1. business and industrial

March 2015
Volume 1, Issue 6
The Business
Network insider
Ala
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nney
cKi
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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
alana@bnimarketing.com 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
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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
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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.
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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