Darren Jamieson: Welcome to this week’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer. Today, I’m having a bit of a crisis of conscience—something I hope you can help me with. Maybe you could share your thoughts in the comments on the YouTube video, send me an email, a message, or leave a review. I’d really appreciate your advice on this situation.
(00:25) So, I’ve mentioned before on this podcast that I’m part of a networking group called BNI. If you’re not familiar with BNI, it’s essentially a networking organization where members pass referrals to one another. That’s the gist of it.
(00:45) This year, I set myself a target to earn over £100,000 in revenue through BNI referrals. We’ve just wrapped up the statistics for December—well, almost. There’s one more month to go—and we’ve already surpassed £150,000. By the time we include the final month in early January, it’ll probably be around £165,000. That’s £65,000 over my original goal, so I’m thrilled with how it’s going.
(01:19) In terms of contributing to BNI, I’ve been doing quite well too. Some of you know I recently returned from Hawaii, where I attended the BNI Global Conference. It was a nearly two-day trip, but it was worth it. While I paid for my flight, BNI covered the hotel and conference ticket. I was even awarded a special “Road to Hawaii” badge on stage—a badge only two people in the UK, including myself, have earned. That felt pretty exclusive and was a proud moment for me.
(02:00) Now, as the year wraps up, I’ve been reflecting on my contributions to BNI. For context, we’re preparing for our chapter’s end-of-year celebration, and I’ve been reviewing my stats. This year, I’ve brought 53 visitors to my chapter—more than one per week. That’s significantly higher than anyone else in the group. I’ve also passed the most referrals and, while I’m second in “thank-you business” (the revenue others have gained from my referrals), I’m not likely to catch the top spot. She’s brought in over £200,000 for her referrals—an absolute machine.
(03:02) Despite all this, here’s where the crisis of conscience comes in. At the global conference in Hawaii, people recognized me from my videos about BNI. I had individuals from India, Romania, and Mexico approach me to thank me for my training content. It was humbling to hear how much my work has helped them grow their chapters and improve their BNI experience.
(03:30) But here’s the catch: I wanted to speak at that conference. I applied and got down to the final selection process, but ultimately, I wasn’t chosen. Only 12 people spoke at the event, including Dr. Ivan Misner, the founder of BNI. While I didn’t make it this time, it’s my goal to speak at the UK conference in 2025, likely around June.
(04:00) The problem? I’ve heard through the grapevine that I’ve “ruffled some feathers” within BNI’s hierarchy. Apparently, my direct approach and in-your-face style don’t align with the image they want. I’ve been left wondering what exactly I’ve done to give that impression.
(04:30) So, I’m at a crossroads. I see two options:
Rein it in: I could tone down my approach, be less direct, and align more with the image they seem to prefer. I could stop being the person everyone finds when they Google BNI training or education.
Double down: I could ramp things up even further. I could produce more content, be even more direct, and become so influential that they’d have no choice but to let me speak because I’d already be the person everyone listens to anyway.
(05:30) To be honest, I’m leaning towards the second option. The more I think about it, the more I believe doubling down is the way forward. Over the past year, I’ve helped chapters around the world with my training and guides. I’ve received messages from people who’ve found real value in what I share.
(06:00) But I need your opinion. Should I scale it back, or should I go full throttle? Should I make myself such a presence that they have no choice but to invite me to speak? Or should I take a step back, play it safe, and try to fit their mold?
(06:30) Let me know what you think. Please share your thoughts in the comments, send me a message, or visit BNIeducationSlots.com. Check out the content I’ve created there and share your feedback. You can also visit my YouTube channel, BNI Education Slots, and let me know what you think about my approach.
(07:00) Am I going too far? Am I hitting the right balance? Or do I need to go even further? Your feedback means the world to me—you are my people, and I want to hear from you.
(07:30) Thank you for listening to The Engaging Marketeer. I’ll catch you in the next episode.
