2020 was a year like no other. Totally unprecedented and yet we experienced our best year yet in terms of our total membership growth and overall member retention. In the UAE, we crossed the 600 member milestone and you, our members, generated the highest number of referrals and closed business we’ve had in our 15 year history in the region. This is simply outstanding and I congratulate you for your continued support and enthusiasm as you displayed our core values when they mattered most.
Now that 2021 is here, what plans have you made for yourself and your business? What goals have you set and what is the vision you aspire to?
If there is one thing that I learned from 2020 which I’m taking forward to 2021 and beyond, it’s the gift of giving. It is through the giving that we achieved what we have. We all came to realize the true power and value of our networks and I continue to be astounded by the stories of support I hear every day from members – how you all supported each other when you needed each other the most. For this I’m deeply and profoundly grateful.
My key message to you for 2021 is to carry this forward and think of all those who have not had the privilege to be part of our great family called BNI, who can you think of who can benefit the most by being part of our family? Imagine a community of 6,000 instead of 600. What would that do and how would that look and feel like?
Make a pledge in 2021 to sponsor at least one new member into your chapter or another chapter. That one new member will have an impact on at least three employees in his or her organization and each of those three employees can impact another three lives who depend on them. By sponsoring a member, you have the ability to positively impact at least 10 lives.
As an organization, we learned so much in 2020 that we will apply with passion and energy in 2021 and beyond. We are now setting our sights much higher and recommitting ourselves to BNI’s Core Values, to helping each and every Member achieve their dreams, and to continue Changing the Way the World Does Business®.
Congratulations on 2020 & Happy New Year, BNI!
