Cindy, Chuck & Ed,

Thank you all for your thoughtful insight and advice - it is just what I needed! It seems you all had similar experiences with BNI groups, that they help some types of businesses and are great for some people, but not necessarily for everyone. (this includes me)

Like you Chuck, I felt it was very high pressure and more like a pyramid scam. In fact, I told them so (in a very nice way of course). It seems to me if their group is so successful, they shouldn't need that type of pressure to persuade people to join.

Cindy, I too have joined a Business Women Owners organization here that is actually very good. It hasn't paid off in terms of orders, but has brought in a little. Mainly I find them very supportive and each month we have a speaker and free "mini business lesson". All the speakers have been great and the cost is quite low for membership.

Ed, you have provided me with some wonderful advice. I have joined our local chamber and a sub group that has been great for me. Although Pinckney is a small, rural community, we are just outside of Ann Arbor (Go Blue!) and Brighton, both larger communities.

Again, I thank you all - this is such a wonderful group and I feel so lucky to have found you! B-) 

Ed,

I doubt I'm the first to have said it, but I've said it in the past. I firmly believe, at least 75% of success in business comes through "Just Showing Up."

So many businesspeople let money slip through the cracks by not returning phone calls, taking days to return emails and giving quotes. In short, they just flake out.

You don't necessarily have to be the best businessperson or a prized artisan. If you happen to be a good businessperson and highly-skilled person in your trade, all the better!

Just show up and be interested!

Of course, the other 25%, as you correctly point out, is being somewhat outgoing and personable.

I don't consider myself the life of the party, but I'm not afraid to initiate a conversation amongst strangers.

My advice for anyone reading and struggling to generate business is, just talk to people and mention what you do for a living. Quiet confidence will win people over much more effectively than the hard-sell.

Linda

I am presently a member of a BNI group in Canada.
My experience so far has not been very positive. The cost to become a member and stay one is pretty steep. $500 for the annual membership plus $8 for the breakfast at every weekly meeting, for a total of over $900 annually. So far, I have had total referrals of about $600 through the group. I am in my tenth month now. This amount is gross. You can figure how much my net would be, pretty low.
I will not renew as the return on my investment to the group has been pretty dis-propotionate. cindy is correct in saying that the referrals are mostly fom fellow members and are normally for one or badges.

Good Luck

Abdul