The Great Acceleration | Dr. Ivan Misner®

As many parts are of the world are coming out of “The Great Pause”, they enter the next phase. I am going to call this, “The Great Acceleration”. Businesses are restarting very soon in these areas. However, things will probably be different for them post-pandemic. Here are three topics I discuss in this video.

“The Great Acceleration”

Here are my answers to the three questions that I was asked recently while interviewed on a morning television show:V

1) How has networking changed forever after the last year that we experienced?

The technology that exists today saved a lot of businesses all around the world. We learned, during the past year, that we can network online almost as well as we did in person. I do not believe networking has changed forever. It will take time to re-adjust. However, I think that a few years from now, the world will look very much like it did before 2020.

2) Will face-to-face networking ever be a thing again?

Because of evolving technology, I believe business networking will become a hybrid of online and face-to-face. Online networking helped to keep old friends and business contacts connected last year. Online networking is more convenient. However, it lacks the ability to make a personal connection and you’re not able to read body language as well.

Someday, when we have the technology, we might have mixed-reality meetings or holographic meetings. If so, I want to be Obi-Wan Kenobi.

3) In the meantime, what can people do to make their career and business networking more impactful?

Use “Breakout Rooms” when you’re networking online with a large group to have deeper conversations with a couple of the attendees.
When having an online one-to-one, have food or beverages delivered to the other person ahead of time to share together while apart during your online meeting.
Use the G.A.I.N.S. exchange to share your goals, accomplishments, interests, networks, and skills. Plus, have a meaningful conversation.

Today, more than ever, you need your network. You need people around you to help and support you. Givers Gain^® is a powerful philosophy that is focused on cooperation and collaboration. It’s an approach that involves helping other people over time, and by helping them, they will help you in return. Your network can help you weather almost any storm. You can get frozen by fear, or focused by fear. During “The Great Acceleration”, your “hybrid” networking is your beacon of hope in a sea of fear.

The global business world experienced many challenges with growing forward during “The Great Pause of 2020”. Last year was the most difficult economic time worldwide since the Great Depression. However, BNI® not only faced these challenges but thrived during the global pandemic. BNI’s Global Leadership Team focused on finding solutions instead of focusing on the problems. It is amazing that I love what BNI is doing for our members and I love what our CEO, Graham Weihmiller, is doing with this company.

Growing Forward Together™

Watch the first part of this video about BNI’s innovative programs from last year and what they achieved during “The Great Pause of 2020”. Then, watch the second part of this video for announcements about upcoming BNI global initiatives, programs, and events as we enter “The Great Acceleration” phase of 2021.

The Great Pause of 2020

For over 35 years, BNI was the leader in hosting weekly local in-person referral networking meetings worldwide. However in March 2020, for the safety of our members, BNI paused over 9,500 in-person BNI meetings and transitioned these to an online virtual meeting platform: BNI online. This maintained business continuity and allowed our 275,000 BNI Members worldwide to support their fellow BNI Members during the pandemic. In 2020, our BNI chapter members passed over 11.5 million referrals which generated over $16.3 million(USD) of global business revenue for each other. Here are a few more of BNI’s innovative programs from 2020:

In May, The BNI brand was completely refreshed with a new logo, colors, graphics, social media guidelines, and images.
In July, the “Growing Forward Together World Tour” focused on leapfrogging the “lockdown recession”.
In September, BNI launched the “Restart the World” initiative to help businesses worldwide to change their mindset.
In November, the virtual BNI Global Convention was our largest global event in the history of BNI.

The Great Acceleration of 2021

In January, we celebrated BNI’s 36th anniversary with the announcement that BNI has 36 Years of Growth.
In February, BNI celebrated “International Networking Week®” by encouraging the sharing of gratitude with the “A World of Thanks” theme.
Join us in October for BNI’s Largest Networking Event in beautiful Miami, Florida for our 2021 BNI Global Convention.

BNI is a Beacon of Hope in a Sea of Fear

Today, now more than ever, you need your network and you need to be networking with them. You need a team of people who will be there to help you during difficult times. During 2020, many people became frozen by their fear. However, I also saw many people became focused by their fear. They were focusing on surviving and thriving because “BNI is a beacon of hope in a sea of fear”.

Since 1985, BNI has created over $130,000,000,000 USD in revenue for BNI Members via over 130,000,000 Referrals. Today, the average BNI referral results in over $1,000 in revenue. And we’re just getting started. Your local BNI community can give you, and the people that you know, the support you need to thrive. Our BNI members are growing forward together. Today, more than ever, you need your network. Today, more than ever, you need BNI.