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Welcome to the Tasmanian Networker Is your business starting to feel the pinch as the recession bites?Or, conversely, are you busier than ever as your customers spend their way out of the looming recession? If either of these scenarios apply to your business we'll tell you how to deal with the situation in an effective manner in this months double issue newsletter.
Also, Dr Ivan Misner takes a look at smart ways to use your business card, we have a contribution from Ron Auerbach from Ehow.com and news of several awards that Tasmanian BNI chapter have won. Oh, and by the way, if you haven't heard, Christmas is just around the corner! Have a fantastic holiday season. Enjoy this Newsletter. 
Dan Garlick |
BNI member wins coaching programme!
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Smart Ways to Use Your Business Card
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BNI Tasmania |
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| Vacancies in BNI Chapters | |||
BNI allows only one person per business category to join a chapter. Your classification may already be taken in your nearest chapter. In these cases every endeavour will be made to place you in another chapter. |
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| Where BNI Meets | |||
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BNI Bowen
Tuesdays - 7-8.30am Australian Croatian Club, 1 Eady Street, Glenorchy BNI Mersey Tuesdays - 7-8.30am Barclay Motor Inn, 112 North Fenton Street, Devonport BNI Seacoast Wednesdays - 7-8.30am Baltimore Restaurant, Marine Terrace, Burnie BNI Wellington Wednesdays - 7-8.30am - Kingston Beach Golf Club Channel Highway, Kingston BNI Derwent Wednesdays - 7-8.30am - Mercure Hotel, 156 Bathurst Street, Hobart BNI York Wednesdays - 7-8.30am Mercure Hotel, 4 Earl Street, Launceston BNI Clarence Thursdays - 7-8.30am Salamanca Inn, 10 Gladstone Street, Salamanca, Hobart BNI Royale Thursdays - 7-8.30am - Mercure Hotel, 156 Bathurst Street, Hobart BNI Discover Fridays - 7-8.30am - Mercure Hotel, 156 Bathurst Street, Hobart New chapters are planned for the Huon Valley, Sorell and Cambridge, Launceston, Ulvertsone, Smithton and Queenstown during 2009 |
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ADVERTISEMENT
Feel like some time off over Christmas ? Click below to find out more.  Questions to consider: Would you like to have MORE holidays on a regular basis? Is the idea of accessing luxury holidays and travel at wholesale prices attractive? Would you like to hear about a rewards program that pays cash rewards? Visit Club Freedom today. Click here. How to deal with and survive an economic downturn and recessionBy Ron Auerbach Most consumers don't worry about their finances when the economy is good. But when it starts getting ugly, that's when they'll take notice. This article will help you prepare for it and ride it out better. Instructions Difficulty: Moderate
Step 1 **Start planning ahead** With talk of an economic recession or downturn looming, you shouldn't wait until later to decide what to do. Begin planning now for the possibility of things getting worse. Now a recession is an economic term that means 2 consecutive periods of negative growth. In other words, GDP falls twice, one right after the other. Now this hasn't happened yet! So technically, we're not in a recession. However, the feeling of a recession, which is a period of economic decline and slowdown is very real. In other words, it feels like a recession and we're suffering. So I say to forget the technical definition and look at things from your own perspective. If you feel you're doing all right financially, then plan ahead for the possibility things take a turn for the worse. And if you're already suffering financially, then start thinking about how to handle it if it lasts longer or gets worse. Step 2 **You're not alone**
An economic downturn, slowdown, and recession effect many people! So take some comfort in knowing you are, by far, not alone. The reason I mention this is to help ease your level of stress. If you're suffering financially, others are too!
But to survive, you cannot brood over it and let it take over your life. Why not? Because that will make you even more depressed and does more harm than good. So just look at it from the perspective that others are in the same position and life goes on. The economy goes through ups and down, so we all in our lifetimes go through this. Step 3 **Know your income and expenses**
There are many of us who know how much we're bring home in pay and other sources of income. But lots don't realize how much they're spending on things. Yes, we know the major expenses like: rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and car and student loans. But the little ones can really eat up your savings and take-home pay! So step 1, make an accurate list of what you take in (income) and exactly what you spend it on(expenses). And track all your expenses, not just the biggies. This means including things like: coffee, pastries, partying, movies and rentals, gas, etc. As I said before, these are the ones that really add-up and eat into your savings. Most people are shocked at how much they're really spending when they see this list.
Step 4 **Debt is the enemy**
Debt is money that you owe, meaning bills. Now there "good bills" and "bad ones." The good ones are those that are necessities, like rent and utilities. In order to live, you have no choice but to spend money on these. But where we get ourselves into trouble is with the bad ones. These are the luxuries and frills. That 50 inch plasma TV, when a 36 inch flat or round screen (regular television) will do. Or a $2000 computer when a $400 one will suffice. And credit card debt is the true evil that gets most of us into major league trouble!
We tend to look at is as "free money." In other words, it's not our money, it's the credit card's! So we'll very easily overspend and live way beyond our means. So control your credit card debt to the hilt. If the credit card company wants to raise your limit, don't go out and spend it. Just because you have a $5000 limit doesn't mean you have to spend it. Only use it when absolutely necessary! Step 5 **Debit cards**
As opposed to credit cards, debit cards work a bit differently. The major difference is that they aren't loans like credit cards! When you use a debit card, money it taken out directly from your bank account. So if you don't have it in your account, it's unavailable. This gives people a huge dose of reality and helps control spending.
Why? Because you won't spend it if you don't have it. And you'll very easily see your balance dropping when you do use it. With credit cards, you don't have to worry about money being taken out of your bank account immediately. Nor do you have to pay the full amount when the bill comes. You can pay the minimum--a measly $10-20 for example. And that's how you get yourself into financial trouble. Because you look at it this way! And of course, credit card companies will raise your limit even if you have lousy credit and way overspend. Why? Because you'll pay the minimum and drag it out for 100 years of outrageous interest rates! So you're like gold to them. Don't fall for it and cater to them! And if you have a debit card with the Visa or Mastercard logo, then they work just like credit cards in the sense that stores can swipe them as they would a credit card. In addition, you can withdraw money from ATM machines without the cash advance fees associated with credit cards. And many banks don't charge ATM fees if you use your debit card at their branches. This helps save you even more money! Step 6 **Pay down debt**
Let's say you have $10,000 in credit card debt and pay $35 a month towards it. If you increase your payment, even a little bit, you'll save lots of money in the end! And that's because the interest you're accruing is being reduced. You see, it's not the $10,000 that's the trouble. It the never-ending interest being added to it that really gets most people. And even with a low interest, you're still accruing it and paying on it every single time you send in a partial payment. So increasing your payment amounts by a little or a lot more will cut your interest and get you paid off much sooner! And this same principle applies to all forms of debt: car loans, student loans, personal loans, etc. With debit cards, you don't have to worry about this because no interest is accruing! When you use the card, the full amount is immediately deducted. So if you spend $100, then $100 is taken out.
Step 7 **Eat in and cook at home**
You'd be surprised at how much you can save by eating in!
It's far less expensive to buy food at the store and cook it at home than to eat out. Now by buying food, I don't mean a meal and then reheating it at home. I mean buying packaged goods that you'll cook. In other words, things like: soups, pasta, meat, fish, veggies, etc. And if you buy in bulk the things you really like, that will save you even more money. For example, at my local Safeway, I can get 4 packages of 6 pasta noodles for just $5. With each pasta noodle being a meal, 24 meals for 5 bucks! And even though hamburger meat might seem expensive, it's less costly than going to McDonalds, Burger King, or other restaurants (fast-food and non fast-food)! So you'll save a good deal of money by eating more at home. Now I'm not saying to eat in all the time, unless you want to. Just swapping 1 home-cooked meal for a non-home-cooked one will save you money. You can do the same with work. Instead of eating out every day, bring your food once in a while or each day. Step 8 **Reduce drinks** Instead of buying sodas or juices, try water. And like step 7, you can do this once in a while or each time. Either way, you'll save money by drinking water instead of having to spend for soda or juice. As an alternative, use tea or coffee instead if you want more flavor. With coffee, you get lots of drinks out of one container. And with tea, you can get more than one cup of tea out of a teabag. Some have gotten 4 or more cups of tea from a single bag! Another thing you can do is reduce the size of your drink. If you normally drink a large, try a small. This is especially helpful for those of you who like Starbucks and other coffeehouses where drinks are expensive. You can even reduce the number of shots of coffee or expresso they put in. Instead of getting 2 or 3 shots, ask for 1. One more alternative is to swap a less expensive drink for a more expensive one. So instead of buying a triple grande mocha, get a latte which may be cheaper. Or pass on a syrup flavoring that adds extra to your drink's cost. An example of this would be a raspberry mocha. Get a mocha without the raspberry to lower the cost. And one last alternative is to pass on buying a drink from time to time. In other words, if you're getting something every day, don't do it one day. There are many ways to cut down the amount you spend on drinks. And every little bit you save helps you ride out the economic hard times! Remember, it's the little bit you save here and there that really adds-up to lots! Tips & Warnings Ron Auerbach is an Instructor, Trainer, Consultant, and Author
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Book of the MonthMasters of Sales
Secrets From Top Sales Professionals That Will Transform You Into A World Class Salesperson
By: Ivan R. Misner, Ph.D. and Don Morgan, M.A. For the first time, more than 80 of the most successful salespeople in the world have come together to reveal their secrets to success. You'll learn what makes these outstanding sellers true masters of their craft - and how you can adapt the masters' tactics for your own. This exclusive compilation of the sales strategies ever known puts you on the fast track to sales success. Copies now available for only $30 plus $5 for postage Other Books available now
Its Not net-SIT, or net-EAT, Successful networking is about learning how to work the networking process not just letting it happen. Develop your networking skills, increase your connections, and become part of the roughly 29% of people who are separated from the rest of the world by just six degrees. Co-authored by bestselling author Dr. Ivan Misner, who is referred to as "The Father of Modern Networking," and Michelle R. Donovan, who is known as "The Referral Expert" in Pittsburgh, The 29% Solution is the first book designed to integrate networking into the way you do business on a weekly basis with fifty two quick, straightforward networking strategies. Your income is directly related to your ability to network your business for growth. This book gives you the tools to become a great networker and part of the 29% of the population that produces exceptional results. Once you decide to be great, Order your copy now Masters of Success
The second in the Masters Series - By Dr. Ivan Misner & Don Morgan.
A #1 Wall St. Journal Bestseller! Stories from: Brian Tracy, Tony Alessandra, Buzz Aldrin, Wayne Dyer, Larry Elder, Michael Gerber, John Gray, Mark Victor Hansen, Tom Hopkins, Vince Lombardi Jr. Tony Robbins and many others. All these famous people and many more contributed to the writing of Masters of Success. If you seek inspiration and ideas, Masters of Success has stories of daunting hardships overcome, lessons learned and unexpected successes in abundance. Copies now available for only $35 plus $5 for postage Truth or Delusion
Truth or Delusion, Busting Networking's Biggest Myths co-authored by Ivan Misner, Mike Macedonio, and Mike Garrison.
In this book we tackle 49 questions and/or myths about networking and show how they are in fact "truth" or "delusion". Truth or Delusion? If you provide good customer service, people will refer business to you. This one's a delusion. Many, many entrepreneurs think that good customer service is the number-one way to cultivate word-of-mouth marketing and referrals. But it's not! It's a good policy and one that's vital to the health of your business, but it's not at the core of building a referral-based business. People have come to expect good customer service. In fact, they demand it in today's marketplace. When considering customer service and its role in the referral process, it unfortunately works much more effectively in reverse: People are more likely to talk about your business when they're unhappy with you than when they're happy with your service. So if you want to build your referrals, you must actively cultivate your referral sources and not rely on good customer service alone. Order your copy now |
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Founders Awards
BNI would like to announce its Founder's Awards for 2008!
Directors nominate chapters in their region to receive the Founder's Award. They are provided to no more than ten percent of the chapters in a region in any given year. They are also announced in SuccessNet Online.
In Tasmania, we have 3 Founders Award chapters. They are :
BNI Derwent, BNI Clarence and BNI York.
Congratulations to all members of those chapters for their continued hard work.
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Award Winners
We have two new Gold Club members this month. These members have made valuable contributions to their chapter by personally sponsoring 6 new members into BNI to help their fellow members gain more business.
They are Michael Preece (BNI York) and Stefan Sikora (BNI Royale).
They join an exclusive club of 10 BNI members statewide who have achieved this honour. Congratulations Stefan and Michael ! |
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 BNI is a professional business networking organisation that allows only one representative from each business or profession to join any of its chapters.The sole purpose of the BNI chapter is to generate more business for its members. BNI is the most successful business referral organisation in the world with 105,000 members in over 5,010 chapters in 39 countries. CONTACT BNI Tasmania Executive Director: Dan Garlick Ph: Email: admin@bnitasmania.com.au www.bnitasmania.com.au |
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Member Sign In
Networking Nugget
Founder's Awards are issued to BNI chapters that represent the top ten percent of the organization in terms of performance. They must have a minimum of twenty members, be nominated by the local BNI Director, and be approved by the Founder, Dr Ivan Misner. These chapters are specifically recognized for excellent performance relating to referrals, visitors, new members, commitment, enthusiasm, and - most importantly - attitude.