Episode 919: The Easiest and the Worst Time Not to Network

Summary

Episode Summary: The Easiest and the Worst Time Not to Network
The Official BNI Podcast, Episode 919
Released on July 16, 2025
Host: Dr. Ivan Misner
Guest Co-Host: Tim Roberts

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Introduction

In Episode 919 of The Official BNI Podcast, host Dr. Ivan Misner is joined by guest co-host Tim Roberts to delve into a thought-provoking topic: "The Easiest and the Worst Time Not to Network." This episode explores how seemingly convenient times to take a break from networking, particularly during holidays, can paradoxically present some of the most lucrative opportunities for referral marketing and business growth.

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The Paradox of Holidays and Networking

Tim Roberts opens the discussion by highlighting a common trend within BNI chapters: the tendency to cancel meetings around major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and even patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July. He explains that while taking time off during these periods is understandable, it can be a "biggest mistake" for businesses seeking to maximize their networking efforts.

Tim Roberts [01:15]: "It's one of the biggest mistakes we can possibly make because while the holidays might feel different work-wise, maybe we are working a little bit less. Maybe we have more time off and we might naturally think, well, if I'm not working, I'm not networking."

Roberts emphasizes that holidays are peak times for referral opportunities. People are more likely to be attending social gatherings, family events, and community functions where networking can organically occur. By maintaining active networking efforts during these periods, members can tap into a wealth of opportunities that might otherwise be missed.

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Leveraging Holiday Situations for Referrals

A critical point Roberts makes is the importance of training members to "see opportunities in the world they are in." During the holidays, individuals are often in environments where they meet others in similar settings, making it easier to identify and capitalize on referral opportunities.

Tim Roberts [02:45]: "I'm going to be able to do that efficiently and effectively, unlike any other time of year."

By preparing members to recognize specific triggers related to their professions, BNI can enhance the effectiveness of their referral marketing. For instance, teaching a real estate professional to look for people mentioning moving or home renovations at holiday gatherings can lead to meaningful referrals.

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Overcoming Common Excuses for Skipping Meetings

Roberts shares an anecdote about a BNI member who initially decided to skip a meeting during a school vacation week, citing her children's absence from school as the reason. This serves as a perfect illustration of how seemingly valid excuses can lead to missed opportunities.

Tim Roberts [04:10]: "There really was no reason for her not to go to that meeting. And she actually did end up going because nobody really asked her that question before. But it's a missed opportunity."

He underscores the idea that having a "true purpose and vision" for networking is essential. Without a clear understanding of what one aims to achieve, it's easy to let excuses prevent participation in potentially beneficial networking activities.

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Strategic Adjustments for Holiday Networking

To mitigate the challenges posed by holiday periods, Roberts offers actionable advice for both BNI chapters and individual members:

1. For BNI Chapters:

   • Adjust Meeting Schedules: If a regular meeting time conflicts with a major holiday, consider rescheduling to ensure that the majority of members can attend.
   • Maintain Continuity: Even if a small percentage of the group is unavailable, holding the meeting for the remaining members can help sustain momentum and capitalize on available opportunities.

2. For Individual Members:

   • Increase One-to-One Meetings: If chapter meetings are canceled, members should focus on arranging one-to-one meetings to continue networking and generating referrals.
   • Stay Proactive: By taking the initiative during these times, individuals can prevent the loss of potential opportunities that typically arise during holidays.

Tim Roberts [05:50]: "So if you don't go, if we don't hold that meeting, I don't get that weekly presentation. If I skip that meeting because, you know, it's the holidays and I'm not working, thus I'm not networking, I miss that opportunity."

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The Importance of Consistent Networking

Roberts reinforces the notion that networking should be a consistent effort, not just something to engage in during peak times. He reflects on his extensive experience with BNI, sharing that even on days when he feels reluctant to attend meetings, his commitment to his "true purpose" keeps him motivated.

Tim Roberts [06:30]: "Knowing that I may not take this by going to that meeting. It may not produce something tangible in that moment for me. But I know not going definitely won't."

This mindset is crucial, especially during holidays when the temptation to take a break from networking intensifies. Maintaining regular networking activities ensures sustained referral generation and business growth.

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Conclusion

Episode 919 of The Official BNI Podcast delivers valuable insights into the strategic importance of maintaining networking efforts during holiday periods. Tim Roberts effectively argues that while holidays might seem like convenient times to pause, they actually represent some of the "worst times not to network" due to the high potential for referrals and business connections. By adjusting meeting schedules, increasing one-to-one engagements, and fostering a clear sense of purpose, BNI members can maximize their networking success even during the busiest times of the year.

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Notable Quotes:

• Tim Roberts [01:15]: "It's one of the biggest mistakes we can possibly make because while the holidays might feel different work-wise, maybe we are working a little bit less."

• Tim Roberts [02:45]: "I'm going to be able to do that efficiently and effectively, unlike any other time of year."

• Tim Roberts [04:10]: "There really was no reason for her not to go to that meeting. And she actually did end up going because nobody really asked her that question before. But it's a missed opportunity."

• Tim Roberts [05:50]: "So if you don't go, if we don't hold that meeting, I don't get that weekly presentation. If I skip that meeting because, you know, it's the holidays and I'm not working, thus I'm not networking, I miss that opportunity."

• Tim Roberts [06:30]: "Knowing that I may not take this by going to that meeting. It may not produce something tangible in that moment for me. But I know not going definitely won't."

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This episode serves as a compelling reminder for BNI members to remain steadfast in their networking commitments, especially during times that might otherwise seem less opportune. By doing so, they can unlock valuable referral opportunities that contribute significantly to their business success.

Transcript

[Priscilla Rice]

Episode number 919, the easiest and the Worst Time not to network.

[Dr. Ivan Meisner]

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.

[Priscilla Rice]

Hello everybody and welcome back to the official B and I 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 Tim Roberts, who's standing in today as a guest co host for Dr. Meisner and will be joining us from time to time. Hello Tim, and welcome back to the podcast.

[Tim Roberts]

Thank you for having me. Again, honored to be here. And yeah, we're going to talk about what are the what is the easiest and yet the worst time to not network. And this is actually something that happens throughout the year. We, we celebrate a lot of holidays in this country, which is really great and that causes a challenge for a lot of people. I see it, you know, obviously near the end of the year, there's a big kind of group of holidays between Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's and all these things. But even throughout the year, you, fourth of July holidays and all your other ones, it's so easy to take that time and be like, listen, I'm not working as much. Maybe I'm off from working. We see BNI chapters often cancel meetings even days before the actual holiday or days after the actual holiday. And I completely get it. I 100% understand where that's coming from, the natural feeling for it. But it's one of the biggest mistakes we can possibly make. Because while the holidays might feel different work wise, maybe we are working a little bit less. Maybe we have more time off and we might naturally think, well, if I'm not working, I'm not networking. The holidays also produce the biggest referral opportunity of the year for you and your fellow members. It is the time of the year and let's just think about more the end of the year, just that. Or as an example but true during any holiday, around Thanksgiving, around Christmas, around New Year's, around these times, it's the one time of year where I know you're going to be, I know where you're going to be as a fellow member. You're going to be at holiday parties, you're going to be at a family's house, you're going to be going to these different things. I now know where you are and I can train you specifically for that moment. One skill set that we all need to continually work on is training people how to see opportunities in the world they are in. So that's what your weekly presentations are about. It's what your feature presentations are about. It's not about training how your product works. It's not training or, you know, all the bells and whistles of your product. It's literally teaching people how to identify opportunities for you that they are otherwise missing in their day to day. The challenge there is everybody's in a million different directions most of the time, but not during the holidays. During the holidays we know where the majority of people are going to be. They're going to be in very similar situations as the rest of your members, naturally. So it helps us become far more effective in our training because we can hit more people at once if we prepare for it. So now I could say when you're at, you know, the family member's house for Thanksgiving, look for this, listen for this. You know, really for each profession, teach them different triggers that they can be aware of and just by simply training them, they're more likely to see it. And then teaching them what to say after. Just as important to make that a referral. I'm going to be able to do that efficiently and effectively, unlike any other time of year. Except if I don't go, if we don't hold that meeting, I don't get that weekly presentation. If I skip that meeting because, you know, it's the holidays and I'm not working, thus I'm not networking, I miss that opportunity. And it's so easy to do that. It's easy to do that on a regular basis. One thing I've been talking a lot about is just without a true purpose, without a true vision of what you're trying to accomplish, networking in general is the easiest thing not to do. There's always a reason not to go. There's always a reason not to go to the meeting, to do the one to one, to go to the training, to go to that after hours. So I've been doing BNI for 23 years. I have been full time BNI for 20 years now. And there are mornings I wake up and don't want to go to that BNI meeting. I go because I can remind myself what my true purpose and why and what I'm trying to accomplish is. And knowing that I, I may not take this by going to that meeting. It may not produce something tangible in that moment for me. But I know not going definitely won't. When the holidays come around, that desire not to go only amplifies. So without that vision, without that purpose, very easy to skip. And I do think that's a big reason why a lot of people do. I had a member once, this wasn't even during the holidays. It was during a school vacation week. And she said, you know, I'm not, I'm not going to be at the meeting next week. My kids are on school vacation. I was like, oh, are you going somewhere? She's like, no, we're just kind of hanging around the area. We're not traveling this year. I go, oh, great. I go, how old are your kids? She's like, oh, they're 16 and 15. And I was like, oh, okay. I go, so you're gonna. Are you waking them up in the morning like they're gonna go to school? She goes, no, they'll probably, you know, they're teenagers. They'll probably sleep till like 10, 11. I go, so why can't you come to this 7.30am meeting? It was just an immediate mindset of, well, my kids are on vacation, school vacation, I'm not doing this. There really was no reason for her not to go to that meeting. And she actually did end up going to that meeting because nobody really asked her that question before. But it's a missed opportunity. And during the holidays, any holiday during the year, I see this get amplified both in group think and individual think. So as a chapter, if your meeting is falling near a holiday, your Thursday meeting, Thanksgiving's coming up, whatever, move the meeting, hold it on a different day. It's perfectly fine to do that, that one week to not miss that opportunity. Even if 20% of the chapter is like, I'm traveling, we're not going to be here. Hold the meeting for the other 80% of the people. If you're an individual and your chapter does decide to, you know, cancel the meeting, it's out of your control. Amp up your one to ones during that time. You got to be doing way more so that you don't miss that opportunity that's going to be naturally in front of you. So again, it's the easiest time in the world not to go networking, to not go to that B and I meeting. But it's definitely the worst time not to do it just based on the fact of a potential missed opportunity for you to really ramp up your referral production at a time where, you know everybody's gonna be so that's all I got for it. I. I just know that this is a. Is a very common mistake and one that's been going on for decades, I'm sure longer than I have, but sometimes just overlooked on, you know why. Why we might not want to miss that. Even if it's the only thing we do that week, even if, again, you're off the rest of the week, that hour and a half might be even more productive for you during that time.

[Priscilla Rice]

Thank you so much, Tim. That was really good information. Are you done?

[Tim Roberts]

Yep.

[Priscilla Rice]

Okay, then. This podcast is sponsored by MeisnerAudioPrograms.com these audio programs will provide you with the tools and the inspiration to powerfully enhance your BNI experience. So check out the great material that's available to you [e-mail] and then use the promo code IVAN5O for 50% off of everything. All of the proceeds go to the B and I Foundation. 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 BI podcast.

[Tim Roberts]

It.