|
 As indicated in our opening of this month’s newsletter, Business Network International (BNI), a business networking group of which I am a part, is built on seven Core Values. These values, while the guiding principles of a BNI chapter, and
helps members to interact and conduct themselves in a way to achieve chapter and individual goals, are also excellent ones by which to live one’s own life. Let me share each of them with you.
GIVERS GAIN – In a BNI chapter it is presented as the underlying philosophy of BNI life. Those members willing to give business to other members, will get business in return. However, beyond the world of BNI, this value goes much further. While it is nice to receive, think how you feel about those in your life who expect to receive all the time. If someone is pushy toward you to buy their product or service, how do you feel about that? On the other hand, give some
thought to either times you yourself volunteered to help a cause, or provided help to another, when you knew they may really need it. It is really an offshoot that you may have learned as a child, “Do unto others, as you would have done to yourself.”
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS – Think about the places with which you do business. Have you been doing business with them for a long time? I myself have had the same Doctor for over 50 years, my Dentist for about 40 years, go to the same hairstylist in the town I lived 15 years ago, and use the same pharmacy. Each time I must drive 30 minutes to get there. Why don’t I change? It is because these are individuals, I know, like and trust. I have
built relationships with them, and have a history with them of only good experiences. While this may hold true for service providers, think of the long-term people in your life, the ones you really enjoy to be with. It all stems from the relationship you have cultivated.
LIFELONG LEARNING – This value I have really grown to appreciate as I have gotten older. Certainly, when one is younger, they look forward to when they may complete school and move on from that environment. However, learning is not just learning from text books. It may come in the experience of going to different places and meeting people of different cultures. It may come from the books that one chooses to read. It is always based on
having an innate curiosity, asking questions, and really listening to hear the answers. The older I became, the more I realized what I did not know. However, in being opening to asking, listening, researching, and taking notice, it continues to make me aware of additional items happening around me.
TRADITIONS & INNOVATION – As I continue to mature as a person, I come to appreciate my past. The lessons I have learned from my mother and father, and see how they are part of how I live my life today. I am grateful I grew up in a blue-collar town and have kept in contact with many of the classmates with whom I grew up. While I must admit, I am definitely on the “slower end” of picking up on newer innovations, it is less my lack of
ability to implement them, but my comfort for doing things the way that I have done them in the past. What I do find is when I am able, I will take something innovative in my life, and implement it to best work for me. (As an aside, BNI which traditionally was an organization that always had its networking meetings in person, impressed me with their ability to quickly move their meetings to a virtual format when the Corona Virus pandemic attacked the world in 2019 and 2020. BNI
got their over 10,000 chapters, to continue to conduct their meetings in a virtual environment, within a 3-month period).
POSITIVE ATTITUDE – Anyone can tell you that something you are looking to accomplish will not work. In fact, often, you yourself may do that role better than any outside force. However, looking at items one wants to accomplish from the perspective of realizing that they may not be all accomplished at once, that it may make sense to break the accomplishment process into steps, and to give oneself credit for those aspects of a process at which they did succeed,
are all parts of moving forward and enjoying one’s life. It also helps to strengthen this value by surrounding yourself with individuals that also always look at steps to take to succeed, and acknowledge the small gains when they are achieved.
ACCOUNTABILITY – In BNI terms, this falls on each person in the group to make the BNI group the best it can be. However, in one’s personal life, it is the individual taking responsibility for their own action and choices. Sometimes one may make a choice that does not work out as planned. Or they may feel that other forces are working against them. However, ultimately, it is up to the individual to plan out the steps they want to
take in their own life.
RECOGNITION – It is great to be recognized for something we have done or achieved. Often it is an even better feeling to recognize others around us for their achievements or ways their actions have helped us. When others give of themselves, for the betterment of those around them, and do not look for praise in return, that is often the best recognition of all to give. Look for the good things that those around you are doing, and offer them a thank you, a good
word, or some kind of way to let them know their efforts have been noticed.
Again, I have been fortunate to be exposed to these BNI values for almost 12 years. I hear them spoken of every week. However, even I needed to realize what they said, think of my own life, and acknowledge how they are great tenets of about which to live.
|
