Refuse to Participate in a Recession Lesson 1: Two "In" Words for You

I'm RM and I Refuse To Participate In A Recession!

That is, the new BNI lesson "Withstanding Economic Difficulty"

There are even buttons with this saying, and when we were going over the materials for this Seminar I suddenly grew very sad. I know you're working professionals and don't have an hour and a half for an extended lesson.

So over the next few weeks I will be going over some of the principles so that when January comes, you can continue with your success.

I want to say that one more time: ...You will continue your success.

I liked the title of the lesson, refusing to participate in a recession. I felt, even at 43 years old, I was familiar with the topic.

I remember in 1975 & 1976, I was 11 years old. I knew something wasn't right.

My parents were P.O.'ed---angry and afraid of the economy, the post Vietnam world was a scary place, and still the Sandinista War droned in the background of TVs. Things seemed hopeless.

"Moneybags, moneybags, you think I'm made of moneybags!" my Mother would say in frustration. That's when I asked the neighbor to let me sweep his basement. Another lady up the street let me cut her grass, then another. I was being industrious.

Soon I wasn't so quick to ask Mom when I needed a loan, I had the money.

My partner and I have thought about this a lot lately, and recently brought a couple more streams of income into our house by way of renters.

Just like many people, those industrious ones, are working right now to prepare. Do you have more than one stream of income? How can you bring another 2-3 streams of income into your home?

Today as you drive home I hope you think of ways you can put your unique spin on this...the first "In"---Industrious!

The second is something exciting to me. I met with a couple clients on Saturday who have come up with a great idea. Well---realistically it wasn't their idea but they are doing it...a 4" x 5" travel guide that can fit in your back pocket. In fact, they are calling it "The Pocket Rocket".

This excites me because I was able to say "...I wish I thought of that". But we have to recognize the Ingenuity around us. And these two men, with their moving forward with a new idea in this time, have used Ingenuity.

I ask that you also become aware that there are some people in this economy who will profit. These are the ones who will show Ingenuity during a time when others are showing despair. What new ideas are just waiting around you today? Recognize Ingenuity.

I'm RM and I Refuse To Participate In a Recession.

Speech I Wrote in 5 Minutes for a Ray Stand-In

"To your advantage---Remember it's a Small World."

Hello, I'm_____________.

Have you ever had an experience like this? You randomly get in the car and go somewhere and when arriving at this place see your next door neighbor?

Or better yet, you check into a hotel next to a person from your same hometown?

Disney had it right to create "It's a Small World". More and more, we are connected as a race. Television is everywhere. Cell phones are the new police officers. People in the city are especially connected because the room to move around is smaller.

How can we use this to our advantage?

You've been a fair business person, and have a great product. But do your neighbors know you?

The creators of BNI knew that it was good to be known. If your name is tossed around by people, that's extra advertising for you, right? And FREE advertising, at that!

What's the harm in saying "hello" to the person in the office across the hall, maybe they don't need your services, but they know people.

Harry Page, CEO for Lincoln Associates for more than 30 years says this "...we don't have competitors, WE ONLY HAVE FRIENDS."

Isn't this a great philosophy? when we look at the world like this, adopting an attitude of "enough business to go around" VS "Fear the competition" it opens our eyes to neighbors.

And neighbors will always point the way to a friend's house.

I'm _____________ and LUCKILY---It's a Small World!