A1 Networkers Times
The monthly newsletter of BNI A1 Networkers · Givers Gain®
Back to School, Back to Business
This month we spotlight Devoll Consulting, share back-to-school and monsoon tips for the West Valley, and look at what BNI Arizona offers members.
School is back in session across the West Valley, morning traffic is picking up again, and the monsoon is in full swing. For a lot of families and businesses, August feels like a reset. Summer schedules wind down, routines come back and people start thinking about the rest of the year.
That makes August a great month to recommit to your networking. Look at your calendar, look at the referrals you have given and received this year, and decide what you want the next five months to look like. A little planning now goes a long way by December.
Member spotlight
Devoll Consulting
This month we are shining the spotlight on Tanya Devoll of Devoll Consulting, who holds the accounting services seat in our chapter.
Tanya is a CPA, and her firm, based in Buckeye, offers bookkeeping, business and individual tax preparation, tax consulting and fuel tax reporting. Devoll Consulting has a special focus on owner-operators and small trucking companies, a group with paperwork and reporting needs that many accountants are not set up to handle.
August is a smart time to check in on the books. The year is more than half over, and the third-quarter estimated tax payment comes due in mid-September for people who pay estimated taxes. Catching up on bookkeeping now beats scrambling in the spring. Great referrals for Tanya include:
- Owner-operator truck drivers and small trucking companies
- Small business owners who are behind on their bookkeeping
- Anyone who wants help with business or personal tax preparation
- New business owners who are not sure what records they should be keeping
- People who were surprised by a tax bill last year and want a plan this year
If you know a trucker or a small business owner who needs a hand with their numbers, connect them with Tanya.
Seasonal tips for the West Valley
At home
- Slow down in school zones. Kids are back on the sidewalks and crosswalks early in the morning. Leave a few extra minutes and watch for buses.
- Pull aside, stay alive. If you are driving into a dust storm, pull off the road as far as you safely can, turn off your lights, take your foot off the brake and wait it out.
- Make a family routine. A shared calendar, a set place for backpacks and a plan for after-school pickup make busy mornings easier.
- Watch for scorpions and pests. Summer heat and storms push them indoors. Seal gaps around doors and keep a black light handy for a quick nighttime check.
- Check your yard after storms. Look for leaning trees, damaged fences and debris in drains, and clean them up before the next storm.
For your business
- Get your books current. Reconcile your accounts through July so you know where you stand heading into the fourth quarter.
- Plan for estimated taxes. If you pay quarterly estimates, set aside money now for the September payment.
- Reach out to families. If your business serves parents, back-to-school season is a natural time to let them know how you can help.
- Start thinking about Q4. Fall and the holidays come quickly. Sketch out your plans for promotions, staffing and year-end deadlines now.
Networking tip of the month: give a referral before you ask for one
Before your next weekly presentation, ask yourself: have I given anyone in this room a referral lately? The quickest way to get more referrals is to become known as someone who gives them. Listen closely to each member's ask, write down one or two names that come to mind, and follow up that week. Even a small referral, like an introduction to a neighbor or a vendor you trust, shows the room you are paying attention.
BNI news: know your referral partners
BNI often talks about building a "contact sphere," a group of businesses that serve the same kinds of clients without competing with each other. A real estate agent, a lender, a home inspector and a title officer all work with home buyers, for example. An accountant, an attorney, a banker and an insurance agent all work with business owners. When members in the same contact sphere get to know each other well, they can pass referrals back and forth naturally. Take a look at the room and ask who is in yours.
Happening at BNI Arizona
BNI Arizona keeps a full calendar of training and networking for members and visitors throughout the year. Regular offerings include:
- Member Success Program sessions to help members get the most from BNI
- 1st Year Member Essentials for newer members
- Open Business Days at chapters across the Valley, a great way to see how other chapters run
- BNI Tech Talks and National Speed Networking sessions
See current dates, times and registration on the BNI Arizona event calendar.
In our chapter
- Book a one-to-one with your contact sphere. Pick one member who serves the same clients you do and set up a meeting this month.
- Invite a visitor. With routines back to normal, it is a great time to bring a business owner you know to a Thursday meeting.
- Thank our Membership Committee. They help keep our chapter strong by making sure every seat is filled with the right person.
Bring a guest
Visitors are always welcome. If you know someone who could use more referrals heading into the fall, bring them along. We meet every Thursday at 7:00 AM at Brothers Family Restaurant, 8466 W. Peoria Avenue in Peoria. Plan a visit.
Have a great back-to-school season, and we will see you Thursday!