Podcast Summary: BNI & The Power of One

Episode: BNI 876 - Core Value Series: Givers Gain

Host: Tim Roberts
Date: January 27, 2026

Overview:

In this episode, Tim Roberts kicks off a new series exploring BNI’s core values, starting with the foundational principle: "Givers Gain." Drawing on member questions and personal anecdotes, Tim explores what it really means to live out this value, its impact on chapters, and the right and wrong ways to approach it.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction of Core Values Series

• Tim introduces a request from Robert in Ohio to cover BNI’s core values in depth.
• The plan is to discuss each core value individually, starting with "Givers Gain."
  [00:35]
• Tim encourages listener feedback and conversations around these topics on podcast platforms.

What is "Givers Gain"?

• "Givers Gain" is BNI’s foundational value: the more you give, the more you benefit—though not always directly or immediately.
• The philosophy is centered on giving without expectation, knowing that value and reciprocity will ultimately return, potentially via indirect routes.
  [02:00]

"If you give business first without any expectation of getting any in return, you amplify the relationship... you increase your trust, you increase your credibility and... are going to gain the reciprocity from that."
— Tim Roberts [02:10]

Mindset Shift: From Transactional to Relational

• Most people enter networking situations with "What can I get?" BNI flips this to “How can I help?”
• Chapters thrive when focus is on mutual benefit and collective improvement instead of self-interest.
  [03:55]

The Role of Expectations in Networking

• Visitors and new members naturally worry about their ROI because of their financial and time investment.
• Setting appropriate expectations through language used in meetings, referral sections, and orientation is critical.
  [05:10]

Personal Reflections: The Joy of Giving

• Tim compares the joy in giving referrals to the joy he finds during holidays in watching his family receive gifts.
• Emphasizes that giving itself brings fulfillment, not just transactional return.
  [06:35]

"I love to see my kids' reaction when they get a gift... that's like that moment. And even though it's fleet... it is a value add to my life. And I think it's very similar in BNI."
— Tim Roberts [07:25]

The Pitfalls: Weaponizing Givers Gain

• Some members misconstrue "Givers Gain" as transactional (“I gave, so you owe me”).
• Tim strongly warns against tracking or broadcasting what members “owe”—this undermines trust and credibility.
  [09:30]

"That is a grotesque use of time... immediate removal from my chapter... because it's not what we live and it's not what that philosophy is about."
— Tim Roberts [10:20]

Variability in Giving and Receiving

• Different professions may give and receive referrals at different rates, but quality matters as much as quantity.
• Long-term members may be in a better position to give; newer members often receive as they build up contacts.
  [12:10]
• Important to recognize that giving can also mean sharing expertise, time, or supporting chapter operations—beyond referrals.

Leadership and Volunteering as Giving

• Taking on roles such as president, visitor host, or membership committee is another form of "giving" to the chapter—not a means for direct personal gain.
• The host stresses the importance of taking these opportunities seriously and not just as a shortcut to rewards.
  [15:00]

"You should not take a president's role going, if I take the president's role, I should get 10 more referrals. No, you take the president's role because you want to give that time freely to your fellow members."
— Tim Roberts [16:00]

Policy Change: Roles & Incentives

• Reflects on the discontinued policy of freezing dues for presidents/VPs/secretaries.
• Removal was necessary because the incentive misaligned with true giving and attracted members who weren’t committed to those responsibilities.
  [18:00]

Relationships Require Investment

• Compares BNI relationships to personal or family relationships; to gain from them, you must first invest sincerely without keeping score.
  [21:00]

"Think of it as an investment account, a bank account. The more I can put in, the bigger the return will be."
— Tim Roberts [22:00]

Final Thoughts

• Reiterates: "Givers Gain" should never be weaponized. Violating this value is a breach of BNI’s code of ethics and should be addressed at the chapter or director level.
• Success in BNI (and in life/business) flows from a habit of genuine, expectation-free giving.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the true intent of giving:
  "That act of giving something of true value should bring joy to you... not in the, all right, I did this for you, now I'm gonna sit and wait for you to give something back." — [08:00]

• On the dangers of tracking favors:
  "I've heard horror stories... of members doing that in BNI meetings... getting up and telling people all the business that they've given to them and what they owe in return. You want to talk about a credibility destroyer? That will do it." — [10:00]

• On leadership as service:
  "If your mindset is, oh, I'm just too busy and I've got too much going on, I can't get involved in the leadership team. That's the opposite of that... because you're then saying to everybody else in the chapter, you do that for me." — [17:50]

• "Givers Gain" summarized:
  "Just be focused on the giving part. I'm going to give with faith and belief that that's going to come back... It is a great way to run a chapter... a better way to run your business and your life and it should never ever, ever be weaponized." — [22:30]

Important Timestamps

• 00:35 – Introduction to the core values series
• 02:00–05:10 – The philosophy and natural expectations in networking
• 06:35–09:30 – The joy in giving and personal stories
• 09:30–10:30 – The dangers of transactional thinking
• 12:10–16:00 – Different forms of giving and leadership as service
• 18:00 – The removal of leadership dues incentive and why
• 21:00–22:30 – Relationships as investments and closing thoughts

Conclusion

Tim Roberts powerfully unpacks "Givers Gain" in this in-depth episode, blending BNI policy, personal reflection, and practical warnings. He invites chapter leaders and members alike to reflect on their motivations, shift to a truly giving mindset, and challenge the misuse of this essential value. The episode is both an inspiration and a guide for BNI members committed to long-term, value-driven success.