Instant Gratification vs Strategic Relationships

It's been a while (25 years) since I've been in the dating scene, but this week's BRN meeting got me thinking about that whole ritual and how it applies to what we are doing at BRN. It comes down to instant gratification or strategic relationships.

The "Aha!" moment came during our North Carmel meeting at Old National Bank on Wednesday. But the seed was planted at Tuesday's meeting. The question was, "Is BRN really a business networking group?" As we discussed it more, we basically came to the conclusion that we really aren't - although networking is the underlying current.

What we are and should focus on is that we are a "Master Mind" group that facilitates community building by allowing business owners and professional to come together to discuss topic relevant to helping themselves and their businesses grow.

Go back to the whole dating ritual. People will gather in a social setting, business event, church event, college...whatever. They will introduce themselves and engage in small talk. If there's attraction and chemistry it might result in a date. Initially, it's very superficial and all about the instant gratification of finding someone to hang out with in the short term. Maybe a more meaningful relationship will develop...maybe it won't.

It's the same in business networking, especially when there are large numbers of people gathering at once. We find someone to introduce ourselves to. We engage in small talk. We might trade business cards. And we say, "Hey, let's get together sometime for a one on one." Most of the time...that never really happens. For many networkers, it's about the instant gratification of finding that person who will do business with YOU. We don't go into networking saying, "Hey I need to find an computer guy, a financial planner and a image consultant." We are trying to sell to people who are trying to sell to us. Right?

Where BRN comes into the picture is when you are looking to transform those casual business encounters into long-term, strategic relationships. We provide a setting where you can discuss issues relevant to you and your business. As you participate in the roundtable discussions, others get to know you and how you operate. They learn more about the person behind the business. You learn about the successes and failures of others. You learn about work/life balance. You learn about marketing, technology, and sales. You get to meet experts in business law, accounting, and business operations. Most importantly, you'll soon find yourself collaborating with others who share your passion to succeed.

If you're looking for instant gratification, BRN is probably not the environment. If you are looking to develop strategic relationships and are willing to commit to participating, then BRN has a lot to offer.