Community Corner

Hey there, I'm Matt, the Biznik Community Manager.

I think everyone has a calling -- but that not everyone answers it.

One of the amazing qualities about Biznik members is that they have heard their calling, and have found a way to make that calling, or their passion their business.

At a basic level, the reason why this community works is because Biznik was created as a way to help people who wanted to live out their passion be successful through collaboration.

It's difficult to operate your own business, and you may not have a ton of support from your friends and family. Sure, they may love you and want to you be successful, but it is only other people in your position (no matter what they do) that actually get what it takes to run all aspects of your business.

For example, my friend Marcus White, he is an event planner. I would say his calling is to make people feel at ease. How does he do that? By taking a mammoth evens that would topple any competent person to tears, and help organize and facilitate the event, so that the day runs smoothly and happily for all those who attend.

The benefit of participating in the Biznik community is you will have a place to ask questions, meet peers and actually get business done in an environment where everyone is dedicated to success.

Member Interviews

Current stories are posted here Biznik blog Interview category. Check back often.

• Sloan Coleman is a Biznik Ambassador in St.Louis. She along with Michael Max (another long-time member) are energizing their city with monthly networking events. With coffee, good-natured, and talented people, you can't go wrong. Read the interview with Sloan Coleman (Scroll down for the interview with Michael Max.)

• Laura Dodson is a Quickbooks Certified ProAdvisor in Seattle. She has been a Biznik member since June of 2009. Matt first met Laura in late 2009 as a Biznik member, before he was hired as the community manager. Since then Laura has worked tirelessly to greet new members. Read the interview with Laura Dodson

• When an article on Biznik has been read 5,000 times since its publication, it's doing really well. Only 5 articles have ever been read over 7,000 times since their publication. When the article Marc Gordon wrote, "Why No Business Should Be Involved in Online Social Networking" (published March 1, 2010), had been viewed 9,000 in it's first week, he made Biznik history. Read the interview with Marc Gordon

• Jacob Sayles founded, funded, owns, and operates the business Office Nomads with his business partner, Susan Evans. Dan interviewed him to learn more about how he turned his passion for community into a business. Read the interview with Jacob Sayles

• While working at Intuit, Laura Messerschmitt contributed a range of business articles. We were thrilled with the validation Intuit brought to the BizJam conference by being one of our top sponsors. Read the interview with Laura Messerschmitt.

• As the cofounder of the networking group that became the referral marketing empire, Business Network International, we're fortunate to have one of the world's foremost authorities on business networking, Ron Sukenick, counted amongst some of the first members of Biznik. He flew to Seattle to present at the very first BizJam and hosted a successful networking event in advance of the conference. Read the interview with Ron Sukenick

• Sterling Peake is on a mission. Sterling She knows where she's heading with her business, and she's executing on what looks like... a plan. Read the interview with Sterling Peake

• It's pretty clear that Sonya Neblett likes to put her own twist on things. Take the name of her company: Truly Twisted Marketing. The Asheville, North Carolina based writer, designer and marketing strategist believes that "marketing should be about being honest, being transparent, building relationships and not pushing people." Read the interview with Sonya.

• Grace Grymes Chapman is a nurse practitioner who sees patients of all ages, both with and without insurance, and offers a hugely reduced fee to patients without insurance, not because she has to, but because she wants to. Read the interview with Gace Gyrnmes Chapman.

• "Sometimes all you need is a little expertise and some support from a compassionate person you trust," says Rachel Whalley, who has made a businesses out of teaching people to Write with Meaning. Read the interview with Rachel Whalley

• There are some professions you tend to see represented a lot of at networking events and some you don't. One you don't often meet independent private investigators. Maybe it's because private is part of their job title. Regardless, Dan was thrilled to make the acquaintance of John Hays when he showed up at an Biznik event in 2006. John Hays

• While Michael Max was studying medicine in China, he noticed something very different about the way it's practiced there from the way it's practiced here. No, not the needles. No, not the herbs. He noticed that you can't make a doctor's appointment in China. That's because at any time, you can simply walk in, grab a cup of tea and a number, and before you know it, the doctor will see you. Read the interview with Michael Max

Recognize yourself inside the stories above? They're your peeps too! Join us today. And start networking with us today.