio in Berkeley, California, and I’m joined on the phone today by the Founder and the Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, Dr. Ivan Misner. Hello Ivan, how are you and where are you?

**Ivan:**
I am doing great. I’m at my home in Austin, Texas. I think I’m going to go out into the hot tub this afternoon. September is a great time to go on out into the hot tub.

**Priscilla:**
Okay, good. And who do you have with us today?

**Ivan:**
I have somebody who’s been on BNI podcast before. This is his second time on BNI podcast. He was on episode 858, *The Makeover of Your Weekly Ask*, and that is Jim Meadows. He’s entering his seventh year as a BNI member in Kansas City, Missouri [USA]. He’s been the Vice President, the Education Coordinator, the Chapter Success Coach. He’s a member of the International Board of Advisors. He’s earned a couple of master’s degrees. His four-decade career includes corporate training, leadership development, and change management. He specializes in credit card payment processing for the chiropractic industry. That’s a niche industry, and I love seeing niche industries in BNI, and his BNI experience has inspired a long-term goal, which is earning a DBA at Pennsylvania State University. DBA, I assume, is a Doctorate in Business Administration, Jim?

**Jim:**
Correct.

**Ivan:**
Well, welcome back to BNI Podcast. You and Kathy are now happy empty-nesters, I understand, and believe me, I get that totally. So, welcome to BNI Podcast. You’ve got an interesting concept here – *A Better Word Than Honesty*. So, every new BNI member wants to be a high performer as soon as possible. How is this relevant to them?

**Jim:**
Excellent question. Couple of things: when you’re new in BNI, you want to become a high performer as soon as possible, and that means everything you do, you need to evaluate. What do you look like on the power of one? Are you keeping up with all your training? How do you present yourself? What’s your deportment like? And we’re going to focus today on how do you use words. Words are very, very important. I think we’ve all been there, either as a perpetrator or a recipient or both. Someone wants to emphasize a point, create goodwill, sound persuasive, close a sale, and then it happens. You use some form of one of these phrases: “to be honest with you,” “in all honesty,” “if I’m really being honest with you.” Now Ivan, I call these phrases honesty validators.

**Ivan:**
Yeah.

**Jim:**
Because we believe that by incorporating them into our language, we somehow reinforce the truth of our words.

**Ivan:**
Right.

**Jim:**
Unfortunately, all of that belies the presence of honesty.

**Ivan:**
Yeah, I think we’ve all been guilty of that. I certainly have.

**Jim:**
Well, there was a 20th century British philosopher of language by the name of Paul Grice. He founded Gricean pragmatics. One of his key tenets is that language is supposed to be a cooperative activity, and it should also be economical. Don’t use words you don’t need. Any time you use a phrase or a word that technically is not required, it could actually be signaling the opposite of your intentions. In this case, if honesty is your default position, then why would you want to signal my default position is dishonesty?

**Ivan:**
Yeah, yeah. I think again, I think almost all of us have done it. I read a book many, I mean, decades, like 40 years ago, called ***On Writing Well, and he uses a term in there about deobfuscating your writing, to not obfuscate it by adding in words like honesty because it just…. or saying things like “honestly this is the way I feel.” Well, you know, you’re right. Do you often lie when you talk about how you feel? I mean, that’s the issue I think you’re bringing up. Yeah?

**Jim:**
Absolutely correct.

**Ivan:**
So how do you solve this dilemma?

**Jim:**
Yeah, how do we solve it? Well, a couple of points here. Naturally, most people hear this and immediately yell, “No, I’m always honest.” But unfortunately, the unintended message contradicts that affirmation, and it’s always the unintended message received by your audience that has consequences with which you might not be happy. So I asked the question many years ago: Do we have a better word than honesty?

As a lifelong public speaker and writer, I’ve given a lot of thought to this perplexing problem, and I think I’ve arrived at a simple, elegant solution that works very well for me. It might work well for others, too. So I basically maintain that the superior solution is to replace honesty validators with what I’ve termed clarity validators, because these phrases come across so much better. Think about it: “to be clear with you,” “in all clarity,” “if I’m really being clear with you.” You see, people will forgive you for fumbling clarity because anyone can make a mistake. People find it very difficult to forgive you for fumbling honesty, because honesty is a thoughtful, willful choice.

**Ivan:**
What do you think about using a word like candidly?

**Jim:**
Candidly is sort of a substitute for honest, for honestly. So I avoid that word as well, because again, if I have to say to you, speaking candidly, I’m already shooting myself in the foot with my character and my integrity.

**Ivan:**
All right, what about the phrase “in my experience”?

**Jim:**
I think that’s an excellent one because that comes from a place of your personal professional experience, and that tends to carry much more weight with the audience because now they know they’re hearing something important, and your experience has proven it.

**Ivan:**
Alright. So if you embrace this clarity validator logic to replace the honesty validators, how do you do that? Explain that further.

**Jim:**
Yeah, that’s a wild ride. When I made the decision several years ago to replace all of my honesty validators with clarity validators, I had to prepare for a battle in my mind because so many times I would automatically just let it slip in, honestly, or to be honest with you, and then suddenly realize, “Oh, I didn’t want to say it that way.” So you have to really make a concerted effort to think through your linguistic mental library of what’s on autopilot, and get all of those autopilot honesty words out of there, and replace them with clarity words.

**Ivan:**
And so, generally speaking, you’re saying something like “clearly” or “in all clarity” or the one I like to use oftentimes is “in my experience” is more genuine than saying honestly.

**Jim:**
Yes, yes, it definitely is, and we also have to just simply remember that practitioners in deception research flag these kinds of words. They’re just not considered nice words if you’re concerned about integrity and how you want to convey who you are as a person.

**Ivan:**
So you maintain that there’s a vital dynamic between communication, relationship, leadership. Tell us more about that.

**Jim:**
Well, if you really think about it, your personal leadership and relationship and words are all linked together. Here’s what I’m talking about: your leadership is the foundation for all your success. But what builds your leadership? It’s built by your relationships. So you’ve got to have great relationships, relationships of integrity, that feeds into your leadership, and that is the basis for your success. But let’s go all the way back to relationship. Relationships are fundamentally driven by communication. Communication is the lifeblood of your relationships, so you have to go all the way back to the words you use, how you choose and use those words, if you’re truly wanting to invest in positive relationships. They’re all linked together. It’s a wonderful positive dynamic, and you have to play it that way.

**Ivan:**
I’m trying to think of times where, because I have purposely not tried to use the phrase “honestly” for the reasons that you’re describing, and I’m trying to think of the things that I’ve replaced it with. Certainly, “in my experience” is one of them. I’ve used a variation of clarity. I’ll say things like, you know, clearly that’s an important issue. Let’s drill down and talk about that. That kind of phrase. Does that kind of thing work better, you think?

**Jim:**
Absolutely. That’s exactly the kind of wording and verbiage that is only going to help you come across with strong integrity. And again, people will forgive you for making a mistake with clarity, but it’s much more difficult if they feel you’re making mistakes with your honesty, your integrity.

**Ivan:**
Yeah. So this is a really subtle issue, I think, for a lot of people that they may not see the real power in what you’re talking about. I’m not one of them; I believe you’re right, and I would urge people listening to this to really give this some thought and find other ways of describing or… I think oftentimes it’s used as a filler phrase. It’s almost like the “uh” “well” you know, it’s almost like that. It’s used as a filler phrase, and what you’re pointing out is that there are better filler phrases that are clearer than saying something like “in all honesty.” Is that a good assessment?

**Jim:**
That’s an excellent assessment. So many people, just because of our culture and the media around us, so many people automatically throw in, “Well, to be honest,” because they didn’t really want to say it if they truly understood what it implies. But it becomes a filler phrase. It becomes “umm” “uhh” – that kind of a thing.

**Ivan:**
Exactly. Exactly. So I think your point here is well made, and I would urge members to really give this a try. Try to do these things that you’re talking about. We’re out of time. Any last thought before we wrap?

**Jim:** Certainly, I would simply say to anybody in a conversation, “Hey, if you’re an honest person, then stop speaking in a manner that sends the message ‘My default position is dishonesty,’ clearly.”

**Ivan:**
Yeah, I’m not sure I would say that to people. But if you’re trying to train them on speaking, maybe if they’re open to it. Otherwise they may not take it real well. I bet, however, you have talked about this on your blog, which is blog.reliableinsights.com. That’s blogreliableinsights.com. Jim, thanks for being on BNI podcast again. I appreciate you.

**Jim:**
Thank you very much.

**Ivan:**
Over to you, Priscilla.

**Priscilla:**

Okay, great. I want to thank you both for that interesting conversation. So, thank you so much for that.

This podcast is sponsored by www.misneraudioprograms.com. These audio programs will provide you with the tools and the inspiration to powerfully enhance your BNI experience. So check out the great material available to you at www.misneraudioprograms.com and then use the promo code **IVAN50** for 50% off of everything [this code is good for a limited time]. All of the proceeds go to the BNI Foundation.

Thank you so much for listening. This is Priscilla Rice, and we look forward to having you join us again next week for another exciting episode of The Official BNI Podcast.

A man stands before two walls: Obstacles, which is shorter but closer, and Vision, which is taller, but further away. Dotted lines represent the man's line of sight with respect to both obstacles and vision. — **Episode 975: Your Vision to Success** Aug 26, 2026
Synopsis

Envision yourself standing in a field. About 30 feet away is a 30-foot-high wall. That wall is your vision for your business and your life. Ten feet short of your vision is a wall of obstacles. If you can’t see the vision over the obstacles, you get discouraged and give up. Tom Fleming joins the podcast to show you how to grow your vision.

Tom Fleming’s model of human motivation

Come to BNI membership with a vision, and hold that vision to overcome any obstacles you encounter. That means engaging in all-out effort with respect to attendance, one-to-ones, passing referrals, and bringing visitors. Tom’s high-achieving vision as a BNI member is

Three one-to-ones per week

Three referrals per week

Two or three visitors per month.

Build a vision for your relationship and your business with every conversation you have in BNI. Try it for six months and see how your results grow with your vision.

Links

Listen to Tom Fleming’s other BNI Podcast episodes.

Listen to Episode 711: Choose the Lens You See the World Through.

Listen to Episode 475: A Path to Business Leadership.

The Official BNI Podcast is sponsored by Misner Audio Programs.

Complete Transcript of Episode 975

**Priscilla:**
Hello everybody, and welcome back to the Official BNI Podcast. I’m Priscilla Rice, and I’m coming to you from Live Oak Recording Studio in Berkeley, California, and I’m joined on the phone today by the Founder and the Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, Dr. Ivan Misner. Hello Ivan, how are you and where are you?

**Ivan:**
Lady Priscilla, it’s wonderful to hear you. Greg Davies from one of the previous podcasts called you Lady Priscilla, I love that. So I might use that moniker every now and then.

**Priscilla:** (chuckling)
Okay.

**Ivan:**
You’re not a big fan, but I might use it. I am in this hot Austin weather. We looked at my swimming pool gauge, and my swimming pool, not heated, is over 90 degrees [F].

**Priscilla:**
Oh.

**Ivan:**
So it’s like a sauna. It’s hot.

**Priscilla:**
You can just turn it into your bathtub.

**Ivan:**
Yeah, pretty much, yeah, absolutely. So I have a guest today, Tom Fleming. Tom has been on my podcast five previous times. Not too many people have been on the podcast five times. That should tell you something about my opinion of Tom’s contributions to the organization. He served in various leadership roles in BNI, including training owners to track more referrals, from 1996 to roughly 2024, and he continues to impact people’s businesses and lives. He’s now the founder of the Vision Institute. Tom works with business owners to craft a vision for their business and their life, which I think is really important. Within this framework, Tom also supports people with creating a financial vision for themselves with an emphasis on retirement planning. So it’s our goal to make a living and create a life, according to Tom. Tom loves supporting people with creating creating that life. Tom is in Nancy Short’s [BNI] region, and she’s lucky to have him as part of her region. Tom, welcome back to BNI Podcast.

**Tom:**
Well, thank you so much, Ivan. And yes, here in Florida, our pool is a little over 90 degrees as well.

**Ivan:** (chuckling)
All right, we’re in the same boat, and/or pool actually.

**Priscilla:** (chuckling)

**Ivan:**
So we’re going to include a diagram in this podcast so people can see what we’re talking about. Could you explain the diagram that’s in here?

**Tom:**
Absolutely, I’d like the listeners to envision themselves just standing in an open field, and about 30 feet away from them is a 30-foot wall, and that wall represents their vision. Their vision of their business and/or their life, if you will. And about 20 feet out, 10 feet short of your vision, is a wall of obstacles, perceived obstacles, if you will. And for some of us, sometimes those perceived obstacles are higher in effect. Therefore, we can’t even see the accomplishment of our vision, and that obviously makes us feel overwhelmed and maybe even depressed and hopeless.

But there is a strategy for people in that situation, and the strategy is to decrease their perceived obstacles. And where I shine is in increasing the vision that they have for their business and their life. And I know you have an opinion on this, Ivan.

**Ivan:**
And it’s congruent with yours, I believe.

**Tom:**
And yours is don’t even pay attention to the obstacles?

**Ivan:**
Well, no, no. My perspective on this is: focus on the vision, not the obstacles. The obstacles will always be there. Obstacles were there for BNI in 1985. Obstacles are part of BNI today, obstacles will be around, you know, 20 years from now. So it’s hold the vision.

**Tom:**
Mmm.

**Ivan:**
This is my philosophy: hold the vision, not the obstacles. Work through, around, over, under, whatever. Work through the obstacles and focus on the vision.

**Tom:**
I love it. I love it absolutely. And obviously, people are interested in, “Well, Tom, how does this apply to BNI?”

**Ivan:**
Yeah.

**Tom:**
And I think a lot of members come into BNI with, well, we’ll see what happens.

**Ivan:**
Yeah.

**Tom:**
And my thought is, let’s enter our BNI membership with a vision. I know many people who generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in business from BNI, and I know you know many people who generate millions of dollars, yen, pesos from BNI on an annual basis. I think we have to hold that vision in our mind to overcome what people perceive as obstacles in BNI. Meaning engaging in all-out effort with respect to attendance and one-to-ones and passing referrals, and bringing visitors.

**Ivan:**
No, I agree. What else?

**Tom:**
So really again, it’s about people generating a vision of getting your “twos” or your “threes” on a weekly basis. Investing in three one-to-ones per week, three referrals per week, maybe; two or three visitors per month. Because I think that level of engagement-people being on the field instead of in the stands-that’s when they are going to get results, given the philosophy of Givers Gain.

**Ivan:**
Yeah. Can I just say — you mentioned three one-to-ones in a week? I think that’ll burn people out. I’m not opposed to it, but I want people to understand that networking is a marathon, not a sprint. And I would just be ecstatic if people did four a month. Ecstatic. And the numbers show that four a month will double the number of referrals they both give and receive. The average member listening says, “Three?” Three is a big ask, and I don’t want members to burn themselves out. But look, you ran an incredibly successful region, so we can disagree slightly and still be in the same ballpark.

**Tom:**
Well, I also mentioned getting your twos, which is yes more aggressive than what you’re sharing. My point is… now, I tend to be a little bit of an overachiever.

**Ivan:**
You think? Yes, yes you are, Tom, and that’s a good thing. I wish I had more overachievers like you.

**Tom:**
Got it. But you know when I get engaged in something, I’m going to play full out, and I think if a lot of members who had the type of personality or behavior that I have, I think if they engage at that, in that level, realizing that BNI is part of their marketing plan, it’s not something they just belong to, it’s part of their marketing plan, I think their results would double, triple, quadruple. I might recommend to people: try it out for six months — see how it goes.

**Ivan:**
Okay, and then what?

**Tom:**
Well, I think this model also applies to conversations in BNI. For instance, if I’m meeting with a fellow member, maybe someone who’s in my Contact Sphere, I need to share with them and sell them on the fact that being in a relationship with me is a fantastic investment.

**Ivan:**
Yeah.

**Tom:**
And we want to build a vision in their mind of what’s possible if we work together. I don’t know if it’s in print anymore, *Business by Referral*?

**Ivan:**
It’s not, but much of what is in that book is in the fourth edition of *The World’s Best Known Marketing Secret*.

**Tom:**
Excellent, excellent. That book is a goldmine of networking strategy when it comes to 15 ways others can promote you, which that number may have changed; 18 tactics to motivate your sources. I’m going back to my time — back in the day, if you will. But using those strategies to build a vision in the mind of your referral partners of how you can work together to build visibility, credibility, profitability with each other. Again, I just think it’s a goldmine.

**Ivan:**
Yeah, and that’s where VCP came from, was that book.

**Tom:**
Yes, absolutely, absolutely. I think bigger picture too. The model just relates to life and business. I think if people have a very small vision of their business, I don’t know what level of engagement they’re willing to put forth towards their business. Versus if we support people with thinking through what’s possible with one’s business, I do believe it…

**Ivan:**
Doesn’t this go back to your original conversation about the obstacles? I think people see the obstacles in front of them, and they lose sight of the vision behind those obstacles.

**Tom:**
Yes.

**Ivan:**
The obstacles they’re always there. I’ve never done anything in business that didn’t have obstacles. And so the key is, like I said earlier, to work around, over, through, under, whatever it takes — hold the vision, not the obstacles. And when you can do that, then you’re going to be successful. I see BNI people that just get caught up in the obstacles, and what happens when they get caught up in the obstacles is that’s all they talk about. And if that’s all they talk about, they become experts at the obstacles…

**Tom:**
Absolutely.

**Ivan:**
…and not experts at the vision. And so, what people have to do — and that’s why I say hold the vision, not the obstacle, because you want to be an expert at the vision. And the more you can get people to focus on the vision that you’ve got, the more successful that you, as an individual, that a chapter is.

**Tom:**
I think your wisdom that you just shared is just kind of a great way to wrap this conversation up.

**Ivan:**
Yep, I agree. Is there anything you’d add? I love your graphic. I’ll make sure it gets put into the podcast. You’ve been a great participant in the BNI program for many, many years, and I appreciate everything that you have contributed over the years. Any last thought?

**Tom:**
No, just other than thank you for allowing me to continue to contribute via this platform. Whenever I have something that I feel will give members an opportunity to think through a different model or a strategy, I’m happy to contribute and I thank you.

**Ivan:**
My pleasure. *Your Vision to Success*, Tom Fleming. Tom, thanks for being on. Over to you, Priscilla.

**Priscilla:**
Okay, thank you both. That’s great information.

This podcast is sponsored by www.misneraudioprograms.com. These audio programs will provide you with the tools and the inspiration to powerfully enhance your BNI experience. So check out the great material available to you at www.misneraudioprograms.com and then use the promo code **IVAN50** for 50% off of everything [this code is good for a limited time]. All of the proceeds go to the BNI Foundation.

Thank you so much for listening. This is Priscilla Rice, and we look forward to having you join us again next week for another exciting episode of The Official BNI Podcast.

Episode 969: The Shadow We Cast as Leaders Jul 15, 2026

Culture is the shadow we cast as leaders. Behavior, Priorities, and Relationships set the tone for your business.

Episode 968: Your Connection Team Jul 08, 2026

Your BNI chapter was never meant to be your sales force. They're your connection team., They identify opportunities and transfer credibility.

Episode 967: Richard Branson on Legacy (Classic) Jul 01, 2026

The best legacy we can leave is to make a difference in the lives of the people around us, and you don't have to be a billionaire to do that.

Episode 966: Living Your Succession Plan Jun 24, 2026

The true test of leadership is how sustainable your organization becomes. Significance is about helping people thrive beyond you.

Episode 965: Delay Success or Accelerate Failure Jun 17, 2026

Networking is not a get-rich-quick strategy. It takes time, but staying committed, consistent, and focused yields invaluable rewards.

Episode 964: Open Networking, the Most Undervalued Time Jun 10, 2026

Spencer Reynolds explains his Seek, Serve, Set up approach to making the most out of the Open Networking portion of a BNI meeting.

Episode 963: The Power of “Feel, Felt, Found” Jun 03, 2026

Whether you're managing a BNI chapter or negotiating with a client, "Feel, Felt, Found" helps you win by aligning.

Episode 962: Time and Money (Classic) May 27, 2026

Shirley Towne returns to the podcast to explain why some visitors hesitate to join BNI and how to address their concerns.

Episode 961: Hard Work vs. Luck May 20, 2026

Without effort, luck is useless. Hard work doesn't guarantee success, but without it, success is almost guaranteed not to happen.

Episode 960: Why Most Leaders Fail May 13, 2026

As leaders, we have two jobs: to set the vision and to remove obstacles. Use "The 3D Fix:" Discernment, Discipline, and Diligence.

Episode 959: Make Yourself Referrable May 06, 2026

You can't refer someone you can't remember. Laura Reid shares a simple framework to make yourself referrable with one memorable story.

Episode 958: How You Stand Changes Who You Meet (Classic) Apr 29, 2026

If you have an open stance, you're going to meet a lot of people that you may not have had an opportunity to meet in the past.

Episode 957: Two Beers and a Puppy Apr 22, 2026

Bradley Page shares Ross McCammon's "Two Beers and a Puppy" test and how it fits in with the concepts in Who's In Your Room?

Episode 956: You Can’t Think Your Way into Transformation Apr 15, 2026

Have you ever known you should do something and not done it? You can't think your way into transformation: you have to live it.

Episode 955: Vision Without Execution Is Wishful Thinking Apr 08, 2026

Execution turns vision into lasting results. You need a clear vision, defined systems of execution, and a culture of accountability.

Episode 954: Protect Your Network Apr 01, 2026

A year after leaving BNI, Kameron Thorne lost 48% of his business. Today he shares what he learned about protecting your network.

Episode 953: Growth in Difficult Times (Classic) Mar 25, 2026

Belief, passion, and leadership are the keys to business growth in difficult times. Why accept mediocrity when excellence is an option?

Episode 952: Positive Attitude Is a Competitive Advantage Mar 18, 2026

Positive attitude is one of the top two characteristics of great networkers. Realism with hope attached builds trust faster than credentials.

Episode 951: The Curse of Complexity Mar 11, 2026

This is the curse of complexity: what starts as improvement turns into friction, and what starts as innovation turns into inertia.

Episode 950: The Growth Mindset Mar 04, 2026

John Rivers explains how to apply a growth mindset to your BNI chapter by dedicating 15 minutes a day to inviting visitors and following up.

Episode 949: Coaching a Chapter to Greatness (Classic) Feb 25, 2026

How can your chapter benefit from coaching? Mark Breves shares actions the BNI Founder Chapter took to grow from 20 to 35 members.

Episode 948: How to Be a Friend Feb 18, 2026

Reliability builds trust faster than charisma ever will. Follow through consistently. Friendship in networking is all about being safe.

Episode 947: Guinness Networking World Record Feb 11, 2026

BNI now holds the Guinness World Record for the most people attending a speed networking event: 1108 BNI members, 20,000 rounds, 90 minutes.

Episode 946: Small Talk Feb 04, 2026

Small talk doesn't have to be shallow. It is a bridge to meaningful conversation, and it can show warmth, approachability and confidence.

Episode 945: Turning Personal Connections into Relationships Jan 28, 2026

If you're stuck at the Visibility stage of the VCP process, here are some strategies to make the shift to Credibility and Profitability.

Episode 944: Don’t Let Your Group Deflate While You Wait (Classic) Jan 21, 2026

Don't let your group deflate while you wait to go back to meeting in person. Stop making excuses and start getting results.

Episode 943: What to Say to Boring People Jan 14, 2026

It's not the person you're talking to who's boring. You can't have an interesting conversation with anyone without being interested.

Episode 942: Engaging Long-Time Members Jan 07, 2026

Tim Roberts and Ivan Misner explain why mentoring new BNI members is the best way for long-time members to stay engaged.

Episode 941: My Personal Story Dec 17, 2025

All BNI members speak the language of Givers Gain®. Attending BNI's national and global events opens up a world of referrals.

Episode 940: Holiday Party Networking Dec 10, 2025

Everybody goes to parties during the holiday season. To make the most of holiday party networking, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Episode 939: When Is Two Not Better Than One? (Classic) Dec 03, 2025

The divided loyalties of members who belong to more than one BNI group create serious trust issues in both chapters.

Episode 938: Legal Spheres in BNI Nov 26, 2025

Seventeen attorneys in one BNI Chapter? Barry Stein joins the podcast to explain how narrow specialization brings more business to everyone.

Episode 937: Try Smart Talk, Not Small Talk Nov 19, 2025

Effective business networking is about smart talk, not small talk. The right message in the right setting creates instant credibility.

Episode 936: Why New Members Struggle Nov 12, 2025

When new members get referrals right away, they become more committed to the chapter, believe in the process, and invest more in others.

Episode 935: Choose the Lens You Want to See the World Through (Classic Podcast) Nov 05, 2025

You can choose to see the world through a lens that lets you deal most effectively with the hand you've been dealt.

Episode 934: Comparing Our Inside to Other People’s Outside Oct 29, 2025

Comparison is the thief of joy, so follow Ivan Misner's tips for surviving in the age of social media highlight reels.

Episode 933: Effort Drives Outcomes Oct 22, 2025

The harder you work, the luckier you get. Luck opens doors, but hard work walks you through them. You won't succeed without it.

Episode 932: “Hey, could you introduce me to So-and-So?” Oct 15, 2025

Making a bad introduction reduces your future opportunities. Be honest, be respectful, and preserve relationships for the future.

Episode 931: Navigating Through Fear Oct 08, 2025

Listen to fear---but don't let it drive. Listening to the message fear is giving us helps us find action steps to alleviate it.

Episode 930: Why Even Have Substitutes? Oct 01, 2025

The substitute program is not about your convenience. It's about bringing value to your BNI meeting when you're not there.

Episode 929: Education Coordinators (Classic) Sep 24, 2025

Learn how one education coordinator transformed his chapter's Education Moments into lively seminars with active member participation.

Episode 928: Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Chapter Sep 17, 2025

Tom Etherington explains how to work with the other members of your chapter to develop a strategic visitor invite campaign using LinkedIn.

Episode 927: Stay in Your Lane = More Givers Gain Sep 10, 2025

Define yourself, clarify your role, build trust, connect specialists, and reap the benefits of Givers Gain®.

Episode 926: Diamond Chapter Culture Sep 03, 2025

Building a Diamond Chapter with 100+ BNI members requires strategy, accountability, motivation, and measurable goals.

Episode 925: Opportunity vs. Obligation Aug 27, 2025

If you're asked to take a leadership role in your BNI chapter, look at it as an opportunity, not an obligation.

Episode 924: The Five Levels of Leadership Aug 20, 2025

Learn how to apply BNI's Core Values to help yourself move through John Maxwell's Five Levels of Leadership.

Episode 923: So You Want to Meet a Big Name (Classic) Aug 13, 2025

If you want to meet a Big Name in your industry, find someone who knows and trusts you both and ask for an introduction.

Episode 922: The Power Beneath the Surface Aug 06, 2025

When you join BNI, you get much more than referrals. Beneath the surface are structure, commitment, education, coaching, and mentoring.

Episode 921: Why Time and Chapter Size Matter Jul 30, 2025

The amount of time that someone stays in a BNI chapter and the size of the chapter make a huge difference in the return on investment.

Episode 920: No One Cares What You’re Saying Jul 23, 2025

Kamryn Reynolds explains that the way to get more referrals is to share why you do what you do in a way that makes your listeners feel good.

Episode 919: The Easiest and the Worst Time Not to Network Jul 16, 2025

Holidays are a great time to network, so teach your BNI chapter how to identify referral opportunities at events.

Episode 918: Passion, People, Process (Classic) Jul 09, 2025

Master Passion, People, and Process to become a leader in your industry and create an enterprise that makes a difference in people's lives.

Episode 917: Show and Tell in Your BNI Presentations Jul 02, 2025

Using props in your BNI presentations helps you demonstrate the value of your services in a specific and memorable way.

Episode 916: 40 Years to Overnight Success Jun 25, 2025

Dr. Misner shares lessons from BNI's past 40 years so your business can experience decades of sustained growth.

Episode 915: 5 More Important Things for Great Networking Jun 18, 2025

Great networkers nurture strategic power teams, are always referable, read the room, tell sticky stories, & show up.

Episode 914: 5 Important Things for Great Networking Jun 11, 2025

The ability to connect, contribute and cultivate opportunity is what transforms ordinary professionals into networking legends.

Episode 913: The #1 Rule to Networking Jun 04, 2025

Perception is reality. Don't get complacent about your BNI meetings. Show up as a professional so people know you'll show up for clients.

Episode 912: Imposter Syndrome May 28, 2025

Dealing with imposter syndrome requires a combination of mindset shifts, practical strategies, and ongoing self-awareness.

Episode 911: Why I Invited My Competition May 21, 2025

Would you invite a competitor to visit your BNI chapter? Jessica Korff did, and explains why you should, too.

Episode 910: Reflections on BNI’s Journey, Part 3 May 14, 2025

In the third and final episode in this series, Dr. Misner answers three questions about the future of BNI in the next 40 years.

Episode 909: Reflections on BNI’s Journey, Part 2 May 07, 2025

Part 2 of this series answers questions about the evolution of BNI and shares lessons learned over the past 40 years.

Episode 908: Reflections on BNI’s Journey, Part 1 Apr 30, 2025

In this first episode of a three-part series, Dr. Misner answers three questions about BNI's 40-year history.

Episode 907: GAINS Profile Updated Apr 23, 2025

The GAINS Profile is the basis of productive One-to-One meetings, and more One-to-Ones lead to more referrals. Download the updated template.

Episode 906: You Have a Book Idea. Now What? Apr 16, 2025

Heidi Scott Giusto explains how to know when your book idea is worth pursuing and what you need to do to get it written and published.

Episode 905: Applying Givers Gain to Business (Classic) Apr 09, 2025

Once you make a commitment to using the power of Givers Gain, it will fuel your business, and success will follow.

Episode 904: Why BNI Has a Code of Ethics Apr 02, 2025

Dr. Misner explains why BNI's Code of Ethics has 6 points and how "I will live up to the ethical standards of my profession," was added.

Episode 903: Three Keys to Mastering Online Reviews Mar 26, 2025

Rav Mendiratta shares 3 keys to mastering online reviews and BNI testimonials, plus 3 mistakes business owners make when asking for them.

Episode 902: Thirty-nine Year BNI Member Mar 19, 2025

Steven Marche joins Dr. Misner this week to share what he's learned about referrals and visitors in 39 years as a BNI member.

Episode 901: Misner’s Corollary to Murphy’s Law (Classic) Mar 12, 2025

Even a successful business initiative can have unintended consequences. Learn how to identify them in advance.

Episode 900: AI and Networking (Part 2) Mar 05, 2025

Spencer Reynolds returns to explain how to use AI to find the best referral partners in your BNI chapter, identify visitors, and follow up.

Episode 899: AI and Networking (Part 1) Feb 26, 2025

Spencer Reynolds explains how you can use AI tools like ChatGPT to be more effective at One-to-Ones and Weekly Presentations.

Episode 898: What Makes a Perfect Member? (Part 2) Feb 19, 2025

Traffic lights measure your engagement with BNI. They track activities that make you money. Use them to make your membership work for you.

Episode 897: What Makes a Perfect Member? (Part 1) Feb 12, 2025

Greg Davies-Polaine shares the common traits of perfect BNI members and explains how to get the same results they do.

Episode 896: The 5 Secrets of Successful People Feb 05, 2025

Y.P. Lai explains that the five key fundamentals of BNI are fundamental business principles that follow universal laws of success.

Episode 895: Intentional Legacy Jan 29, 2025

You can create an intentional legacy without wealth. True legacy is the impact that you've made on others.

Episode 894: Your Business First Jan 22, 2025

BNI won't work unless you know what you want out of your business and how to translate that into the BNI process. Frank De Raffele explains.

Episode 893: Lasting Relational Leadership Jan 15, 2025

Mike Holman from BNI UK explains how our foundations as leaders and as BNI members come through the relationships that we build.

Episode 892: Infinite Legacy Jan 08, 2025

In honor of the 40th Anniversary of BNI, Dr. Misner shares the 7 principles for leaving an intentional legacy.

Episode 891: Be Prepared, Always Win Dec 18, 2024

The prepared always win when it comes to networking. Guest host Tim Roberts explains how to prepare for networking at holiday social events.

Episode 890: Finding the Good in Bad Times (Classic) Dec 11, 2024

Dr. Misner shares 7 takeaways from 2020 to get you started reflecting on the good that came out of a difficult year.

Episode 889: Taking a Leadership Role in Your Chapter Dec 04, 2024

Serving on the leadership team in your BNI chapter gives you an opportunity to increase your visibility and therefore credibility.

Episode 888: How to Educate Others to Refer You Nov 27, 2024

Phil Berg explains how to empower people to want to refer you and give them the tools they need to make the referral.

Episode 887: Integrating AI into Your Company Nov 20, 2024

AI adoption is about human behavior change. It's a people issue. It's a change management issue that you have to lead.

Episode 886: The ABCs of AI Nov 13, 2024

If you really want to use AI to be creative, you have to interact with it differently than we have been doing for the last 20+ years.

Episode 885: The Connector Effect (Classic) Nov 06, 2024

Robert Skrob explains the Connector Effect and how it makes BNI the single most effective growth strategy for business owners.

Episode 884: I Can’t Refer You Oct 30, 2024

Get creative with your offerings if you aren't getting referrals. Special offers can produce fantastic testimonials and multiple referrals.

Episode 883: Fear Forward Oct 23, 2024

Dr. Oudi Abouchacra explains his F.E.A.R Forward method to take a quantum leap forward in your business and your life.

Episode 882: Having a BNI Guide Oct 16, 2024

Networking is like whitewater rafting: you need an expert guide to succeed. Second-generation BNI member Kamryn Reynolds explains.

Episode 881: The Customer Care Checklist Oct 09, 2024

Learn how to use the Customer Care Checklist to generate referrals with Julian Lewis, co-author of Dr. Misner's new book, Infinite Legacy.

Episode 880: Giving Is Transformational (Classic) Oct 02, 2024

Consciously giving has a profound ripple effect. You can be a role model for the people around you by supporting and helping others.

Episode 879: It’s a Small World After All Sep 25, 2024

What are the odds of connecting with another BNI member just by dialing a number incorrectly? That exact thing happened to Dr. Misner.

Episode 878: Failing to Follow Through Sep 18, 2024

Networking without follow-through is a waste of your time and money. If you're not going to follow up, don't bother showing up.

Episode 877: Solutions Focus–Think Big, Act Small Sep 11, 2024

The bigger the issue, the smaller the step that is going to unlock it and start to reorient things and move things in a useful direction.

Episode 876: Solutions Focus — A Better Future Sep 04, 2024

A problem-focused approach works if you're dealing with a broken washing machine. When people are involved, you need a solutions focus.

Episode 875: We Don’t Pay You to Think (Classic) Aug 28, 2024

Always pay people to think. Not only does it make employees feel valued, they can give you some great ideas and help your business grow.

Episode 874: Small Acts Equal Big Results Aug 21, 2024

Your BNI chapter could double in size in the next month if you level up the way you invite visitors. Tim Roberts explains how.

Episode 873: You Own Your Results Aug 14, 2024

You are the one in charge of the results you get from your BNI membership. Guest host Tim Roberts explains what you can do to improve them.

Episode 872: Ask Ivan about GDP and Morning Meetings Aug 07, 2024

Is TYCFB really the BNI equivalent of GDP? And why are most BNI meetings early in the morning? Dr. Misner answers in this week's episode.

Episode 871: When Conversation Stops, Conflict Escalates Jul 31, 2024

Prevent conflicts in your BNI chapter and business by approaching conversations with a mindset of collaboration, not competition.

Episode 870: Co-opetition Jul 24, 2024

Steve Renz explains how specialization allows BNI members to collaborate with their competitors to capture value within their markets.

Episode 869: Is There Room for Intuition in Business? (Classic) Jul 17, 2024

Intuition is quickly using reasoning given your amassed understanding of a particular issue and definitely has a place in business.

Episode 868: 10 Ways to Create Referrals for Life Jul 10, 2024

Establishing lasting referral connections is essential for any sustained growth in business. Here are 10 ways to create referrals for life.

Episode 867: Making Positivity a Habit Jul 03, 2024

Norm Dominguez shares his Positivity Pillars of Strength and Positivity Umbrella to help BNI members excel in networking, business, and life.

Episode 866: The Influence of the Minority Jun 26, 2024

The only way for BNI members to succeed is to have chapters large enough to generate multiple referrals per week for every member.

Episode 865: A Beacon of Hope in a Sea of Fear (Classic) Jun 19, 2024

Don't give up on BNI. BNI won't give up on you. Today more than ever people need their network. Today more than ever they need BNI.

Episode 864: Creating a Layered Referral Machine Jun 12, 2024

Dawn Lyons demonstrates how you can create a layered referral machine by helping other BNI members in their businesses.

Episode 863: Students and Networking in the Job Market Jun 05, 2024

This week, Dr. Misner provides six networking tips for college students, recent graduates and anyone else looking for a job.

Episode 862: The Success Guidebook May 29, 2024

Podcast guest Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino invites BNI members to redefine success, dream big, and communicate their goals and dreams.

Episode 861: Five Ways to Encourage Employees to Network (Classic Podcast) May 22, 2024

Building a business through word of mouth is everyone’s job. Here are five tips to develop a networking mindset in your staff.

Episode 860: CEUs, Testimonials, Presentations, and TYFCB (Ask Ivan) May 15, 2024

Dr. Misner answers member questions about Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Testimonials, Presentations, and TYFCB.

Episode 859: Voracious Podcast Consumption May 08, 2024

Terry Donaldson aka Sparkles the Clown shares what she learned from listening to 700 episodes of the podcast during her first year in BNI.

Episode 858: The Makeover of Your Weekly Ask May 01, 2024

Guest Jim Meadows shares how he turned a blasé, general, and repetitive weekly presentation into a 50-week sales training curriculum.

Episode 857: Networking—It’s More Than Just Talking Business (Classic) Apr 24, 2024

A referral relationship is more than just doing business. You need to find common ground on a personal level. The GAINS Exchange can help.

Episode 856: A reason, a Season, a Lifetime Apr 17, 2024

Whether we know people for a reason, a season, or a lifetime, it's important to recognize our relationships in BNI.

Episode 855: Referrals Through Customer Appreciation Apr 10, 2024

Michael Ann Dillinger explains how to use your customer appreciation program to refer your customers to members of your BNI chapter.

Episode 854: The World’s Best-Known Marketing Secret Apr 03, 2024

The World’s Best Known Marketing Secret was first published in 1994. Ivan Misner and Mike Macedonio tell us why the book is still relevant.

Episode 853: Six Degrees of Separation Mar 27, 2024

Together, they discuss ways BNI members can become super-connectors and ways that BNI can recognize members for those efforts.

Episode 852: “Take Off Your Bib” (Classic) Mar 20, 2024

Networking will never work if you’re here for yourself. You need to take off your bib, put on your apron, and learn to serve other people.

Episode 851: The Benefits and Drawbacks to Co-Creation Mar 13, 2024

This week, Dr. Misner shares the top 7 benefits and top 7 drawbacks and potential pitfalls of co-creation.

Episode 850: How Great Leaders Communicate Their Vision Mar 06, 2024

Learn how you can become a great leader by holding the vision of your objective and coaching your team to success.

Episode 849: The Intangibles of BNI Feb 28, 2024

People join BNI for its tangible benefits. Dr. Ben Reebs shares 4 valuable intangible benefits of being a BNI member.

Episode 848: Want Referrals? Don’t Bore Me to Tears (Classic) Feb 21, 2024

To give your networking contacts the tools to find you referrals, tell the story from the client's point of view. Facts tell; stories sell.

Episode 847: The Four Knows to Success Feb 14, 2024

Before you begin collaborating with outside companies and individuals, you need a solid understanding of the Four Knows of your own operation.

Episode 846: Cracking the WHY Code Feb 07, 2024

When you talk about why you do what you do, you stand out from everyone else that does what you do. Discover your 9 WHYs with Gary Sanchez.

Episode 845: Boost Creativity, Community, and Sales Jan 31, 2024

Discover the five types of co-creation and what each of them brings to the table for like-minded entrepreneurs and business owners.

Episode 844: Is Your Chapter on Fire, on Hold, or in a Hole? (Classic Podcast) Jan 24, 2024

Is your BNI chapter On Fire, On Hold, or In a Hole? Use the Rate Your Chapter Worksheet to find out--and learn what you can to do be On Fire.

Episode 843: The New Force Driving Business Success Jan 17, 2024

In the age of co-creation, consumers want to work together with brands to ensure that products and services meet their needs.

Episode 842: Creating a Chapter of Over 100 Members Jan 10, 2024

Shirley Towne joins Dr. Misner this week to explain how to create a culture of growth to get your chapter to 100 members and beyond.

Episode 841: Member Retention Jan 03, 2024

Michael Mayer explains why caring about new BNI members and building relationships with them is the key to member retention.

Episode 840: The Value of Exit Interviews (Classic) Dec 20, 2023

Dr. Misner explains how exit interviews for departing members came to BNI. Take this podcast and the report to your leadership team.

Episode 839: Does BNI Work for Employees? Dec 13, 2023

Business networking and actively pursuing professional relationships in BNI can unlock doors to new referral opportunities for employees.

Episode 838: Diversity and Accessibility in BNI Dec 06, 2023

Claudia Thompson from the BNI New York CORE region explains how BNI chapters can better accommodate members with disabilities.

Episode 837: Sponsoring 52 Members in 3½ Years Nov 29, 2023

"Visitor Queen" Christine Cheng explains how she invited more than 200 visitors and sponsored 52 members into BNI--and you can, too.

Episode 836: The Strength of Your Anchor (Classic Podcast) Nov 22, 2023

It’s not the anchor that holds a ship in place, but the length of the chain. Extend your chain of relationships through one-to-ones.

Episode 835: A Radical Shift to Greater Success Nov 15, 2023

Moving from the 1st paradigm, competition, into the 3rd paradigm, co-creation, can transform a project from failure to radical success.

Episode 834: Identify Your Most Profitable Client Nov 08, 2023

Mike Adray explains how to use the One-to-One Referral Source Worksheet to identify your most profitable clients and get better referrals.

Episode 833: Networking in the Digital Age Nov 01, 2023

Sean Fernandes from Scion Social explains how digital marketing, the hungry content algorithm, and AI have--and haven't--changed networking.

Episode 832: Membership Committees Are Critical (Classic) Oct 25, 2023

Ivan & Priscilla explain the responsibilities of membership committees and what it's like to serve on the membership committee.

Episode 831: Processionary Caterpillars—a True Story Oct 18, 2023

Just like caterpillars moving endlessly in a circle, people often continue to do things that are no longer productive.

Episode 830: Inviting Visitors Through Social Media Oct 11, 2023

Darren Jamieson explains the most effective method for inviting visitors to your BNI chapter through social media.

Episode 829: Facts Tell, Stories Sell Oct 04, 2023

BNI members who use stories to make a difference in their weekly chapter meetings because they're remembered, recalled, and referred.

Episode 828: Become a Motivational Speaker for Your Business (Classic) Sep 27, 2023

Passion is the most important element you can bring to your 60-second commercial and your 10-minute presentation.

Episode 827: Business in the Twilight Zone Sep 20, 2023

The Twilight Zone teaches the importance of recognizing and distancing oneself from toxic environments, individuals, and clients.

Episode 826: Is Your Message Clear? Sep 13, 2023

If your message is too complex, it's not going to be memorable. If it's not clear and memorable, it can't be duplicated and repeated.

Episode 825: Cultivating a Million-Dollar Membership Sep 06, 2023

Jeremy Walsh explains why the power of BNI is in the exponential nature of your relationships with your referral partners.

Episode 824: Want More Referrals? Show Up! (Classic Podcast) Aug 30, 2023

Decreasing absences increases BNI chapter membership and referrals. Absenteeism affects your pocketbook. If you want more referrals, show up!

Episode 823: One Reason Someone Should Refer You Aug 23, 2023

To succeed in business, you have to know your audience and tailor your comments to suit the people you're talking to.

Episode 822: The Days I Dreamed of Being Where I Am Now Aug 16, 2023

The days you dreamed of being where you are now are a testament to your resilience. They are the building blocks of a life well lived.

Episode 821: Impacting Lives Positively Aug 09, 2023

BNI is about impacting lives positively. People join BNI to get referrals. They stay in BNI not just for referrals but for the relationships.

Episode 820: The 7 Principles of Givers Gain (Classic Podcast) Aug 02, 2023

Givers Gain plus the 7 Principles equals Infinite Giving. Learn how to apply Givers Gain to your life and change the world.

Episode 819: The Importance of One-to-Ones Jul 26, 2023

Learn how to make it easier to say "Yes" when another BNI member asks to schedule a One-to-One. You'll get twice the referrals if you do.

Episode 818: Talking on Eggshells with Angry People Jul 19, 2023

Sam Horn returns this week with tips for dealing with people who take their anger and frustration out on us.

Episode 817: Talking on Eggshells with Complainers Jul 12, 2023

When people complain, don't explain: get on the A-Train with these communication tips from Sam Horn's book Talking on Eggshells.

Episode 816: OMG–I’m an Introvert? (Classic Podcast) Jul 05, 2023

BNI is perfect for situational introverts, because it creates a small group with a structured networking environment.

Episode 815: Edify Your Referral Sources Jun 28, 2023

The number one rule for referrals is to make your referral source look great. This helps build a connection with the prospect.

Episode 814: Start with Gain, End with Give Jun 21, 2023

The second time you stand during a BNI meeting, you give a referral or you give a testimonial--and nothing else.

Episode 813: Making Communication More Powerful Jun 14, 2023

Stephanie Turconi joins Dr. Misner on the podcast this week to explain how to use learning styles to make communication more powerful.

Episode 812: Being Intentional About Diversity (Classic) Jun 07, 2023

Brian Hilliard and Ivan Misner share seven ways you can diversify your business network and your BNI chapter.

Episode 811: Complaining Is Not an Olympic Event May 31, 2023

Learn how to head off Olympic complaining in your BNI chapter with these tips to improve everyone's experience at the meeting.

Episode 810: Strengths and Weaknesses of a Network May 24, 2023

Make friends in BNI, but don't let friendship prevent members from building each other's business through networking and through referrals.

Episode 809: BNI in Smaller Markets May 17, 2023

Smaller markets have huge potential for growing BNI. James Cooper explains why small markets need BNI to turn relationships into referrals.

Episode 808: Show Up. Make Money. (Classic) May 10, 2023

Regular attendance is one of the keys to success in BNI. The more you show up, the more money you make. Fewer absences = more referrals.

Episode 807: The Prima Donna Syndrome May 03, 2023

Learn how to identify prima donna syndrome, why it's harmful to your organization, and how to address it when you encounter it.

Episode 806: 10 Tips to Be a Better Networker Apr 26, 2023

Networking is like going to the gym: you know you should do it, but it's hard to get started and keep going. Here are 10 tips to help you.

Episode 805: Why Collaboration Works Apr 19, 2023

Groups of business people working together achieve far greater results than they would achieve by working separately.

Episode 804: When to Say No to a One-to-One Apr 12, 2023

When is it okay to say no to a One-to-One? Never, if you still want to generate referrals from the member who asked you.

Episode 803: Do What You Love and You’ll Love What You Do (Classic) Apr 05, 2023

What you should do is what you like to do. You can’t achieve sustained success if you don’t love what you do.

Episode 802: 7 Techniques to Be a Better Networker Mar 29, 2023

Build genuine relationships. Be authentic. Follow up. Be of service. Attend networking events. Leverage social media. Join industry groups.

Episode 801: Captivating Educational Moments Mar 22, 2023

Jennie Edwards shares the three E's of captivating educational moments that cross over to business: Engagement, Emotion, and Entertainment.

Episode 800: Are You Wasting a Fantastic Testimonial? Mar 15, 2023

If you try to squeeze in multiple testimonials during a BNI meeting, people won't remember all of them--and may not remember any of them.

Episode 799: But I Don’t Have a Personal Mechanic Mar 08, 2023

If you don't fill in your BNI Connect profile, BNI members from other chapters can't refer you for the services that you offer.

Episode 798: Givers & Takers (Classic) Mar 01, 2023

"Givers Gain" means your generosity will be returned by and through your network of contacts many times over.

Episode 797: You Have a Book in You Feb 22, 2023

The more we read success stories, self-help action stories, self-initiative action stories, the more successful we become.

Episode 796: The Art and Science of Asking Feb 15, 2023

The difference between having a little success and having vast success is learning how to ask for what you want.

Episode 795: Who’s in Your Room? 2nd Edition Feb 08, 2023

Dr. Misner introduces two important new concepts from Who's in Your Room? 2nd Edition: the Concierge and Dealmakers. Get your copy today!

Episode 794: Givers Gain, Chapter 8–A New Audience (Classic Podcast) Feb 01, 2023

Gaining a new audience comes with pitfalls. In his first live TV appearance, Ivan Misner almost set the host on fire with a "magic trick."

Episode 793: Influencing People with Stories Jan 25, 2023

A story is information wrapped in emotion that compels people to take action. If you want to influence people, tell great stories.

Episode 792: Has Anyone Ever Tried to Bribe You? Jan 18, 2023

Refusing an attempted bribe ultimately led Ivan Misner to start BNI. If you live your values, you live a life of abundance.

Episode 791: Your Chapter Needs You to Be Great Jan 11, 2023

BNI CORE Launch Manager Andrew Johnson has a message for BNI leadership teams: your chapter needs you to be great.

Episode 790: Why So High? Jan 04, 2023

"Why So High?" is a process that helps people focus on what's working instead of obsessing about their problems.

Episode 789: Hope Is More Powerful Than Fear (Classic) Dec 21, 2022

Hope plus action leaves fear in the dust. We can choose to make the most of this situation and come out better and stronger.

Episode 788: Room Full of Referrals 10th Anniversary Dec 14, 2022

Room Full of Referrals shows you how to identify networking types and use them to deepen relationships with your referral partners.

Episode 787: Credibility, the 2nd “C” Dec 07, 2022

Have you ever referred business to a person you weren't confident was trustworthy? Of course not. That's why Credibility is the second "C".

Episode 786: The Butterfly Effect (Classic Podcast) Nov 30, 2022

A small interaction can have big effects down the line. Never hesitate to make new connections. They can take you places you never imagined.

Episode 785: Inviting to BNI is Child’s Play Nov 23, 2022

Why is a BNI meeting like a child's birthday party? As Shawn Yesner discovered when his son turned five, the best invitation is a simple one.

Episode 784: Nonprofits in BNI? Nov 16, 2022

Joshua Levy, executive director of the nonprofit Joshua's Stage, joins Dr. Misner to share his take on how membership works for nonprofits.

Episode 783: Are You Passionate about Your Business? Nov 09, 2022

LuAnn Buchler joins Dr. Misner to talk about why passion is the key to your success in both business and networking.

Episode 782: The Gratitude Effect (Classic) Nov 02, 2022

There's solid scientific evidence to support the positive impact gratitude has on our lives and our businesses.

Episode 781: Make a Difference in the World Oct 26, 2022

Whether you're a Doer, a Donor, or a Door Opener, you can do your part for Business Voices and the BNI Foundation.

Episode 780: Launch Love Worldwide Oct 19, 2022

Launch Love Worldwide is a campaign that celebrates human connection and the opportunities that BNI chapter launches can create.

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