Making conversations about networking count!

Dr Ivan Misner is the Modern Father of Networking. With 36 years of continuous growth through the BNI network he founded in 1986, the organisation now has over 275000 members across 10000 chapters in 72 countries. Compelling author and contributor of 26 books including his latest titles 'Who's in Your Room?' and 'Infinite Giving'.

In this episode, Ivan and Wendy explore how conversation is the foundation of all growth and learning. How times have changed, looking back and also predicting our future generations' experiences, yet communication will still be the underpin even if how that looks has changed.

Tune in to hear this pivotal moment and how listening to your instincts can send you on a new trajectory of success. We just wish we had chance to ask about his amateur magician skills! From the blog https://ivanmisner.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IvanMisner.BNIFounder/ 

 

 

Timestamps

00:00:00: Introduction 00:02:03: BNI's global reach 00:03:51: The effect of COVID on BNI 00:05:40: The value of your network 00:07:03: Pandemic success stories 00:10:11: Ivan's pivotal moment 00:12:21: Networking for the younger generation 00:15:42: A glimpse of Ivan's bibliography 00:17:36: "Who's in Your Room?" 00:20:01: Final thoughts

    INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT 

Making Conversations Count - Epsiode 14

January 21st 2021 

Wendy Harris & Dr Ivan Misner 

 

Wendy Harris: You are listening to the official Making Conversations Count podcast with me, your host, Wendy Harris.  I am so excited today to be able to introduce to you, author of "Who's in Your Room?", father of the modern networking, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, who has just celebrated a mammoth 36 years of growth and generated a record amount of revenue for its members last year; it is, of course, Dr Ivan Misner.  Ivan, how are you and where are you today?

Ivan Misner: Thank you, Wendy, I'm doing great; and, you obviously listen to the BNI podcast because Priscilla asks me that most of the time, because I travel all over the world now.  Of course, in this zoom era, I'm doing zoom travel, which is really awesome because not long ago, I was in India in the morning and then I was in the UK in the afternoon; and, I think I was in Dubai later that afternoon.  You couldn't do that in real life.

Wendy Harris: Certainly!  Please pass on our best to Priscilla in the UK; we love her.  We just always hang on that first opening sentence to you and yeah, of course, it's like we're time travellers now, isn't it; you really can travel the world?

Ivan Misner: So, do you know why we came up with that phrase?  We came up with it because years ago, I got this email from somebody that said, "You're probably on the beach in LA drinking Mai Tais; you're not really doing anything", and I'm like, oh my goodness, this guy does not see my calendar!  And so, we started talking about where I was and it completely eliminated this, "Oh, you're in your ivory tower" concept, where I was visiting regions.

I have 2.3 million miles on one airline alone, so I have travelled all over the world for BNI and it's been amazing and I've enjoyed it, but it's work.

Wendy Harris: Well, I think when you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work, and that's the best kind of work to do?

Ivan Misner: Yes, absolutely.

Wendy Harris: How many members have...