Cogent Training's Dream Referral at BNI Big Breakfast 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
They arrived as if heading for a fancy dress party, but the members of four Hampshire chapters who recently converged on a sedate clifftop hotel in Bournemouth, had just two things on their minds – hanging onto a silly hat, and a determination to get noticed and gain some great referrals!
The ‘Christmas Big Breakfast’ which followed the now traditional “Wear a hat that represents your business” theme, allied to a quick-fire dream referral session in which all of the 70-plus participants had just 20 seconds to identify their ideal business introduction, in the hope that one or more of their BNI colleagues would be able to deliver them the perfect referral.
And for one member, sales training and personal development consultant Chris Milner from Poole’s Dolphin Chapter, the session achieved just that – twice over! She’d asked colleagues to find her a very specific referral into Marks and amp; Spencer’s head office at Marble Arch in the hope of persuading the High Street multiple to use her expertise in its ongoing customer service training for staff.
To her great surprise, two members around the breakfast table announced that they could fulfil her dream referral, as a result of which Chris has now been able to make her
formal approach to the High Street store group and is looking forward to detailed discussions this month. She said: “It was such a specific referral I wanted that I never dreamt anyone would respond. When two members
shouted out that they could help me, I was astounded. But that’s the great power of BNI.”
Meanwhile, there were prizes galore for the daftest hats on display (and there were plenty) and rations of special Christmas cheer (in a bottle) to keep spirits high throughout this popular annual event.