Biznik Manifesto

We Believe in Collaboration, Not Competition.

Competition is an old myth made up by old men with old ideas and no imagination. There's work out there--big gobs of it--plenty to make all of us fat and happy and (if we eat too much) probably a little tired. Bizniks work together. Bizniks form groups. Bizniks will stage a completely collaborative coup of the greater business world.

We Believe in People Not Professions.

We don't care what you do, we care who you are and how you do it. We've always got room for another writer, another programmer, another massage therapist, another marketing wonk, another DJ, another coach, another songstress and another unidentifiable ball of potential just waiting for the chance to take the business world by storm. We'll never turn anyone away because "we've already filled your spot." If you've got the passion and the drive,

We Believe in Community.

Business is a social game. Let's play together. Biznik isn't something you go to, show up for, log into or whisper about. Biznik is something you are. Becoming a Biznik is just like joining a family. But without the death benefits, crying bouts and awkward family dinners.

We Believe in Events, Not Updates.

Whether you're in Seattle or Swaziland, we're all Bizniks and part of the same big tribe. Biznik doesn't have chapters and we're not another place to post your updates. Face-to-face events are the lifeblood of this crazy body and the more of them you go to (or better yet, create and host) the more you'll get out of being here.

We Believe in Technology.

Yes, we've seen Terminator. Yes, we know that artificial intelligence is going to enslave all of mankind and thrust our planet into a dark age of warfare. But we still love technology and think that cool tools combined with in-person meetings is the best way to network for your business. If you aren't tech savvy, don't worry, we'll teach you. But you have to be willing to learn.

We Believe in Free.

We believe that high monthly dues, long term contracts and fines are bull$#!t. (We also believe in swearing to make a point.) Biznik is free. Being a Biznik will always be free. We also hate banner ads, so do we ask you for money? We do. But it's not that much and paying gets you some really cool bonuses. Biznik needs to make cash in order to survive, but we'll never treat our members like cash machines.

We Believe that Money is a Good Thing.

Say it with us. Take a deep breath. We know it's hard. "Money is a good thing." Money in the right hands is powerful, contagious and cool. We want to make money. We want you to make money. If we all make more money, we'll be able to do powerful, contagious and cool things together.

We Believe in Relationships, not Referrals.

We don't care if you never refer to another Biznik. Do we hope you will? Sure. But we'll take a hard-working, passionate professional over a hackneyed-unethical-referral-throwing-ladder-climber any day. Be a Biznik. Build relationships. And if you've got business to give... give it.

We Believe in Participation.

Being a Biznik means showing up and pitching in. You can't buy your way to Biznik supremacy (well, maybe half-way there), but you can contribute your way there. Show up. Teach a workshop. Publish an article. Start a conversation. Take us all to Disneyland (OK, not that last one. Unless you really want to.)

We Believe in Giving To, Not Selling To.

And in self-interested altruism. Show an interest in others. Give to the group without expectation of return. Karma will come and get you. Karma will hunt you down.

We Believe in Being Progressive.

And that you're smart enough to define what that means for yourself. Bizniks work toward positive change. This isn't politics, it's attitude. We're trying to make the world a better place. We are too.

We believe that building a business is hard, lonely work.

And that spending time with some like-minded peers who "get" you can make it a little easier, a lot less lonely, and way more fun.

If you believe in these things too, then come join us. If not, well, why are you still here? There's always something good on TV.