"Trigger Networking" Revisited

by David Givot

In November of 2010, I introduced my "Trigger Networking" experiment. As it was then, the concept of Trigger Networking is still very simple & straightforward:

I create simple associations between the members and things I encounter in everyday life.

That's it. That's all there is to it.

The purpose of Trigger Networking is to actively keep the other members of High Trust BNI in the forefront of my mind so they are there before I need them. By doing so, when I am talking with someone in any given situation, I am ready with "...I know someone who can help..." before the other person knows or even thinks to ask. If that suggestions becomes a referral and the referral becomes a "Thank You for Closed Business," then I have just helped every member of my chapter, including myself, because Givers Gain.

In my original post about "Trigger Networking," I opined that our [then] goal of $1Million in closed business for the year was too low. I was right, we have already exceeded that by some $50,000 and counting. With four or so months to count, we could make it half way to another million before the Evening Among the Stars. Not too bad for a chapter that claimed less than $500,000 last year.

Of course, "Trigger Networking" is but a small (though very important) part of our chapter's success. We have a roster of members who understand that BNI is an ongoing process; that networking is net-WORK-ing and not net-SITTING-AROUND-HOPING-TO-RECEIVE-REFERRALS; who understand that trainings are essential to success; who understand that success is measured in minutes and must constantly be achieved lest it be nothing more than delayed failure.

Today, I asked the members of my chapter to update me with me their respective triggers so that I could know when I should be thinking about each one of them. I have included many of them below so you can think of us too.

Here is how it works:

Julaine Waggoner is our Real Estate agent, so every time I see a "For Sale" sign in front of a house, I make a conscious effort to think of her.

When I see an Edison truck I think of Ken Tolerico, our electrician.

When I drive by a golf course, I think of Michael Majancsik, our Chiropractor.

You get the idea. After a while, it becomes almost second nature and the list is long.

When I see a house that needs TLC, I think of Michael Baum of Baum Construction & Development.

When I see a "For Rent" sign on a house or an apartment, I think of our Landlord/Tenant Attorney, Veronica Guzman.

A web address on a car, truck, or billboard makes me think of Dan Arteritano from SEO Dominators.

Where I see an entire building for sale or lease, that triggers me to think of Wendy Austin from Farmer's Insurance.

Marilee Bryant is a Creative Memories consultant, I think of her every time I see a camera.

A blank or boring business page on Facebook is the trigger for Dan Fowler of Red River Productions.

The word "Retirement" is the trigger to make me think of Lilly Navas. Lilly represents Westminster Memorial Park and is a member of the Super Stars BNI chapter.

And when I see someone making a purchase, I think of Don Stukes of BAS Consulting.

Can you see how easy it is? BNI isn't breakfast or lunch or 90-minutes to get through each week. BNI is what we must do and who we must be to succeed from the end of our last meeting until the start of our next one. The things we see and hear in regular life should be - and for High Trust BNI they are - catalysts to help each of us think about helping each other every day.

What is your trigger? Who is thinking of you? If you don't know what your trigger is or if nobody is thinking about you, join me for breakfast one Tuesday morning. I can fix it. I know someone who can help. Tell them David Givot sent you.

By the way, whenever you see a police car, just think of me.