A Personal Updatestring(17) "A Personal Update"

May 19, 2022
, BNI, Ivan Misner, personal story 20

I greatly appreciate the support, positive energy, and encouragement I have received over the past ten years. As you may know, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012 and I chose transparency as the approach to my diagnosis (I’ll share the full story in my next blog). Over the years I have shared my journey on my website and through social media posts. I feel that this has served me well and I plan to continue to do so.

Back in March 2012, I was told that I had six months to have surgery. After extensive research about all of the options available at that time, I chose a holistic route for myself and was able to go ten years without surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. 

Now the time has come for me to employ a Western Medicine option. With my medical team’s advice and expertise, I am moving forward with a procedure called CyberKnife proton therapy. It is outpatient, non-surgical, and will take place over two weeks. The success rate of this procedure is extremely high.

Before the two-week procedure begins, there are preparations to be made and those appointments start this week. I will share updates over the next 6-7 weeks through my social media.

I am very grateful for the continued support that many have shown me while I have been on this long journey. Thank you.

Sam Schwartz

One Billion Thank You’s – by Sam Schwartz and Yarden Noystring(64) "One Billion Thank You’s – by Sam Schwartz and Yarden Noy"

February 6, 2020
, , , Gratitude, Guest Blog, International Networking Week, Networking

International Networking Week®: “A Week of One Million Thank You’s” stories from various international BNI leaders

Submitted by Sam Schwartz and Yarden Noy, National Directors – BNI Israel

Sam SchwartzYarden Noy

 

International Networking Week has a special place in the BNI Israel history. When it was first announced about 13 years ago, we decided to have our annual conference at the same time. This year’s theme is “One Million Thank You’s” we would like to change it to “One Billion Thank You’s” because in the last six years BNI Israel members reported / Generated on over “1 Billion Israeli shekels” thank you for close business. This is incredible.

We would like this opportunity and thank Dr. Misner for creating this amazing organization that is Changing the Way the World Does Business® influencing the economy of the small and medium businesses in Israel.

An attitude of gratitude it’s not a simple and easy thing to have and changing a culture to adopt it is even harder, but over the last 15 years since BNI was introduced to Israel, we were able to have thousands of members and directors that adopted this attitude doing business Locally Nationally and Internationally with BNI member all over the world.

According to the Israeli government statistics, the SME in Israel is responsible for 61% of the job in the commercial sector, generating 53% of the product and services that generate 78% from all the new net employment. We are proud to help our members and the economy to be successful.

BNI is not only a “Business Generating System” it’s a family!

We have a member Tomer Mor (photo above) that his parents went to Canada in 2018 for their Anniversary. His father felt some headaches and he was planning to go to visit the doctor but on his way, he fell asleep at the steering wheel. His mother woke him up at the last minute and took over driving. They went to the emergency care in the hospital where he had a CT done. They found 2 aneurysms: one new and one old and the brain was damaged, he was transferred by ambulance to a bigger hospital in Halifax which was an hour and a half away from the first hospital, he was hospitalized and waited for surgery.

The car they rented was at the old hospital and all their belongings were at the hotel. The family in Israel was worried and tried to find a solution to help the parents.

Tomer reached out to Hazel Walker which he met in the prior year when she was a keynote speaker at BNI Israel Conference. He knew she owned the territory in Canada. Hazel connected him immediately to Mike and Megan, owners of the BNI franchise in Halifax. They immediately took over and said, “Don’t worry. We will meet your mother tomorrow. We will take the keys and we will bring the car and your belonging to the hospital”. It took them over six hours on Friday to do all of this. They asked nothing in return! Tomer met with them after his father’s operation to offer to compensate them for all that trouble and they refused. So a big, big Thank You to Mike and Megan for the help and support.

A Week of One Million Thank You’s

We would like to thank our Members and our Executive Teams who trust us and followed the BNI system in an organization that changed their life. “One Billion Thank You’s” from the bottom of a heart to Dr. Misner and the BNI Global Support Team.

Wishing everyone a fantastic International Networking Week® 2020!

Sam Schwartz and Yarden Noy | National Directors – BNI Israel

One Million Thank Yous

One Million Thank Yous – International Networking Week®string(62) "One Million Thank Yous – International Networking Week®"

February 3, 2020
, , , , , Gratitude, International Networking Week, Networking, Showing Gratitude, Video Blog

Welcome to the 13th annual “International Networking Week®”. During this first week in February, we at BNI and other organizations around the world celebrate networking worldwide. “International Networking Week” is an initiative of BNI created  13 years ago. This year, we are asking you to help us to spread One Million Thank Yous all around the world. Therefore, please provide gratitude and appreciation for those who helped us to grow our businesses this week. I would appreciate sharing this video with your chapter members as the “Educational Moment” this week. Thank you.

With gratitude, I believe, comes stronger connections. Think about those who’ve helped you throughout your journey. Have you thanked them? Well during “International Networking Week”, we invite you to do so. We all have people who are in our story, people who have helped us in some way. This is the perfect time to reach out and tell them “thank you” for what they have contributed to your life and to your business.

Identify those people and give them “The Gift of Recognition”. You can even thank someone at your BNI meeting or at a networking event this week. Demonstrate your gratitude for the things that they have done for you. Therefore, you can also consider sending a letter or thanking them on social media using the hashtags #BNIthankyou and #INW2020 with your posts. The truth is that the goodwill that you demonstrate will draw others to you just like a magnet.

With gratitude, I want to begin this week by thanking “YOU”. With your passionate commitment to networking, BNI is continuing to impact and enhance lives all around the world and I appreciate you. Furthermore, feel free to share in the comments about someone that you appreciate and thank them here for something that they have done in your life.

One Million Thank Yous

In conclusion, I want to say thank you to the following BNI National Directors for writing guests blogs for International Networking Week about “gratitude” this week:

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Wishing everyone a fantastic International Networking Week® 2020!

 

2020 International Networking Week

2020 International Networking Week ®string(37) "2020 International Networking Week ®"

December 26, 2019
, , , , , Announcement, Gratitude, International Networking Week, Networking, Networking Tactics, Online Networking, Showing Gratitude, Video Blog 2

The 2020 International Networking Week ® is an initiative of BNI®. It is an opportunity for business owners to show appreciation for their valued customers and contacts from networking.

This will be a week of global recognition and gratitude from February 2 through 8, 2020 to thank those business owners who have helped you to grow your business while networking. Furthermore, this year’s action item is to recognize and thank those people in your BNI chapter, chamber of commerce,  and other networking organizations. Take a moment to say, “Thank You” in person, in your meeting, and on various social media platforms.
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The focus of International Networking Week is to bring together representatives of government, businesses and community leaders from around the world to network and to recognize the power of networking. Speakers will offer advice and information on how businesses can grow and succeed through good networking practices.
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The 13th Annual 2020 International Networking Week is just around the corner. Therefore, it’s time to build your powerful personal network now. Invite various business owners who have helped you to grow your business to your BNI chapter or to your networking mixer. Invite them to network and to recognize the power of networking from February 2 through 8, 2020. Check out the promo video for the 13th Annual 2020 International Networking Week. Please use the hashtag with your photos and posts: #INW2020

 

The 2020 International Networking Week theme is “One Million Thank Yous”

Expressing gratitude completes the feeling of connection. Many people in your life have helped you in one way or another. Therefore, have you thanked them? Consider sending a letter to someone telling them what their actions meant to you, even if—especially if—it happened long ago.   It costs little or nothing. Furthermore, it almost always follows suit that they will demonstrate their gratitude for what you do.

When you show an interest in others by noticing the good things they’ve done; they will be drawn to you like a magnet.  Therefore, it will accelerate the relationship-building process and enhance their overall impression of you.”

In conclusion, the goal of International Networking Week is to celebrate the key role that networking plays in the development and success of businesses across the world. Networking events are being held globally to celebrate International Networking Week. For more information about these international events during the first week of February or to promote your local networking event on our 2020 International Networking Week website please see: internationalnetworkingweek.com

The Latest News for Those Curious about My Healthstring(49) "The Latest News for Those Curious about My Health"

July 13, 2012
, , , Announcement, Health, Ivan Misner 37

When I first announced back in April that I have a new health challenge on the horizon in the form of prostate cancer, many people expressed interest in staying informed about my progress and I promised to post updates here on my blog on a consistent basis.

In my last update, I mentioned that my cancer is localized and has not spread.  That is still true as of today.

Over the last several months, I have been on a holistic health protocol involving a very specialized diet, eliminating toxins and avoiding foods which stress or depress my immune system.

As a result, I have lost almost 30 pounds (above is a photo of me prior to changing my diet ; below is a photo of me now)!  I want people to know that it is a healthy weight loss, monitored by my medical doctors, to help build my immune system and it is not because of any invasive protocol or directly related to the disease.

This month, I had another PSA test done which shows no change since the first of this year.  This is good news!  As long as the PSA remains stable or decreases, I will continue the current treatments and assess my condition while considering other options until I am advised by my doctors to take additional actions.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who is keeping me in their thoughts and prayers–your kindness is beyond appreciated by me.  Thank you.