By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
In 1985, a business consultant by the name of Dr. Ivan Misner found himself in a pickle. He lost his biggest client and he had to pay his mortgage and put food on the table. He came up with the idea of what is now known as referral marketing, and formed a small group that met weekly in order to find out what each other needed so they could help each other get business. Nearly 10,000 chapters domestically and globally passing billions of dollars later, Business Network International (BNI) and its core values have helped thousands of business owners do well and do good. During COVID, they pivoted beautifully and made it possible to “Zoom” all over the planet, and business continued to grow during the shut-down.
So, who are the BNI Limestone Leaders, and why, if you are a business owner, should you join us? We represent businesses that range from real estate to roofing, health and wellness, media, insurance, CPA, HVAC, property investments, athletic supply, mortgage services, a credit card payment service specialist, a florist, a banker, a financial planner, a tourism specialist, and pest control. We could not be from more diverse backgrounds, but here is what we have in common: we enjoy helping each other grow our respective businesses, and we have the numbers to prove it. We have passed millions of dollars’ worth of business, and we are a small group, by BNI standards. And, we are looking to invite new members to join us!
How does BNI work? You commit to leverage what is known as the Power of One, and that means you attend one meeting a week, spend one hour in continuing education, have one meeting with a fellow member to exchange your business needs for that week, and seek to give a referral for a fellow member if at all possible. BNI has literally hundreds of hours of training from which to draw for your CEU, and I can say from experience, that I am a much more knowledgeable business woman as a result of the four years I have been a member. Thousands of dollars of business have come my way, and while I appreciate the financial footing upon which it has put Athens Now, the real value has come from the relationships I have built with people I most likely would have never met. We have mourned, laughed, learned, prayed, eaten, made money with and for each other, and we have done just that in everything from three-piece suits to togas and crowns of leaves, along with overalls with straw hats and garden gloves. (The latter two occurring at fun events called the Big Breakfast held annually in Huntsville.) We would love to have you join us this and every Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. at the Athens-Limestone County Tourism office, and hope you consider a band that is perhaps small in number, large in heart, and has prevailed in the pocketbook. See you on Tuesdays!
To register for a visit, go to bniconnectglobal.com, and when you click on search for a chapter, click Limestone Leaders. Then click register to visit, and you’ll be all set. You can also go to Facebook and leave a message for us to contact you. We are Limestone Leaders BNI on Facebook. If you need more info, call Ali Turner, visitor host coordinator, at 256 468 9425.
On a personal note, I have just celebrated my sixth anniversary as a member of Limestone Leaders, and I have never regretted throwing in with this crew. The relationships, the things I have learned, and more than anything, having the opportunity to be a part of helping others all have served to make my decision to join in 2019 one of the best business decisions I have ever made. I am issuing an invitation on the behalf of our chapter for you to check us out. See you Tuesday mornin,’ and the coffee will be ready!
BNI (Business Network International) is the World’s largest word of mouth referral organization. If you are wanting to grow your business, need more introductions, enjoy a positive community while being surrounded by supportive professionals, then come check out BNI! There are multiple chapters around town and all will be present and showcasing their culture and desire to meet people in your profession to give referrals to! You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity.
Come meet hundreds of great professionals in the Huntsville area and network with top local professionals. Learn to increase your word-of-mouth referrals.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
March 7, 2025
