Ten years ago, I received a telephone call from an attorney friend of mine, asking if I was interested in joining his networking group. I am always interested in new business opportunities and asked for more details. “We meet every Thursday morning at 7:00 a.m.” was his reply. Needless to say, I was virtually speechless. EVERY THURSDAY??? AT 7 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING??? Was he kidding?
No. He was not. He disclosed that he had been one of the founding members of the group and, for the previous 15 years, had been successfully exchanging business referrals with the other 35 members of the group.
The next Thursday, I found myself stumbling into the diner, half asleep and cursing my friend under my breath. An hour and a half later, the meeting was over and I walked out with still some doubts in my mind but with a handful of new business cards and contacts in my hand. I returned the next week, submitted my application, and was accepted into the group.
Fast forward ten years. The group – Le Tip of Hauppauge – is celebrating its 25th anniversary this March. There are four members, including my attorney friend – who have been in the group from its inception. Several others have been members for 20+ years. I am now a past president and a committed member of “the clan.”
The group works on several different levels. First and foremost, of course, is the exchange of business tips. By meeting every week, everyone in the group becomes intimately familiar with each other’s business. Not only do we use each other’s services, but we also recommend each other to family, friends, and associates, knowing that the person we refer them to will “go the extra mile” to perform.
Due to the relative stability of membership in the group, we also have become good friends over the years. In addition to our weekly breakfasts, we regularly meet for lunch, dinner, sporting and social events. We have several Chapter parties during the year, go on an annual fishing trip, and volunteer one or twice a year as a group for charitable causes. In short, it is much more than a business networking group, although it is the business connection that serves as the underlying current.
Like any other endeavor, the more you put in, the more you get out. If there are any business people out there interested in a unique opportunity to grow their business and enjoy doing so, let me know. Or just show up at the Hauppauge Palace Diner any Thursday morning at 7 a.m. We’ll be there.
