#137 - Dr. Ivan Misner Interview "Founder of Business Network International"


During this episode, Dr. Ivan Misner, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization talks with your host, Miro Wcislo. Dr. Ivan is an author, humanitarian, an expert in the field of business networking and is dubbed as the “One of the Top Networkers to Follow” by Forbes Magazine. Learn why Dr. Misner is one of the world’s leading experts on business networking and has been a keynote speaker for major corporations and associations throughout the world.

Episode Highlights:

How do you take control of your life?

How did Ivan start his business?

How does the level of education affect your decision making?

How do children affect Ivan in his success?

What does Ivan thinks about having a family and running a business?

Why mistakes are a normal thing in business?

How did Ivan address the first major problem of BNI?

Why is listening a vital skill as a leader?

What did Ivan signed up for with Virgin Group of Companies?

What does Ivan like the most on Virgin’s Sir Richard Branson?

What is Ivan’s book “Who’s in your room?” all about?

What will Ivan’s next book be all about?

What is Ivan’s favorite book all about?

Who is Ivan’s greatest mentor?

What is Ivan’s perception about entrepreneurism?

What do Ivan say about formalities during business meetings?

What is the key to successful entrepreneurism?

Key Points:

Accept that mistakes happen regularly, and the only thing that we could do to address it is to admit it first, then seek help to fix it right away.

Listening is a vital skill in life. You need to learn to listen to people in order to avoid confrontations and work with people better.

Put the effort in the small things. Don’t go chasing after all the new stuff, just do what you’re good at, and improve it through learning and evaluations, and adopting advice and trying them yourselves.

It’s all about how you connect with people, as a leader: to inspire your group,and as an entrepreneur : to build more connections and strengthen your business.

Tweetable Quotes:

“I think a college education doesn’t teach you necessarily what to think but how to think.” - Dr. Ivan Misner“

I have the best job in the world, I’m the Colonel Sanders of BNI” - Dr. Ivan Misner

“It took me 20 years before I really felt I was financially and professionally successful.” - Dr. Ivan Misner

“Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way...it's all about collaboration, not manipulation” - Dr. Ivan Misner

“I believe that the future of entrepreneurism is in co-creation… working with your clients to co-create products, working with other people to create products and services” – Dr. Ivan Misner

“I don’t think there’s such a thing as terminal learning. I believe in lifelong learning.” – Dr. Ivan Misner

“You want to be successful in business? Do 6 things a thousand times. Not one thousand things, 6 times.” – Dr. Ivan Misner

Resources Mentioned:

Visit Ivans website at https://ivanmisner.com

Visit Ivan’s podcast at https://www.bnipodcast.com

Check his Twitter at https://twitter.com/IvanMisner

Check his Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/IvanMisner.BNIFounder/

Check his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/IvanMisner

Check his company’s website at https://www.bni.com/

Check Dr. Ivan Misner’s book “Who's in Your Room: The Secret to Creating Your Best Life”

Check out Dr. Ivan Misner’s favorite books:

Success Principles by Jack Canfield

21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (1998)

Check out Ivan’s new business with his son - Synatria at https://www.synatria.com/