Episode 957: Two Beers and a Puppy

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Official BNI Podcast

Episode 957: Two Beers and a Puppy

Host: Dr. Ivan Misner
Guest: Bradley Page (Real Estate Agent, Auctioneer, BNI Synergy Newcastle Chapter President)
Date: April 22, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Ivan Misner is joined by Bradley Page, a seasoned real estate professional and BNI leader from Australia, to discuss the practical and insightful "Two Beers and a Puppy" test. This simple framework helps individuals assess trustworthiness and compatibility in both professional and personal relationships—a valuable tool for BNI members and anyone focused on building meaningful referrals and networks.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the “Two Beers and a Puppy” Concept

• Origin: Bradley attributes the concept to Ross McCammon, designed as a dual-question test to evaluate someone's place and value in your life. [(02:10)]
• The Test:
  • Would I have a beer (or coffee/wine) with this person?
  • Would I allow this person to look after my puppy for a weekend?
• Four possible answer combinations classify people:
  • No & No: To be avoided (“negative Nancy’s”)
  • Yes & No: Cautiously trusted, still getting to know and trust them
  • No & Yes: Not as much fun, but reliable—“make the world a better place for puppies”
  • Yes & Yes: Wonderful people, seek them out and enjoy their company

“Some people are going to be no and no. These people are to be avoided at all costs... Some people are yes and no. These people are to be cautiously trusted... Some people are no and yes. These people are no fun to be around, but they make the world a better place for puppies... And finally, some people are yes and yes. These people are to be wonderful people, and your life and work are better for having them in your life.” – Bradley Page [03:23]

2. Adapting the Test for Different Contexts

• Substitute “beer” with coffee, wine, or any social beverage to suit personal preferences. [(05:19)]
• The test is less about literal drinks and pets, more about comfort, trust, and likability.

“For those people who don’t do beer, a cup of coffee, or a couple of glasses of wine would be okay.” – Ivan Misner [05:19]
“Correct, absolutely.” – Bradley Page

3. Application in Networking and BNI

• First Impressions: Observe demeanor, dress, introductions; ask yourself if their presence is enjoyable and trustworthy.
• Observation vs. Judgment: “Observation is power and judgment is weakness.” – Bradley Page [04:32]

4. Integration with “Who’s In Your Room”

• Bradley shares how he pairs the Two Beers and a Puppy test with Dr. Misner’s book “Who’s In Your Room?”
  • Review your social connections—Facebook, LinkedIn, your phone contacts.
  • Ask the two key questions of each connection.
  • Classify and perhaps "box away" those who don't bring value or positivity. [(06:31)]
• The approach helps ensure your network is filled with people who truly enhance your life.

“You'll be amazed at the contacts that you've got in there. Are they people who you really want to resonate with and who's going to move you closer to what you want to be?” – Bradley Page [06:31]

5. Engines and Anchors

• Drawing from “Who’s In Your Room,” Bradley talks about “engines”—people who drive and inspire, and “anchors”—those who hold you back.
• The “Yes/Yes” people in Two Beers and a Puppy are your engines; “No/No” are your anchors. [(07:37)]

“Engines... are always moving and inspiring people... anchors, they're the ones that will want to pull you back... your yes and yeses will be your engines and your no and nos will be your anchors.” – Bradley Page [07:37]

6. Building Your Personal Networking “Tool Belt”

• Bradley likens each podcast episode to a tool for personal development.
  • Visualizes an “invisible BNI tool belt” where each episode adds a new device or lesson.
  • The resources help members become better networkers and people. [(09:03)]

"As each podcast comes in, you share lots of wisdoms... We've all got this invisible tool belt to help us to be a better person... each piece that comes out each week fills the jigsaw puzzle, and it's another tool." – Bradley Page [09:03]

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Notable Quotes & Highlights

| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp | |-------|---------|------------| | “Some people are going to be no and no... Some people are yes and no... no and yes... yes and yes. These people are ... wonderful people.” | Bradley Page | 03:23 | | “Observation is power and judgment is weakness.” | Bradley Page | 04:32 | | “For those people who don’t do beer, a cup of coffee, or a couple of glasses of wine would be okay.” | Ivan Misner | 05:19 | | "You'll be amazed at the contacts you've got in there. Are they people who you really want to resonate with and who's going to move you closer to what you want to be?" | Bradley Page | 06:31 | | "Your yes and yeses will be your engines and your no and nos will be your anchors." | Bradley Page | 07:37 | | "As each podcast comes in, you share lots of wisdoms... We've all got this invisible tool belt..." | Bradley Page | 09:03 |

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:10] Introduction to the “Two Beers and a Puppy” test
• [03:23] Four possible results and what each means
• [04:32] How to use observation (not judgment) when meeting new people
• [05:19] Variations of the test (beer, coffee, wine, etc.)
• [06:31] Applying the test to your social and professional networks
• [07:37] Engines versus anchors: aligning tests and metaphors
• [09:03] Podcast episodes as tools for growth and reflection

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Memorable Moments

• Bradley elaborates on how a yoga friend introduced him to the test during challenging times, linking it to the idea that people and lessons come into our lives for a reason. [(03:54)]
• Ivan jokes about his lack of beer experience and willingness to have wine instead, lightening the tone. [(05:34)]
• The analogy of the “BNI tool belt” and the “jigsaw puzzle” as metaphors for professional self-improvement and engagement with BNI resources.

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Closing Thoughts

• Bradley encourages listeners to try the Two Beers and a Puppy process and integrate it with tools like “Who’s In Your Room.”
• Both Ivan and Bradley echo appreciation for the global BNI community and the ongoing value of connecting with high-quality people.
• The episode wraps up with mutual respect and warm wishes—all in BNI’s collaborative and positive tone.

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Further Resources

• A direct link to Ross McCammon’s “Two Beers and a Puppy” article or resource will be included in the episode notes. [(10:22)]

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For those building referral networks or evaluating team dynamics, the “Two Beers and a Puppy” framework offers a simple yet effective litmus test for building a trustworthy, enjoyable network—both personally and professionally. Integrating it with existing BNI and networking strategies adds depth and clarity to relationship-building efforts.

Transcript

[A]

Episode number 957. Two beers and a puppy.

[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 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 the founder and the Chief visionary officer of BNI, Dr. Ivan Meisner. Hello, Ivan, how are you? And where are you?

[B]

Still enjoying the Austin weather? It hasn't gotten too hot here yet, so it's. It's great. I've got a guest today. First of all, I love the topic. Two beers and a puppy. I think that's hysterical. I have a guest today. He's from down under. His name is Bradley Page, and he got up at ODARK 30 to do this. This podcast with me. I really appreciate it. Bradley's a licensed real estate agent and auctioneer. He's done it for over 22 years. He's been a BNI member for 10 years. He picked up his tenure pin at the Global convention in Sydney in 2025, where we got a Guinness World Record. I did a podcast on that recently for the largest speed networking. Currently he's doing his second stint as a BNI member and he's the inaugural chapter president for BNI Synergy in Newcastle, Australia, which was launched in July 2025. Bradley, welcome to the BNI podcast.

[C]

Thank you very much, Ivan. It's an absolute honor and pleasure to be invited onto your program.

[B]

Well, it's truly my pleasure. And I think one of the great things about bringing in guests is they come in with some ideas and a perspective on the program that's, you know, interesting and funny, and this is certainly both of those. So talk about the process. You know, two beers and a puppy here. Talk about the process.

[C]

Absolutely. This process was actually written by a fellow by the name of Ross McCammon, and it's twofold. It's to figure out someone's value in your life, along with a helpful test for determining how you feel about someone. So what you actually do is in order to find out how you actually feel about someone, you've got to ask yourself two questions. Would you have a beer with this person? And would I allow this person to look after My puppy over a weekend. Now, you're going to get four answers to this particular question. So some people are going to be no and no. These people are to be avoided at all costs. All right? They're your negative Nancy's. Okay. Which I know that you've covered before. Some people are going to be yes and no. These people are to be cautiously trusted. So, you know, they're in. They're sitting in the. In the VCP process where, you know, you're starting to know, like, and trust them. Some people are no and yes. These people are no fun to be around, but they make the world a better place for puppies.

[B]

Okay, all right. Okay.

[C]

And finally, right. Some people are yes and yes. Now, Ivan, these people are to be wonderful people, and your life and work are better for having them in your life. So seek them out, collaborate with them, and enjoy their company. So that's the process in a whole.

[B]

I love it. Now, do you met you. You named somebody and did I read this right? He was a yoga friend. You met him in yoga.

[C]

Yes, yes, we were. We were both having some challenging times and. Yeah. Where we were attracting some yuckiness into our life. And she actually came forward and said, look, I've been given this process, and since I've used it, it's changed my life. And I went, well, you know, things happen for a reason. If you believe in the law of attraction, you attract things into your life for a reason.

[B]

In the last podcast, I talked about the law of attraction. So there. You absolutely just talked about it. All right. You have a lot more to cover. So how do you use it with people you meet for the first time?

[C]

Oh, absolutely. Okay. Observation is power and judgment is weakness. So what you've got to do is observe people's mannerisms, observe their dress code, observe how they speak, and introduce themselves to you. Are they allowed people or are they really warm, inviting, and calm?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Are they. Are they pushy with what they're trying to get across?

[B]

Right.

[C]

Are they someone that you feel really, really comfortable with and you want to spend some time with them? But more importantly, are they someone that you want to have a beer with and let. And let them look after you after your dog on a weekend? So just. Yeah. You know, where people. People are a little bit nervous when they. When you. When you're meeting them? And some can be really, really overbearing.

[B]

Now, for those. For those people who don't do beer, a cup of coffee, a couple of coffees, or a couple of glasses of wine, be okay.

[C]

Correct Absolutely. Yes.

[B]

Okay. Good, good, good.

[C]

Definitely. Yeah. So it's not just.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Defined to beers. Absolutely. Yeah.

[B]

So I think I've actually had two beers in my entire life, and both of those were places where they had nothing. I wouldn't drink the water. It was slightly brown, and they didn't have anything else. So I, those are the only times I had a beer. But I'd have, I'd have a couple of glasses. Wine with you, my friend.

[C]

I certainly would do that with yourself and Jody as well, either.

[B]

So, yeah, basically, you, you added something in what you sent me which I thought was, which I really appreciated. And you talked about a book I wrote, who's in your room, and, and how that applies to the two beers and a puppy concept. So you want to talk about that?

[C]

Absolutely. I, I, your, your book. Yes. Two beers and a puppy. I would read it religiously every three to four months. The, the writing in that is just phenomenal in the way the book was.

[B]

Who's in your room? Not two beers and a puppy.

[C]

That's right, yeah. Who's in your room? That's right, yes. So, okay, go through all your social media platforms, so your Facebook, your Instagram, your, your LinkedIn, see who's actually in there, who's in your room currently, and ask that question. Okay. Would you have two beers with this person? And would you have this person look after your dog over a weekend? Go through, go through your phone. Same sort of thing is that you'll be amazed at the contacts that you've got in there. And are they people who you really want to resonate with and who's going to move you to closer to what you want to be? Do I have. It's a phenomenal process, and you'll be astounded what names you put into what bucket. Yeah. And obviously, what do you do then with the. No one knows that you come up with. Well, in who's in your room, you put a little visualization of a box, and you put the names in the box where you can't touch, and you put a couple of locks on them so they don't get out. So that's where they go.

[B]

Yeah. And you had some thoughts on engines and anchors.

[C]

Yeah, correct. Absolutely. In who's in your room, you say that there's two types of people. There is engines, they're the people that are. They're always going. They're always moving. Moving and inspiring people to what you want to be. Do I have where the anchors, they're the ones that will want to Pull you back. So in this process, when you're doing Two Beers and a puppy, I can guarantee you your yes and yeses will be your engines and your no and nos will be your anchors.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And I know that if. And Priscilla might be able to dig out the podcast. She also did a podcast on Hunters versus Farmers. Same sort of process.

[B]

Yeah. So you also wanted to talk was everything you had on two. Two beers and a puppy or two coffees for those of you who don't know.

[C]

Two coffees. Yes.

[B]

Anything else you want to add to that? Because I know you wanted to talk about the BNI PODC that you've heard over the years.

[C]

No, I think that's pretty. Well, it. It is a process. It's a very strong process. I encourage everybody to do it, and hopefully they have the success that I've had in. In using the process to. Yeah.

[B]

Be.

[C]

Be a better person and obviously attract the people into your life to. To get the results you want.

[B]

Excellent. So talk about your thoughts on the B and I podcasts that come out each week. I thought that was interesting.

[C]

Oh, absolutely. To me. And I can only talk about myself, but I see myself having an invisible B and I tool belt on the waist. And as each podcast comes in, you share lots of wisdoms about who's in your room, how to speak when the meeting's boring. Hopefully two beers and a puppy. And we've all got this invisible tool belt to help us to be a better person and to. Basically, it's a jigsaw puzzle. So each piece that comes out each week fills the jigsaw puzzle, and it's another tool that goes into the tool belt. So, yeah, it basically makes me a better person all around, having those tools that I can use and being a better BNI member. So I really do hope that there are other BNI members out there that really look forward to receiving the BNI podcast weekly and using them the way I do.

[B]

Well, thank you. I appreciate that. And it's amazing to me, as I travel around the world, how many B and I members listen to the podcast. And I always know they listen to it because they say, hello, Ivan, how are you? And where are you? So it's like, okay, here's somebody who listens to my podcast.

[C]

Absolutely.

[B]

And there is a link, and I'll make sure it goes into the podcast. Is this for Ross's book or is it an article, two Beers and a

[C]

Puppy, that will be the direct link to. To how it actually works? Yes, how it works.

[B]

All right, so we'll include that link here in. In the podcast, so anybody that wants more information on it can do so. Any closing thought before we wrap up?

[C]

No. Ivan, love your work, love listening to you, and love being a BNI member. And I love the way that BNI is changing the way the world does business.

[B]

Well, Bradley, I. I really appreciate you and I appreciate your kind words, and I hope our paths cross in person again sometime.

[C]

Absolute pleasure being invited onto your podcast, Ivan, and namaste to you.

[B]

Yeah, thank you. Over to you, Priscilla.

[A]

Okay. That was a lot of fun. I really like Ivan, by the way. I would definitely have two beers and you can take care of my puppy.

[B]

Can I? All right. I'm not sure you'd want all the ticks that we have here in Austin on my. On my land, but what are they? Ticks. Those little. Those little insects that give you Lyme disease. So I'm not sure you'd want your puppy running around here.

[A]

Yes, yes, yes. Tics. Okay, well, I'll skip on the. I'll avoid the tics. Okay, here we go. 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 [e-mail] and use the promo code IVAN5O for 50% off of everything. All of the proceeds go to the BNI 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 BNI Podcast.