BNI & The Power of One

Episode 860: Can They Both Speak About It?

Host: Tim Roberts
Release Date: October 20, 2025

Brief Overview

In this episode, host Tim Roberts tackles a commonly asked question from an anonymous listener about BNI’s seat policy—specifically, whether members with similar or overlapping professions can discuss areas outside their approved seat in chapter meetings. Tim clarifies seat specialization rules, explains the reasons behind BNI’s focus on “niching,” and explores the broader impact on chapter growth, relationship-building, and the “Givers Gain” philosophy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Listener’s Question (00:18)

• Scenario: If two members have similar or overlapping professional skills outside of their official BNI seats, are they both allowed to talk about those other skills/services within the chapter?
• Example: Two CPAs—one focusing on bookkeeping, another on tax returns—who both also offer CFO services. Can both promote CFO work in the group?
• Misconception: Some believe you can only discuss what your BNI seat explicitly covers; the episode explores if this is correct.

2. The Nature of Overlapping Services (01:25)

• Many professions (insurance, finance, legal, accounting) have overlapping capabilities.
  • Financial advisors may sell insurance, CPAs may offer financial advice, insurance agents may sell multiple insurance types, etc.
• This creates natural “overlap” in what members might want to discuss.

3. BNI’s Official Position: Niche and Stick (02:30)

• Tim’s Clear Answer:

  “When it comes to BNI, you only talk about what you are, for lack of a better term, approved for in the chapter.” (02:37)

• Implications:
  • Whatever focus you applied for and the chapter accepted is the only thing you should discuss in:
    • Weekly presentations
    • Featured presentations
    • One-to-ones

4. Importance of Niche Specialization (03:15)

• Chapters that flourish require members to niche down:
  • “You want people to be specialized, you want to give more opportunity for people to join the team.” (03:21)
• Example: Different types of lawyers, insurance agents, or financial professionals, each focusing on one aspect.
  • This enables a variety of specialists to join and serve as resources within the group.

5. Potential Issues with Overstepping (05:00)

• If members talk about multiple things outside their official seat:
  • Conflicts arise: Confusion, competition, and internal conflict.
  • Blocks further growth: E.g., if a CPA approved for tax returns discusses bookkeeping and there’s no bookkeeper in the chapter, that seat is in effect blocked for potential new members.
  • Quote:

    “…the harm is they’ll never be a bookkeeper in the chapter. … They’re now taking two seats.” (06:23)

  • Members indirectly limit other’s opportunities and networking potential.

6. Benefits of Strict Seat Adherence (07:00)

• Even if two similar professionals (e.g., CPAs) don’t work together, their presence:
  • Doubles the network for other members.
  • Offers more contacts, more variety in presentations, and higher referral potential.
  • Serves the chapter’s “Givers Gain” spirit by increasing value for everyone.

7. Key Takeaway: Clear Boundaries, Greater Gains (08:23)

• Summary:
  • Join BNI for your desired type of business.
  • Focus on the business you want, not everything you could possibly get.
  • Once you’re accepted, honor your seat in all BNI activities; outward services are not restricted.
  • This clarity helps chapters avoid confusion, foster open seats for new members, and ultimately function more successfully.
  • Quote:

    “Stick to what you agreed to, you applied for, you got approved for. … It’s not going to help anybody in the chapter [otherwise]. In fact, it probably could, in some cases, really, really hurt the chapter.” (09:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On BNI’s Niche Requirement:

  “Chapters that grow and do really well do force people to niche because you want people to be specialized, you want to give more opportunity for people to join the team.” (03:21)

• On Blocking Future Membership:

  “…if there’s like the example where, let’s just say … a CPA joins to do tax returns and then they keep talking about how they also do bookkeeping. There’s no bookkeeper in the chapter. What’s the harm? Well, the harm is they’ll never be a bookkeeper in the chapter.” (06:23)

• On “Givers Gain” and Relationship Building:

  “Everybody else in the chapter now has two people. They’re building relationships with two people’s worth of contacts… That’s kind of the Givers Gain mentality.” (04:31)

• On Sticking to Your Seat:

  “Inside BNI… just in weekly presentations, in featured presentations, in one to ones, those kind of things. Stick to what you, you agreed to, you applied for, you got approved for.” (08:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:18 Listener’s Scenario & Question
• 02:30 BNI Policy on Seats Explained
• 03:21 Importance of Specialization & Chapter Growth
• 05:00 Problems with Overlapping Presentations
• 06:23 The Issue of Blocking Other Seats
• 07:00 Network Building & “Givers Gain” Advantages
• 08:23 Final Summary & Takeaway

Episode Summary

Tim Roberts delivers a clear and comprehensive answer to a frequent BNI membership question: Only discuss what your approved seat in the chapter covers—nothing more, nothing less. This discipline fosters chapter growth, avoids confusion and conflict, keeps opportunities open for new specialist members, and reinforces BNI’s foundational philosophy of mutual benefit. Tim emphasizes that by niching down and respecting these boundaries, every chapter member benefits from a stronger network and more referral potential.