Podcast Summary: The Official BNI Podcast – Episode 944

Title: Don’t Let Your Group Deflate While You Wait (Classic Rebroadcast)
Host: Dr. Ivan Misner
Guest/Co-host: Priscilla Rice
Original Air Date: January 21, 2026
Length: ~16 minutes
Main Theme: Staying proactive with chapter growth and visitor engagement, especially during challenging times. Debunking excuses and fostering a solution-focused mindset for referral marketing success.

Episode Overview

In this classic rebroadcast, Dr. Ivan Misner, BNI Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, addresses common excuses BNI chapters use to delay inviting visitors or growing, particularly when faced with difficulties like online meetings, economic uncertainty, or personal fatigue. The episode’s purpose is to inspire action, highlight proven strategies, and urge members to adopt a solution-focused approach—“Don’t let your group deflate while you wait.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Common Excuses for Not Inviting Visitors

[01:43 – 08:00]

Dr. Misner systematically addresses the most common reasons BNI members give for not inviting new people. He provides solutions, resources, and reminders, emphasizing that these excuses have persisted for decades and can always be overcome.
Excuses & Responses:

• “I don’t know anyone to invite.”
  • Solution: Listen to Episode 633 for effective ways to identify more invitees.
  • Quote:
    • "I once said that. ... A BNI member took me to school on that ... I found a boatload of people I could have been inviting." – Dr. Ivan Misner [02:42]
• “We’re too small to invite visitors.”
  • Solution: Host a Visitor’s Day (Episode 505), even small chapters can double in size with a well-run event.
  • Quote:
    • "If that's holding you back, you'll never grow." – Dr. Ivan Misner [03:31]
• “I want a different group of members.”
  • Solution: Be the change; join the membership committee and curate your chapter.
  • Quote:
    • "You can be a curator of your chapter. He completely changed the chapter." – Dr. Ivan Misner [04:00]
• “They have a niche business.”
  • Solution: Niche professions can thrive (Episode 244).
  • Quote:
    • "There is no more of a niche business than what Nordi had. Check that out." – Dr. Ivan Misner [04:35]
• “Our meeting space is too small.”
  • Solution: Move to a bigger space. This is an “air sandwich” excuse.
  • Quote:
    • "Move to a bigger space. I mean, really. That's an air sandwich as an excuse." – Dr. Ivan Misner [04:55]
• “People I invite don’t show up.”
  • Solution: It happens to everyone—including Ivan. Keep inviting; focus on trying, not quitting.
  • Quote:
    • "You think I haven't invited people who didn't show up? ... It happens to me." – Dr. Ivan Misner [05:11]
    • "Always try. You can eventually win. If you always quit, you can never win." (Dr. Mark Goldston, quoted by Ivan) [05:00]
• The Economy—“Not good” or “too good.”
  • Solution: BNI grows in both downturns and booms. The need for networking never disappears.
  • Quote:
    • "The beauty of BNI is that ... when you have a recession, we've grown. When you have a booming economy, we've grown." – Dr. Ivan Misner [06:30]
• Online Meeting Dilemmas (“Meeting online doesn’t work”, “I’m waiting to meet in person”, “Zoom fatigue”).
  • Solution: Online chapters have grown remarkably. Adapt and embrace technology.
    • Relevant Episodes: Episode 689 (Online vs. Offline, “only difference is the spelling”), Episode 659 (Inviting visitors online).
  • Quote:
    • "We've opened over 600 BNI chapters during the pandemic ... The only difference between online and offline is the spelling." – Dr. Ivan Misner [07:25]
    • "Don't wait to meet in person. That's the perfect definition of 'deflate while you wait.'" – Dr. Ivan Misner [08:08]
    • On Zoom fatigue: “Buck up, buttercup." (an anonymous BNI member) [10:13]
    • "If this had happened in the 90s, you wouldn’t have Zoom fatigue… you’d have bankruptcy. I’d much rather have Zoom fatigue." – Dr. Ivan Misner [10:22]

2. The Reality of Challenges—Then, Now, and Always

[10:54 – 11:18]

• Challenges with inviting visitors are universal and ongoing. Every era presents obstacles, but action and persistence are decisive.
• Quote:
  • "We've had challenges in the past, we have challenges today, we'll have challenges in the future. Excuses don't bring results. They pretty much bring failure." – Dr. Ivan Misner [11:18]

3. Vision over Obstacles—Focus Makes the Difference

[11:31 – 13:52]

• BNI’s vision is to change how the world does business through structured referral marketing.
• Do not let obstacles dominate your attention; focusing on the vision attracts success.
• Quote:
  • "It's important that we hold the vision, not the obstacle." – Dr. Ivan Misner [12:07]
  • "If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’ll be right." – Dr. Ivan Misner [13:32]
• Examples of global BNI success during COVID:
  • BNI Iconic chapter in the Philippines: 6,130 referrals during COVID [12:41]
  • Qatar region: 155 members, 83 million reals passed [12:56]
  • Hermosa Beach: $47 million in referrals [13:06]
  • Queen City, Vermont: $239,000 in one week [13:30]

4. "Givers Gain"—Empower Each Other

[13:54 – 15:16]

• The BNI philosophy: helping others creates a cycle of success.
• Quote:
  • "If you help enough other people achieve success, they'll do the same for you. That's what givers gain is all about." – Dr. Ivan Misner [14:30]
  • "Today is the tomorrow we were worried about yesterday. You can do this, members. I believe in you." – Dr. Ivan Misner [14:45]

5. The Power of Solution-Focused Mindset

[15:26 – 16:14]

• Referencing The Solutions Focus by Mark McKergow: "If all you do is focus on problems, you become an expert at the problems. But if you focus on solutions, you become an expert on solutions."
• Chapters should brainstorm what worked in the past and concentrate on solutions, not obstacles.
• Quote:
  • "If you focus on the solutions... you can do this. Other chapters are doing it, you can do it too, right?" – Dr. Ivan Misner [16:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You can have excuses, or you can have success.” – Dr. Ivan Misner [13:53]
• “It's important that we hold the vision, not the obstacle.” – Dr. Ivan Misner [12:07]
• “If this had happened in the 90s... you wouldn't have Zoom fatigue... you'd have bankruptcy. I'd much rather have Zoom fatigue.” – Dr. Ivan Misner [10:22]
• “If you focus on the solutions, you become an expert on solutions.” – Dr. Ivan Misner quoting Mark McKergow [15:32]

Important Timestamps

• 01:43 – Introduction of episode theme and excuse list
• 02:32 – Systematic debunking of common excuses
• 06:20 – Why economic conditions shouldn't dictate chapter growth
• 07:25 – Success with online meetings and hybrid models
• 10:22 – The 1990s ‘what if’ scenario and importance of perspective
• 11:03 – 11:18 – Reflection on perpetual nature of challenges
• 12:07 & 13:32 – Holding the vision, not the obstacle; success stories
• 15:26 – 16:10 – Advice to focus on solutions and collaborative brainstorming

Takeaways & Action Items

• Excuses are evergreen—so are solutions. Whether small, niche, online, or facing economic shifts, chapters grow when they focus on action.
• Leverage BNI resources: Listen to referenced episodes for deep dives on each challenge.
• Foster a solution-oriented mindset: Become "experts at solutions" by focusing on what works and moving past obstacles.
• Empower others, and success will follow ("Givers Gain").
• “Don’t let your group deflate while you wait.” Take action rather than waiting for “easier” conditions.

Closing

Dr. Misner’s timeless message reminds BNI members that history’s most successful chapters didn’t wait for perfect conditions. They acted, innovated, and kept inviting—no matter the challenge. Today is the perfect day to start (or restart) that momentum.