I have left my business group.  I’ve been a member for 3 years and 3 months.  Joining was the first thing I did to promote Decorate Your Space, and it quickly became oblivious that I was getting much more than promotion from my membership. 

I met mentors.  Effective, successful people became my colleagues and later my friends.  Many different categories of business, many different types of people, many different styles of work behavior allowed me to see how to behave in my own personal situations.  I am proud of what I have accomplished since December 2005 and I have my Wednesday morning group to thank. 

 The expressed purpose of BNI is passing referrals.  At least 30% of my clients are the direct result of my involvement.  At this point most of my clients are second and third generation referrals.

Which brings me to answer the question:  If everything is so wonderful, why would I quit?  Trust me; it was not an easy decision.  (And I technically didn’t quit, I just didn’t renew my membership.)  Three years is a long time and for almost all of that I assumed leadership roles.  I was President last year.  I am a regular fixture now.  I am one of the “oldies” and I feel like an old chair, barely noticed yet taken for granted.  Referrals given to me have dried up completely.  And I have given it time.  I have changed my spiel.  I have conducted one to ones.  I worked hard on my keynote presentation and was told by a founding member that it was the best he had ever heard.  I have passed thousands of dollars of business.

I know the current economic situation plays in all this, but I also blame myself.  I think I am too comfortable, which is why I am leaving.  And to be completely honest, attending is just not fun anymore.  Perhaps it is the economy and it could be the current leadership, but the atmosphere has changed.  My colleagues are no longer inspiring.  We don’t rejoice in our successes, laugh and joke at the meetings, and leave uplifted. 

My brain is wired to always see the glass as half full.  I plan to attend other meeting times.  Perhaps I just need a change of scenery.  Or maybe just a sabbatical…

I am going to indulge in the fact that I own this blog and it reflects MY life, and give a shout out to some of the people who have inspired, influenced and taught me much more than just how to run a business:

Bonnie Andresakes.  Bonnie was the first person to take a chance on me, even though the last thing she needed was a decorator.  Bonnie has taste, poise and style. She is well spoken, committed and beautiful and I wish I were more like her.

Wes Stearns.  Wes is the founder of our group.  You never meet a harder working person in your life.  Wes is dynamic and can make anyone laugh.

Stephanie Keyes.  Stephanie is more to me than a collegue.  She is my friend.  A lifelong member of our community, she is the perfect face for the Chamber of Commerce.

Rebecca Barnes.  Rebecca would be the mayor of Prince William, if we had one, and with her in charge, our area would lose its current tarnish and would shine.  I love Rebecca and I hope she is always in my life.

Colleen Wenger.  Colleen is the first person I ever talked to, even before my first visit.  Colleen has a heart of gold.

Lou Soscia.  If tragedy strikes, Lou is the person you want to make sure that you’re covered.  Lou’s honesty seeps out of him.

Charles Calvert.  Sometimes at our meetings, I would think that Charles and I shared thought waves.  If something struck me as funny or odd, I would make eye contact with him and we would have to suppress our laughs.  Charles is brilliant.

Alex Burns.  I hope Alex and I don’t lose touch.  He has a wonderful sense of humor, and is completely capable.  I wish him the best of luck as he embarks on a new business.

Cinde Weiser-McVeigh.  Cinde is my golden goose.  She can sell ice to Eskimos.  I don’t mean this negatively, though.  She has a real enthusiasm for life that carries into her business. 

Mike Horton.  Mike is the funniest person I have ever met.  True wit is a gift and Mike has bucketfulls.

Stacia Kelly.  Stacia shares my dance with the Muses.  She writes, paints and believes…

Kristen Hart.  Kristen is a friend, a confidant, a fellow traveler.  I hope we will continue are journey together.

There are more: Troy, Beth, Roosevelt, Kathy, Susie, Jim, Cynthia, Amy.  And Roggie Arnold and Mike Moss.  To me you two are permanent parts of Decorate Your Space.