by Ellen Joseph

Ellen Joseph with Rainbow. Photo by her husband, Mike Slinn.

A new world of opportunities opened up for me recently when I joined forces with a lively business networking community. After 11 successful years of painting murals throughout the Bay Area, I experienced a significant business slowdown last year. I decided it was time to connect with other business owners on the coast, one of whom was Lou Palladino of Palladino Painting. He invited me to attend a Business Network International meeting in Pacifica, where he has been a member for the past eight years.

An introvert by nature, I would normally have been intimidated by the large room full of people who attended the Visitors’ Day meeting in March 2008. But I was soon swept up by the positive atmosphere and no-nonsense approach of the group. That day, I decided to join. Each week, I emerge from our meetings with renewed enthusiasm. In 2008, over half of my business came through BNI referrals.

The purpose of BNI is to create a sales team of non-competing professionals who are actively working to help each other succeed. In our weekly meetings, members give a 30-second pitch about their business, two members give a 10-minute presentation, and referrals and testimonials are exchanged.

Applicants to BNI have to undergo a vetting process to ensure they have well-run businesses and will make good members. Upon acceptance, new members are asked to take an oath promising to conduct themselves in an ethical and supportive manner. Members are also encouraged to get to know each other outside of the meetings, to learn more about each other’s businesses and further build their relationships. All of this allows members of the chapter to refer each other with confidence.

The first referral I received was from the then chapter president, Shannon Del Vecchio, for one of her clients, BiPar Sciences in South San Francisco. They had me paint four large semi-abstract landscapes for the lobby of their biotech company. Another referral came from Marilyn Andrews of Boardwalk Investments, who had me paint two beach murals in the hallways of an apartment building she manages.

BNI member Laurie Keit of Seasonal Celebrations suggested I paint a tropical mural as a visual extension of the garden she was working on for another chapter member, Kelly Cunningham of Edward Jones Investments. Laurie’s husband, Alec Keit of R&R Handywork — another Pacifica BNI member — built the 16-foot-by-16-foot surface that I painted the mural on. The chapter’s photographer, Surrey Blackburn, and her husband, Gregor, had me paint a mural of Venice and a garden mural in their home.

BNI members are encouraged to visit other chapters; San Mateo and San Francisco counties together have a total of 25 chapters, so there are many visiting opportunities. When I visited the Half Moon Bay chapter, the warm and welcoming U.S. Bank Manager, Teresa Adam, invited me to exhibit my paintings in her lobby last fall and again in December (2009). I also met interior designer and feng shui consultant Diana Zamudio of Green Intention Design, who has a delightful showroom of “green” products. We are now collaborating on a series of paintings, titled “Elements in Harmony,” for commercial and healing environments. One of my paintings is now part of the “green lobby” Diana created for the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce.

The BNI members I’ve mentioned are just a few of the wonderful people who are now a part of my ever-expanding business and social network. By working together in these challenging times, we can do more than just survive — we can thrive!

Ellen Joseph is a muralist and fine artist. See her work at www.ellenjoseph.com.