My Fifth Annual Founder’s Day Event

I’ve talked about core values many times here in my blog – both business and personal. In 2021, I announced that I was beginning a new tradition called “Founder’s Day” which is a day where I meet with BNI_® members from around the world in exclusive one-to-one meetings. This is possible because of technological innovations that give us the opportunity to have global video conversations from the comfort of our own home or office, which fits in very well with BNI’s Core Value of Traditions + Innovation.

The Founder’s Day idea came from one of my favorite television shows called West Wing, which featured the “Big Block of Cheese” concept in one of the episodes. In 1835, U.S. President Andrew Jackson was given a 1,400-pound block of cheese from a grateful dairyman. The gift was delivered to the White House (which is the President’s residence) and he didn’t know what to do with so much cheese. So, he opened the doors of the White House for the public to come in and take some of the tasty cheese for themselves. They say that thousands of visitors went to the White House and consumed the massive cheese block in just a few hours.

The television show had a few episodes where they took the “Big Block of Cheese” concept further and required that all the President’s top staff meet with public citizens to listen to topics that they would not normally hear or learn about.

That motivated me to do a networking variation of the idea. Founder’s Day is when I get to meet with BNI members from around the world for the purpose of answering their questions about business, networking or leadership.

The results from the first four years’ events are gratifying. I enjoyed the individual meetings and conversations with BNI members – connecting with people from many countries in a meaningful way for both of us.

BNI Members: You Are Invited

Current BNI Members – I invite you to submit your request to be part of my 2025 Founder’s Day event on June 26th. Click this link for the submission form and instructions. Completed forms must be received by April 30, 2025, 11:59 pm EDT.

NOTE: Only current BNI Members who are NOT serving in a BNI Director or Success Coach role are eligible for Founder’s Day.

You Can Have Your Own 1-2-1 Meetings, Too

Business owners, managers, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals: have you invited your team or your clients to have a conversation with you or ask you some questions? Purposeful meetings can be a great way to build and strengthen your business relationships. I encourage you to have your own special day of One-to-One meetings on June 26th (or at least have 1 or 2 meetings that day).

Schedule time to meet with your customers or your teammates so you can hear and answer their questions. You may discover overlapping areas of professional and personal interests, and you may find ways that you can help them in their business or role. BNI members, when you meet with fellow BNI members, remember to share your One-to-One information in BNI Connect.

Meeting with people provides a way to deepen your business relationships by getting to know them better and finding common interests. Come back and share your experience from your own One-to-One meetings – I’d like to hear about them.

 
 
 
 
 
Related Blogs and Podcasts: