Summary: Synopsis Greg Morrison from the BNI Live Oak Network chapter in Austin, TX joins Dr. Misner to share the concept of "BNI in the Land of Oz"--the similarities between joining BNI and Dorothy's trip to Oz. "We're not in Kansas anymore." BNI is a new way, even a magical way, of doing things. "Follow the Yellow Brick Road." Our fellow members show us the path we need to follow to grow our businesses. On the way we find companions, as well as heart, brains, and courage. The Wicked Witch of the West pursues us in the form of our doubts. Glinda the Good Witch appears in the form of your BNI Director when you need extra help. There is no all-powerful wizard. At first it seems superhuman powers are required to do all that's asked of us in BNI, but we have everything we need within us. Brought to you by Networking Now. Complete Transcript of Episode 403 - Priscilla: Hello everyone and welcome back to the Official BNI Podcast, brought to you by the NetworkingNow.com, which is the leading site on the net for networking downloadables. I am Priscilla Rice, coming to you from from Live Oak Recording Studio in Berkeley, CA. I am joined on the phone today by the Founder of BNI, Dr. Ivan Misner. Hello, Ivan. How are you today? Ivan: I am doing great, Priscilla, and I have a guest on tonight. His name is Greg Morrison. Greg has been in the field of law. He is an attorney and has been an attorney for 24 years. He is practicing family law in Texas. He has been a BNI member for eight years and is no the Co-Executive Director in the South Central Texas Region. His name is Greg Morrison, and Greg says that BNI has helped to grow his business a great deal. I just had to have Greg on because he has the concept that I think is fantastic for BNI members. It is called BNI in the Land of Oz. Greg, welcome to the BNI Podcast. Greg: Thank you so much Dr. Misner. It is great to be here with you. Ivan: I appreciate it. Greg, please call me Ivan. I love this topic, BNI in the Land of Oz. You have three points that you want to talk about. I think BNI members all around the world will love this because who hasn't seen the Wizard of Oz? Everybody has seen the Wizard of Ox, practically. Your first concept is “we are not in Kansas anymore.” Talk about that for us, Greg. Greg: Exactly. Isn't that one of the best first lines that Dorothy delivers when she gets to the land of Oz, looks at what is going on and realizes this isn't like Kansas. This isn't like the place she grew up. So often, when people join BNI, pretty early on, they realize this is a different world. This is a different way of doing things- a magical way of doing things and a great way to grow your business. Ivan: Yeah. It really is, and you know, this whole idea of “changing the way the world does business”- I think fits with that really well. People join the organization- the whole concept of givers gain. I mean, you know, we don't teach that in business school. I am here to tell you. We don't teach that in colleges and universities, the ideal of helping other businesses so that you help yourself. I love that idea. Your second point, Greg, is that there are a lot of parallels between BNI and the journey Dorothy took. You have a lot of points related to those parallels. Do you want to talk about that a little bit? Greg: Sure. I would love to. In the land of Oz, Dorothy learns early on that there is a yellow brick road. If she follows that, it will lead her to where she can actually get her wishes granted and all of the things that she wants in life. The people who pointed that out to her in the land of Oz were the munchkins. Just like that in BNI, early on, when we first join, it is our fellow members, like those munchkins, who show us this yellow brick road, this path, this system that BNI has developed to help people grow their businesses through referral marketing. As we go along that journey, we are fortunate because,
