How many times have you asked somebody for a referral? Knowingly or unknowingly, we all do this, all the time within our network. A company thought of making it a business practice and today generates over $11 billion through referrals. Founded in 1985, US based Business Network International (BNI) claims to be the world’s leading referral chain. Chairman and CEO, Graham Weihmiller who joined BNI in 2014 and is currently executing BNI’s strategic plan in its 73 operating countries speaks on entrepreneurship, franchising, and operational excellence.
Is this your first visit to India?
No, I had come here almost 20 years ago. With BNI, it’s my third or fourth travel.
How is India shaping up as a part of the Asian market for BNI?
It’s a very significant market. We are very excited about the developments in India and will continue with those. We have opened a new office in Bengaluru. I am very excited about the new leaders coming in.
Initially, were you aware of the vastness of the market or whether you were sure about entering into the country?
We felt confident for a number of reasons. First of all, tier II cities in India tend to be very large as per global standards and they are developing rapidly. By opening up BNI chapters in all these cities, we are giving them a chance to grow up and connect with them across India and world.
Was there any tweaking done with regards to the Indian chapter?
Sometimes, the franchise organizations need to customize their model when they enter a new country. In case of BNI, not much customization has been done in terms of the business model.
In terms of the popular franchises, where does India fit in?
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2017-Ausgabe von Entrepreneur magazine.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 2017-Ausgabe von Entrepreneur magazine.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Chords of Success
For Saahil Goel, the deep-rooted passion for playing the guitar dates back to his high school days. Influenced by legends like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and the Pakistani band Strings, his musical journey mirrors his leadership style-balancing focus, discipline, and a collaborative spirit. Goel feels that playing guitar has enhanced his ability to balance focus and teamwork as a founder of an eCommerce shipping start-up.
IS YOUR RENT TOO DAMN HIGH?
Many small business owners struggle with their rents. Here's what to do.
HOW TO BOUNCE BACK FROM A BAD REVIEW
A one-star review can hurt your ego - and your business. But it's possible to prevent (and remedy!) this scary scenario.
HOW TO HIRE FOR THE FUTURE
Small businesses are struggling to find quality labor. So flip the conversation: Show workers how your business will set them up for opportunity.
You Can Hire Like Netflix
The streaming platform built an incredible team with a strategy called “talent density.” But you don’t need to be a tech giant to do it.
Speedy Growth Killed My Startup
We seemed to be rocking it - lots of press, major partnerships. Then we learned the harsh consequences of overlooking our customers.
Three Pivots to $100 Million
How do you find a working business model? Do it like Rowan-a brand that reinvented itself many times before finally piercing the ear-piercing market.
What Goals Actually Matter?
Some benchmarks are more important than others so what should you really care about? We asked six founders for their hardest-won lessons.
'Only the Strongest Are Going to Survive'
Brian Lee cofounded companies like LegalZoom and ShoeDazzle-and he believes a lot of conventional business wisdom is backward. Sure, it's harder to raise capital. But it's actually cheaper than ever to start a company.
HOW TRUST SAVED KFC
The former CEO of Yum! Brands explains how he turned around a struggling KFC-and the important lesson it offers for anyone in franchising.
