Episode 905: Applying Givers Gain to Business (Classic)

Summary

Summary of "The Official BNI Podcast" Episode 905: Applying Givers Gain to Business (Classic)

Podcast Information

• Title: The Official BNI Podcast
• Host/Author: Dr. Ivan Misner
• Description: Referral marketing tips from Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI
• Episode: Episode 905: Applying Givers Gain to Business (Classic)
• Release Date: April 9, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 905 of The Official BNI Podcast, Priscilla Rice hosts a rebroadcast of a classic episode originally numbered 702, titled "Applying Givers Gain to Business." Joined by Dr. Ivan Misner, the founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, the episode delves into the foundational philosophy of Givers Gain and its profound impact on business networking and referral marketing.

Givers Gain Philosophy

Dr. Ivan Misner introduces the concept of Givers Gain as the cornerstone of BNI's mission and operations. He emphasizes that Givers Gain is not merely a strategy for acquiring business but a superior approach to conducting business ethically and effectively.

“I really believe that Givers Gain is not only a great way to get business, it's an even better way to do business.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [01:25]

Core Value and Cultural Universality

Givers Gain serves as BNI’s principal core value, transcending cultural and legal boundaries. Dr. Misner notes that while the perception of giving varies globally, it universally fosters positive societal and business relationships.

“Giving has many cultural and legal differences around the world and in some cultures giving is actually seen negatively, yet it's a positive force in society.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [01:25]

Motivations for Giving

Dr. Misner outlines five key motivations that align with the Givers Gain philosophy, ensuring that acts of giving remain purposeful and ethically grounded:

1. Community Reciprocity:
   Understanding that contributions within the community will encourage others to reciprocate, benefiting all members collectively.

2. Mutual Support:
   Belief that others would extend similar support in equivalent circumstances.

3. Gratitude:
   Desire to give back in appreciation of previous benefits received.

4. Collaborative Success:
   Recognizing that collaborative efforts yield greater results than solitary endeavors.

5. Personal Fulfillment:
   Genuine enjoyment and satisfaction derived from giving.

“Having an ethical motivation is, I think, the key to giving.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [04:45]

Dr. Misner stresses the importance of understanding and maintaining these motivations to foster a sustainable and positive giving environment.

Examples of Givers Gain in Action

Alan's Journey: Becoming a Super Connector

Dr. Misner shares the story of Alan, a commercial real estate agent from Orange County, who exemplifies Givers Gain through relentless networking and referrals.

• Networking Efforts:
  Between 2009-2010, Alan engaged in numerous one-to-one meetings, both locally and county-wide, positioning himself as a central connector in the business community.

• Business Growth:
  Alan's commitment to giving referrals not only bolstered the local economy but also significantly enhanced his own business, culminating in his best year after 26 years in operation.

“He was generating a ton of business for the local economy simply by making connections and giving the gift of a referral.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [04:00]

David's Exemplary Selflessness

Another compelling example is David, a BNI member from the UK who runs a successful print business. David’s humility and strategic giving resulted in a mutually beneficial relationship between his clients.

• Client Interaction:
  When offered a complimentary meal by a major hotel client, David chose to facilitate an introduction between the client and another BNI member, Suzanne, leading to increased business opportunities for both parties.

• Ripple Effect:
  Suzanne's expanded projects allowed David to take on larger print jobs, subsequently benefiting local subcontractors and enhancing his reputation as a reliable provider.

“David's really very selfless, humble, wonderful networker because he embraces the principles of Givers Gain.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [07:15]

Types of Giving in Business

Dr. Misner outlines various impactful ways to practice Givers Gain in business:

1. Facilitating Referrals:
   Connecting businesses with compatible partners, much like David’s introduction between his clients.

2. Mentoring:
   Offering expertise and guidance to businesses in need.

3. Sharing Knowledge:
   Contributing insights and information to local business groups.

4. Community Involvement:
   Supporting local education and youth organizations, as demonstrated by Priscilla assisting a young speaker.

5. Respecting Elders:
   Engaging with and supporting senior members of the community.

“You choose how to practice Givers Gain that's right for your business. And once you make a commitment to using the power of this philosophy, I believe it'll fuel your business and success will follow.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [08:30]

Impact of Givers Gain

Dr. Misner emphasizes that acts of giving create a cyclical benefit within the business ecosystem, fostering an environment where mutual support leads to collective success. This philosophy not only drives individual business growth but also contributes to broader social and economic well-being.

“The cycle of giving continues to benefit him and those around him, particularly his other BNI members.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [08:15]

He connects Givers Gain to the concept of Infinite Giving, advocating for a world where resources are abundant and collaboration replaces competition.

“Living in a world of plenty where resources are plentiful and the struggle for life is not against each other. Rather it's against scarcity and it's about supporting each other.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [09:10]

Priscilla's Commentary

Priscilla Rice adds her perspective, highlighting how Givers Gain fosters long-term membership and loyalty within BNI.

“Givers Gain is one of the guiding principles of BNI. I think that makes it an organization where people want to stay for long periods of time... it's just such a beautiful way to do business.”
— Priscilla Rice [09:40]

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Dr. Misner reflects on the foundational role of Givers Gain in differentiating BNI from other networking organizations. He underscores its effectiveness in building a balanced environment focused on both business growth and relational integrity.

“Coming up with that as our philosophy, our principal core value I think was a real game changer... it really has kept it together.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [10:02]

He encourages listeners to explore the principles further by reading Infinite Giving and adopting the Givers Gain philosophy to unlock sustained business success.

“I urge people pick up a copy of Infinite Giving. It's a quick read and it really will give you all of the seven principles of what makes up the philosophy of Givers Gain.”
— Dr. Ivan Misner [10:02]

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Key Takeaways:

• Givers Gain is not just a strategy but a fundamental business philosophy that fosters ethical, sustainable growth through mutual support and generous networking.
• Motivations for Giving must be ethical and intentional to maintain sincerity and effectiveness in business relationships.
• Practical Applications of Givers Gain, as illustrated by Alan and David, demonstrate its impact on individual success and broader community development.
• Long-Term Benefits include enhanced business opportunities, stronger community ties, and a positive organizational culture that encourages longevity and member loyalty.

By embracing Givers Gain, businesses can cultivate an ecosystem of support and collective prosperity, aligning personal success with the well-being of the entire community.

Transcript

[A]

Hello, this is Priscilla Rice and I'm coming to you from Live Oak Recording Studio. This week we're going to have a rebroadcast of one of our earlier classic podcasts. We hope you enjoy it and thanks so much for listening. Episode number 702, applying giver's gain to Business.

[B]

You're listening to the official BI podcast with BI founder and chief visionary officer, Dr. Ivan Meisner. Stay tuned for networking and referral marketing tips from the man who's been called the father of modern networking, along with suggestions and insights into getting the most from your membership in the world's largest networking organization, bni.

[A]

Hello everybody and welcome back to the official BNI Podcast. I'm Priscilla Rice and I'm coming to you from Live Oak Recording Studio in Berkeley, California. And I'm joined on the phone today by the founder and the Chief Visionary Officer of B and I, Dr. Ivan Meisner. Hello Ivan, how are you and where are you?

[B]

Well, I've been traveling a lot via Zoom and I've done several IFA presentations, which is the International Franchise association. And I also spoke to City Current in Nashville, Tennessee. So still still out there, meeting lots of members and potential members out in the field.

[A]

Okay, great. What are you going to teach us today about giver's gain?

[B]

So today I'm going to be talking about applying giver's gain to your business. And this is based on content from the book Infinite Giving, which I've had both of my co authors on, which is a great little book. I highly recommend it. If you have a chance, pick it up. It's about the seven laws of Giver's gain. And you know, I really believe that givers gain is not only a great way to get business, it's an even better way to do business. And this is why BNI has made it our principal core value in our organization. Giving has many cultural and legal differences around the world and in some cultures giving is actually seen negatively, yet it's a positive force in society. And this can be applied in every business, regardless of location or culture. I believe what's important in acts of giving is our motivation. And here are some motivations that I think fit the philosophy of givers gain and help us maintain mental clarity around what our motivations should be. One, we can give because we understand that in our community what we do, others will do and we will all benefit, particularly in a BNI group. Two, we give because we know that in the same situation others would do the same for us. Three, we give because we want to give back where we have profited before. 4. We give because when we work together, we get bigger and better results than working on our own. And we've really seen that in BNI. 5. We give because we enjoy it. I know I do. I love giving referrals. I feel great when I give a referral. Having an ethical motivation is, I think, the key to giving. You can always give once and justify your motivation, but giving over and over again, I think requires a motivation that's understood not only by you, but also by the people that you surround yourself with. And adopting one or more of the motivations that I talked about above or before will help you stay grounded in your motivation. Here are some examples of where giving in business, I think, has really changed lives A member I know named Alan is a commercial real estate agent in Orange county and throughout the 2009-2010 Alan had met with as many business people as he possibly could, doing one to ones and using his network to find these people and book a meeting with him. And they were not just from his local B and I group, but they were from members throughout the entire county. And the more people he met, the more he was able to become a super connector for the local business community. And he was generating a ton of business for the local economy simply by making connections and giving the gift of a referral. He even won awards for it and became the star in his group. He was recognized as having the most one to ones, he gave out the most referrals and he focused on building relationships. And once he was convinced that this was effective, he found that it was a good business opportunity for him as well because he ended up getting a lot of business. When I asked him about his activity, he told me that he was completing his 26th year in business and it was the best year he ever had. And he credited giving so many referrals as the reason for him getting so much business. Giving in business as in life, I think works in a lot of different ways. Here's another example. David, another B and I member in the uk, runs a fantastic print business and he offers brilliant service, great value, and he delivers when he says he will, if not earlier. And if, if you ever try to pay him a compliment, he'll sort of give a sheepish, sheepish smile and an explanation that he's only doing his job. But just up the road from where his business is based is the area's largest independent hotel, which of course is a trusted he's a trusted supplier for and after turning around an Order. On a particularly short deadline, the hotel manager, showing gratitude, offered David a meal for two at the hotel's restaurant as a way of saying thank you. So David thanked his client and graciously declined the offer, instead asked for something else. And that was for them to take the call of one of his other clients, which was a commercial designer and project manager by the name of Suzanne. And Suzanne had recently asked for help from David for being a. He was a supplier of hers and decided to use that opportunity to get an introduction to the hotel, which was what she needed. The introduction was made, business was done, and both of David's clients were happy. And in the true spirit of giving, the additional revenue has allowed Suzanne to take on larger development projects, which David now prints for. So it just, it goes round and round and round. And the local subcontractors who are used on these projects have increased revenue and now come to David when they're in need of his products. And due to the quality of his work and products, they've become ambassadors and referrals for his business. David's really very selfless, humble, wonderful networker because he embraces the principles of givers gain. And the cycle of giving continues to benefit him and those around him, particularly his other BNI members. I believe that acts of giving change lives. Acts of giving can be powerful in business regardless of the size of business. David's a great example of that. And we can give in many ways and we can give many things. Here's a list of some of the types of giving that I think makes a real impact in the business community. One, give a referral opportunity between two other businesses, you know, maybe a supplier of yours and a client of yours like David did. Two, give mentoring to a business that needs your expertise. Three, give your knowledge to local business groups. Four, give to local education and youth community groups. I just. Priscilla helped a young lady, 17 years old, part of a boys and girls club, in doing a speech contest. And I know a little bit about speaking publicly and I helped her come in and was one of the top two positions in her speech contests. And it was really gratifying to see how far this young lady came from where she started to where she ended up in terms of doing her presentation. And five, give to elders in the community. I think all of this kind of giving activity is part of an ecosystem that will come back and benefit you and those you care about in a really positive way. You choose how to practice giver's game that's right for your business. And once you make A commitment to using the power of this philosophy. I believe it'll fuel your business and success will follow. I have seen it over and over again throughout BNI's history. The more this happens, the more energy can be given to important global social concerns. And I think it's all part of the infinite giving that we talk about in the book Infinite Giving. And it allows us to focus on a bigger picture. And the bigger picture is really living in a world of plenty where resources are plentiful and the struggle for life is not against each other. Rather it's against scarcity and it's about supporting each other. And to me, that's what Givers Gain is all about. That's my message for today. Priscilla, anything you want to add?

[A]

That was great, Ivan. The one thing I thought of is, you know, the fact that Giver's Gain is one of the guiding principles of bni. I think that that makes it an organization where people want stay for long periods of time. They don't just come in, you know, take what they can get and leave. They really, you know, like I've been In BNI maybe 14 years or more and there's many more in my group that have been in BNI for long periods of time. And I think it's because of Giver's Gain. It's just such a beautiful way to do business.

[B]

You know, there's a handful of things that, that an entrepreneur does that you look back on and say, wow, that was, that was a really good idea. And this was certainly one of them for me. Coming up with that as our philosophy, our principal core value I think was a real game changer because there are so many networks out there that are incredibly mercenary. And you know, I would go to those and felt like I'd been slimed and needed to get a shower because everyone was selling to me. And then there were those that were just incredibly social and no business was being done and I didn't like those. And you know, I wanted something that was a focus on business and yet also wasn't. It was relational but not totally social. And the glue that I felt that would hold it together is this, this core value of, of Giver's Gain. And it really has, it really has kept it together. And I urge people pick up a copy of Infinite Giving. It's, it's, it's a quick read and it really will give you all of the seven principles of what makes up the philosophy of Giver's Game.

[A]

Great.

[B]

Well, that's it for today, Priscilla. Thank you.

[A]

Okay. Thank you so much. That was really lovely. Well, we do have a new sponsor for our podcast, and it's MeisnerAudioPrograms.com these audio programs will provide you with tools and inspiration to powerfully enhance your BI experience and help you boost your business. Whether you are a new or a seasoned member, these audio programs will help you unlock the power of networking. So check out the great material available to [e-mail] and also use the promo code IVAN50 and get 50% off of all the audio programs. Thank you so much for listening. This is Priscilla Rice, and we look forward to having you join us again next week for another exciting episode of the official BNI podcast.