An Introvert Gets the Inside Scoop on Networking Success From introvert to outspoken BNI enthusiast Submitted by Meaghan Chitwood, Executive Director – BNI Alabama When Michael Partain’s boss sent him to a BNI meeting, Michael expected to sit and watch things happen. He was taken aback when he had to stand up and talk to a room full of strangers. “People usually keep computer programmers hidden away,” explains Partain. “I only shared my name and company name. I didn’t know what was going on.” He made it through that first meeting, and became a member of the Gardendale Aspire chapter in Alabama. Much to his introverted relief, Partain quickly discovered that 1-to-1 meetings are the heart of BNI. This was something he felt like he could excel at, so he quickly began scheduling face-to-face meetings with chapter members, and everything changed. Suddenly, relationships developed and Partain had lots of referrals. “You have to do 1-to-1s, and not just one or two, but three or more a week; otherwise you never will get anywhere,” says Partain. When Partain parted ways with the company with no job on the horizon, he planned to visit his chapter to tell them he was unemployed. Following a phone call the next day with chapter member Linda Neely, Partain arrived to find that all the chapter members had pitched in to help him start his own company—the attorney filed legal paperwork, the banker helped him open a checking account, and Neely brought in a check for Partain’s work that helped cover start-up costs. Before he knew it, Sites and Software, LLC was born. “Opening my company was the easiest thing I’ve ever done,” says Partain. “But I still have no idea how to start a business.” But the magic didn’t stop there. Partain credits BNI for his success in quickly building the business. “Most of my clients come from word-of-mouth,” he says. Today Partain is so busy that he’s had to hire help and give up the 80-mile round trip to attend the Aspire chapter meetings. But, Partain hasn’t left BNI; he’s busy helping start a new chapter much closer to home, where he’ll serve as chapter vice president. The Velocity chapter in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, is scheduled to launch with over 30 members on September 16 at The Egg&I restaurant. As for the introvert who first visited BNI, Partain says, “I am probably the most outspoken person in BNI. I bring people to the chapter because I love it. I like being able to walk into a room and know that someone will have the answer to any question I ask.” That’s how Partain knows he has the inside scoop on how to succeed in business! Bonus Scoop: Michael Partain recommends that business owners try to have several different staff members in different chapters. “Think about what one person in a chapter can do,” says Partain. “If you have several people, it’s the best thing you can do.” For more information about the Velocity chapter, contact Michael Partain at 205-913-2781 or michael@sitesandsoftware.com. About this author: Meaghan Chitwood is celebrating her 10 year as the Executive Director of BNI Alabama. She is widely recognized as a Word-of-Mouth Marketing and Business Networking Expert. In addition to her expertise in these areas, she’s also a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and holds a Civil Engineering degree from Auburn University. On a daily basis she works hand-in-hand with nearly 850 professionals to generate business worth over $40 million in annual economic impact for the Alabama area. Visit BNIAlabama.com to learn more about Team BNI Alabama.
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