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Synopsis

In this episode, Dr. Misner wants to talk about learning to rely on the people who respect, admire, and love you. Who are these people? Members of your support network fall into 8 categories.

1. Your mentors
2. People you have mentored
3. People you have helped
4. Your co-workers, colleagues, associates, classmates
5. Your family and close friends
6. Other members of non-business groups
7. Your former managers, supervisors, and instructors
8. Spiritual leaders and advisors

Is there anyone you would add to this list? Share your experiences with your support network in the comments on the blog.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

Complete Transcription of BNI Podcast Episode 123 -

Priscilla:
Hello everyone, and welcome back to The Official BNI Podcast brought to you by NetworkingNow.com, which is the leading site on the Net for networking downloadables.

I’m Priscilla Rice, and I’m coming to you from Live Oak Recording Studio in Berkley, California, and I am joined on the phone today by the founder and the chairman of BNI, Dr. Ivan Misner.

Hello, Ivan. How are you?

Ivan:
I am doing great, Priscilla.

Priscilla:
What are you going to share with us today?

Ivan:
Today I am going to talk about your support network, the people who help you and support you in any number of ways.

Priscilla:
Great.

Ivan:
Whether you are a master networker or you are new to networking, we all face challenging situations at times, and sometimes we need to rely on the help and encouragement of others. I am a big believer of learning to rely on the people who respect, admire, and love you. Theirs are the purest motives for helping you, they are genuinely interested in you, mostly accepting of you, and will usually do what they can to help you achieve any goals.

Now, they may not have all the knowledge or information you need or the ability to bring you new clients, but if you direct their willing efforts, they can give you emotional, physical, spiritual, financial support. The gifts of time can be a really valuable resource, and members of your support component can help you at crucial times of your business. They can perform essential tasks; they can encourage you, work with you, help you deal with an emergency, serve as a sounding board for your ideas.

I have seen that in BNI a lot. Even fill in for you for a couple of hours if you need them for something. To make the most of this resource, it is important to learn about their talents, their knowledge, and contacts that these friends and supporters may have to offer. I wanted to take a few minutes to categorize your support network members, who they are.

Priscilla:
Okay.

Ivan:
There are eight of them in total. The first one is your mentors. People who are or who have been your mentors, generally believe in you, care about you and your success, and can be counted on for honest feedback and encouragement.

The second, people you have taught or mentored. These people are usually excited to hear from you and will remind you about how much they appreciate your support. They also open doors to business opportunities by constantly spreading positive word-of-mouth about you.

The third is people you have helped. People remember people who have done something for them. So can you identify people to whom you have donated money, time, or other gifts? They’ll also go out of their way to help support you when you need it.

The fourth is your coworkers, colleagues, associates, and/or classmates. Friends you have made in the course of your school and your career are often friends for life. You know, like and respect each other. Of course, you may have been reluctant to call upon a friend for help because you don’t want to admit you need it, but don’t let your ego get in the way. Use these sources. A true friend will be eager to help and won’t think any less of you nor make you feel diminished for asking.

Five, your family and close friends. I talk about this one in the 29% Solution. You may take your family and personal friends for granted, but they are perhaps your most reliable source of support. Keep in mind, however, that some may be more reliable than others.

Number six, other members of non-business groups. These are people who you have worked with outside of business, members of Neighborhood Watch groups, apartment associations, community youth programs, people that may be willing to support you in activities outside the group’s normal scope. Join, participate, donate generously your time, money, let others help you and your endeavors, people who you have known in other non-business groups.

Your former managers, supervisors, and instructors, number seven. These people are often familiar with your work habits, your ethics, your values, your character, abilities, interests. They know what it takes to get your to perform at your highest level. Often, like surrogate parents, they feel responsible for your success. Should you take advantage of this parental instinct? Of course. Work with people who have mentored you in the past.

And eighth, any spiritual leaders or church leaders that you may have, members of organizations that you belong to that are spiritual in nature. If you belong to a religious organization, you are bonded to each other through that shared faith. It would be a mistake not to seek the backing of these leaders or other member. If, on occasion, you need them, don’t hesitate to use the support of services and groups like that.

Those are the eight categories of support network members that I think members of BNI should consider, and anyone who is trying to build a network should consider if you have some challenges and you need feedback or help in some way. Think about the people who might fit into these categories. They are great people to be part of your support network.

Priscilla:
Great, Dr. Misner. Thank you. Is there anything special that you would like to add to that?

Ivan:
I think if we had some BNI members who have listened to this podcast, I would love for them to add to this list, either experiences that they have had in one of these eight or if they think there is one I missed. I would love for them to share that with the other members here in the Comments section of the podcast. Thanks, Priscilla.

Priscilla:
Oh, you’re welcome. Thank you.

Well, I think that is the end of this podcast. I’d like to remind the listeners that this podcast has been brought to you by NetworkingNow.com the leading site on the Net for networking downloadables. Thanks so much for listening. This is Priscilla Rice, and we hope you’ll join us next week for another exciting episode of The Official BNI Podcast.