It was 7 months after my redundancy. The comfy nest egg that I had left with was dwindling in mortgage payments, camera equipment and developing the business. I realised that my sales for the year were averaging less than half of what I needed to be bringing home.
I had a baby on the way and was scrambling for ideas on how to drum up business. If I'm honest with myself - I was drawing blanks. Not because I wasn't capable - but because I had been employed for my entire working life - with no idea how to run a business.
My GCSE and A-Level knowledge from Business Studies was a distant memory, and while I can do a fairly formidable SWOT analysis, this was not the solution I needed right now.
I'd been a BNI member for about 2 years - I had joined whilst at my previous employment to help me get my weekend photography business going. Having become fully self employed earlier in 2019, I discovered the joys and freedoms that come with running your own business - as well as many of the pitfalls. Finding where to invest my time in the business, reputable companies to trust are a minefield for the uninitiated - and after having worked for 13 years for someone else, I had enjoyed a few months without the pressures of work.
Going to my BNI meeting was always fun for me. Whilst I'm not a natural networker (I much prefer being in the corner on my phone) BNI was really helping me come out of my shell and push myself forward in business. My confidence speaking to strangers was slowly increasing, and standing up and talking about myself and my business was becoming second nature. But for some reason I just wasn't THERE yet...
I asked a member of the top table if I could have a bit longer to speak as I had an announcement to make that might run over my 60 seconds. I didn't know what I going to say exactly - I tend to talk my best when it's a bit unscripted. But as my turn came I remember clear as anything the 3 words that came out of my mouth - "I need help."
That simple line was a game changer. As soon as I explained to people in the room what was happening - that I had about 3 months before I had to start looking for work - that I wanted regular referrals but wasn't sure how to get them or what I was looking for.
Within that meeting, I not only got praise from my fellow members for being so honest, I got advice. There was a flurry of instant referrals, people who knew that a bit of cash in the bank would pay my bills for the next month - and these people gave so willingly I'll always be grateful. But there was one member who pulled me aside at the end for a 121 - and sat with me for over an hour asking me about my business, what I was looking for, what he could do to help.
This wasn't charity - it was a genuine desire to help improve somebody's business - and that is what BNI is. Yes there are referrals, accountability, training - and all the other things people who aren't part of BNI seem to fear. But the 121 meetings are where you can really develop yourself and your business as well as helping others.
That 121 was the first step into me changing my entire business model. Within 3 months I was running a business offering monthly subscription photography to 6 businesses, as well as picking up extra work from other chapters after they were hearing about the quality of what I do.
18 months later and my business is thriving. Having survived the COVID-19 pandemic that is still going my business has held strong. The subscriptions have helped provide regular income, even though 4 had to stop because of cash flow during this crisis - I've signed up another 4 to cover the deficit. I am picking up new work through more referrals than ever before, and it is down to BNI.
BNI Black Prince is my networking group, and I am proud to say that it is genuinely filled with some great local businesses, all of whom I trust to help me. If I have any work that needs doing, from my accounts to having electrics checked, BNI is where I go. Below are the trusted trades from my group.
Alan Stewart
Faxlink Communications
Office Equipment
01322 555682
www.faxlink.co.uk
Amme Lloyd
Twenty4Seven
Waste Recycling
0203 011 2629
www.twenty4sevenltd.com
Angie O'Neill
Pink Spaghetti PA Services
Virtual Assistant
07712 142587
www.pink-spaghetti.co.uk
Brian Chircop
C and C Plumbing
Plumber
0208 6167989
Christopher Gaites
Handyperson
07949 116953
Darren O'Brien
O'Briens Electrical Ltd.
Electrician
01322 630774
www.obrienselectrical.co.uk
Doug Cormack
AC Wealth Solutions Ltd
Financial Advisor
01959 561 606
www.acwealthsolutions.co.uk
Irina Lecluze
Taxkeeping UK Ltd
Accounting Services
07984 443113
www.taxkeeping.co.uk
James Hooper
Kelly Financial
Mortgages
01322 332009
www.kellyfs.com
Jashmair Jheeta
J J Sealants Ltd
Sealant Applicator
07879 211840
Jason Farrugia
Combined Heat & Power
Gas
020 8300 6548
Jason Huckstep
Jays Mobile Tyres
Tyres
07719 837291
jaysmobiletyres.com
Jill Doherty
Travel PA
Travel Agent
01322 836 063
www.travel-pa.com
Lee Hobbs
Langford Haulage Services Limited
Removals
020 8306 6466
www.langfordhaulage.com
Leon Smith
LBS Scaffolding Services Ltd
Scaffolder
0800 047 4247
www.lbsscaffolding.co.uk
Maggie Compton
Apex Law
Solicitor
01322 441442
www.maggiecompton.co.uk
Neale Huelin
Stewart & Partners
General Insurance
0208 3042 638
www.stewartandpartners.co.uk
Patrick Steppel
PML Construction Ltd
Builder
020 8676 0019
https://pmlconstructionltd.com
Paul Douglas
Acupuncture Associates
Acupuncture
07876 510887
Peter Kot
Evergreen Care Bexley
Charitable-Fundraising Organization
01322 431765
Philip Chantry
Action Coach
Business Coach
07770 884297
www.ActionCoach.co.uk
Sam Keehn
Quaddus Creative
Sign Company
01322 801359
www.quadduscreative.co.uk
Sam Kirkby
Focus Group
Telecommunications Systems
0330 024 2400
www.focus-grp.co.uk
Simon O'Brien
SJRM Construction
Carpenter
07545 836041
Spencer Baker
Ruby Plum
Caterer
07580 174784
www.ruby-plum.co.uk
Tom Gallagher
Point of view glazing ltd
Windows-Doors
0208 611 2917
www.povglazingltd.co.uk
Tony Cornish
Cornish Decorators (London) Ltd
Painter and Decorator - Residential
0800 043 6989
Www.cornishdecorators.co.uk
Tony Lock
Bright Side Recruitment Ltd
Employment Services
07388 548801