Believe in yourself, help others,
and the world will open up to you.

CATCH THE WHITE TIGER™

Foreword by Ivan Misner, Ph.D.,
Founder of Business Network International (BNI)

What Influencers Are Saying…

Two ideological pillars support the modern capitalist economy: competition and cooperation. All too often, the media—and our culture in general—focuses on the competitive side of this dynamic. As Americans, we like to think in terms of winners and losers, of the strong vanquishing the weak, of champions rising to the top via the dog-eat-dog, kill-or-be-killed feature of natural selection.

But while competition spurs efficiencies and drives innovation, it is foolish and self-defeating to ignore the cooperative aspect of business. Humans are social creatures, and we tend to do best in large groups that encourage collaboration and focus on the Greater Good. When companies pit executives and divisions against each other, the result is inevitably chaos and failure. Leaders who see everything as a zero sum game, who believe the only way to succeed is for others to fail, leave little room for market expansion or economies of scale. Instead of "Look Out for #1," a wiser person says, "We do better when we all do better."

When I started BNI (Business Network International) in 1985, I firmly believed that referrals from trusted sources were a key component to business growth. Our motto, "Giver's Gain®," elegantly expresses our faith in the power of cooperation and support for one's fellow entrepreneurs. This collegial outlook succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. From small, intimate meetings at my house, BNI has grown to include more than 200,000 members with more than 7,600 chapter in 65 countries across the globe.

Tony Assali, who joined BNI in 2010, epitomizes the BNI ethos. Coming to America as a teenager from Beirut, Lebanon, in the early 1970s, he used his brilliant mind, big heart, inexhaustible work ethic, and unique talent for identifying opportunities he calls white tigers, to create a string of successful businesses. He first stacked up wins in the Boston area, then in Southern California, ultimately employing hundreds of people and changing America's food culture for the better. Have you ever bought hummus at a grocery store? You can thank Tony for that. (You will understand what I mean by the time you finish this book.)

But perhaps what’s even more impressive than Tony’s business success has been his impact upon the men and women he has led over the years. Tony made it an unwritten policy to support his staff financially during difficult times, even when the necessary funds came out of his own pocket. Believing his sales force couldn’t perform effectively if they were stressed over paying their bills, he personally lent them his own money to bolster their confidence. (Even though, most often, he never got those loans back.) However, the most dramatic example of Tony's commitment to his people occurred during the depths of the Great Recession when he depleted his substantial personal fortune to avoid laying off a single worker.

As a member of BNI, Tony's contributions have been just as exemplary. In 2017, Tony made 986 referrals, receiving $975,000 in “thank you’s for closed business.” To put this in context, Tony referred nearly $1 million to others. That's more money in referrals from one person than some 20-30 member groups do in an entire year! In true karmic fashion, Tony's generosity has come back to reward him multi-fold as both tremendous abundance and deep loyalty from workers, friends, and customers alike. Ultimately, Tony's story exemplifies the enduring power of the American Dream, selfless charity, and good old-fashioned human decency. Even in these cynical times, it's refreshing to see that good guys can still finish first.

 Contact & Book Tony