Summary: This is a rebroadcast of Episode 112, originally published on July 8th, 2009, while Dr. Misner was in Tokyo. Synopsis Todayâs networking lesson comes from dry farming techniques practiced in Napa Valley vineyards. The roots have to grow very deep to reach underground water no matter the climate, just as referral marketers have to develop âdeep-water relationshipsâ in order to generate referrals no matter the economic climate. Another story that illustrates the power of referrals is that of giant redwood trees. You might expect redwood trees to have a deep root system, but they donât. The technique they use to remain upright is intertwining their roots with those of their neighbors. Likewise, the members of a BNI chapter can support one another in difficult economic times. This episode is based on a BNI SuccessNet article by Dr Misner. Brought to you by Networking Now. Complete Transcription of BNI Podcast Episode 112 - Priscilla: Hello everyone, and welcome back to The Official BNI Podcast brought to you by NetworkingNow.com, which is the leading site on the Net for networking downloadables. Iâm Priscilla Rice, and Iâm coming to you from Live Oak Recording Studio in Berkley, California, and I am joined on the phone today by the founder and the chairman of BNI, Dr. Ivan Misner. Hello, Ivan. How are you and where are you? Ivan: Iâm doing great, Priscilla. This week Iâm in Tokyo, Japan, for BNI. Iâm visiting our BNI chapters here in Tokyo for the very first time, and Iâm really excited because Iâm here with my daughter, Cassie. And Cassie, about seven or eight years ago, came to the dinner table at our home and started speaking a couple of Japanese words here and there. And my wife and I were so impressed that we got her on Rosetta Stone on the Internet, and she came down every night and started speaking more and more Japanese. And finally we said, âWeâve got to hire a tutor for this kid.â And I promised her at least eight years ago, she was probably about ten years old, that if she learned Japanese well enough to have a basic conversation that when we open in Japan â at that time we were not in Japan, but I knew we would be eventually. I told here that when we open in Japan and I went there on my first business visit that if she learned Japanese well enough, I would take her with me to Japan. Priscilla: Wow! Fantastic! Ivan: Iâm really pleased to say that she has done a wonderful job and now speaks Japanese well to hold a basic conversation with somebody, and Iâm so pleased and honored to have her with me, accompanying me here in Japan to meet BNI members for the first time. Priscilla: She can be your translator. Ivan: She is, absolutely, and sheâs doing a great job. Iâm very impressed, and Iâm sure in a future podcast, Iâll talk about my visit here to Tokyo this week. Priscilla: Okay, great. Well, what are you going to share with us? Ivan: Well, this week I want to talk about Networking Lessons from Nature. My wife and I recently visited one of our favorite Napa Valley wineries a couple of months ago, Chateau Montelena, which, by the way, a recent movie came out last year called Bottle Shock, was all about Chateau Montelena. Any my wife and I decided to take a tour of the agricultural side of the operation, and the vintner shared with us the technique the winery uses to ensure the quality of the juice from the grapes. Year after year after year, regardless of the climate, itâs a technique known as âdry farming.â He explained the benefits of dry farming, and I saw a business metaphor emerging for how referral marketing works for those businesses that understand business by referral. When vineyards are dry farmed, theyâre not irrigated. Dry season or rainy season, theyâre not irrigated. As a result, the roots of the vine must really grow deep to get to the year-round underground supply of water, no matter the climate.
