On June 9th, there were 13 visitors that attended our BNI Leading Edge chapter's Visitor Day, and that meant amazing networking opportunities for 40 people to gorw their respective businesses. We are looking forward to having many of the visitors join the chapter to take their business to the next level.

But the day was not entirely about business, as there was also a special award presentation by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel to BNI Golden Horseshoe as the biggest supporter of that charity in the Peel region.

Ella Urquhart (center left), Development Coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel presented the award to Christel Wintels (holding the trophy), Executive Director of BNI Golden Horseshoe. Fred Leblanc (left), BNI Leading Edge chapter member & BNI Ambassador and Brian Johnston (right), volunteer with BIg Brothers Big Sisters of Peel and BNI visitor were also on hand for the award presentation.

Fred also received an award for being the largest indivudal fundraiser, by coordinating bowl-a-thons and running bingo contests.

If you own a business in the Western GTA and want to find out how you can grow YOUR buysiness through referrals, then come and join us for Visitor Day at BNI Leading Edge.

Date: Thursday June 9th

Time: 7 AM sharp but arrive a bit ealrier to network. The meting will end no later than 8:30 AM

Where: Denny's, 40 Courtneypark Dr. E in Mississauga (corner of Hurontario & Courtneypark Dr.)

Click on the button below to reserve your spot:

Rahzel, beat-boxing pioneer and former member of The Roots, told Business Insider that he's consistently amazed by the way his friend Jon Levy remembers meeting the hundreds of people he's connected with through his networking group, the Influencers.

"Jon can pinpoint people and the places and exact time he met them," Rahzel said.

BNI Leading Edge's annual Christmas party is an opportunity for the members to get to know each other better, and to figure out how we can provide better referrals to one another - it is the giving season after all!

Spouses and partners were also invited to share in the spirit of the season, and a great time was had by all!

Check out all the photos at https://goo.gl/photos/PZdcXpcstN1X7AuW9

This article is a teaser from this week's Sales Caffeine column from Jeffrey Gitomer - America's #1 Sales Authority.

Is it a Lead or a Referral? HINT: Referrals are Better.

Having attended several networking events lately, I have heard the terms "lead" and "referral" bantered around.

Which would you rather have? Referrals of course. It's the personal power of a sales lead. A recommendation, not just a name. Credibility, not just a place to call.

I can't tell you how many times I heard the term, "don't use my name" when passing along a possible lead. Seriously?

HISTORY: I have attended many (many) networking meetings and belonged to several networking groups. Here's how they work, and ideas on how you can join groups that are willing to give referrals rather than leads.

Read the rest of Jeffrey's article - HINT: he devotes quit a bit of space to BNI - by clicking HERE.