Neighbor Helping Neighbor came from minds of Mike Cathell and Jacob Mermin practically at the same time. Both had had a lot of experiences with other networking groups. Jacob felt they were cult like. Mike felt that real estate would be the catalyst that would make their idea work. Most referral networking organizations are either too social or not personal enough. Most have rigid attendance requirements and seem very selfish. Neighbor Helping Neighbor is based on a kind of golden rule, treat fellow business owners the way you would like to be treated. The best way to help your own business is to help all NHN businesses to succeed.
Jacob Mermin felt that Mike Cathell, as a Sellstate Realtor would be the key to everyone's success. One realty sale will lead to business for every member business in NHN. Just think about the Welcome Wagon organization. When someone new moves into the neighborhood they receive coupons and information from area businesses. From day one I felt that NHN was a welcome wagon referral group and decided to call it Neighbor Helping Neighbor because Welcome Wagon Referral Group would have got us in trouble. Mike and I have been working on this Idea for almost two years. He was managing a national chain jewelry store and I had an information Kiosk for a local HVAC contractor at a local mall. Mike was a part time realtor and I was studying to be a Home Inspector and Mold Inspector. We talked about marketing and NHN over hundreds of cups of coffee and cheap lunches. Like I said we both came up with the idea of NHN at the same time but separately. Mike promised to use me as his home inspector as soon as I got certified,and a soon as he had a real estate client. We were in a race. I don't know what came first my certification or his client, but we have been partners ever since.
We decided that we couldn't develop NHN by ourselves so we went looking for people that could help us get it off the ground. Everyone we explained the concept to thought it was a great idea and wanted in. Like I said they thought it was a great idea, but when it came to coming to meetings and getting things written down and in a forward motion they were nowhere to be found. This happened a few more times before we found Jan, Karen, Scott, and Jessica. Jan is another realter that worked with Mike. She too thought it was a great idea and wanted in. Jan actually came to the meetings and had alot of great ideas and we were pretty excited. Next I brought in Scott and Jessica who developed my website at Jacob Mermin Inspections. They were perfect and very enthusiastic about it. They also came to the development meetings. After awhile we needed another shot of excitement for NHN and Mike brought in Karen a mortgage broker he used in his real estate buisness. I thought she was great the first time I saw her. She loved the idea of NHN and said she wanted in. When she came to all meetings I new we had our founding members together and Mike and My dream, NHN would finally get off the ground.
The founding members of NHN would like to invite all small business owners and managers to take a look at this new concept in networking. When you become a member of NHN your fellow members will help you make your business successful. Remember business starts for everyone with the purchase of a home. The only real big rule is make sure you take care of Mike and Jan, they are our realtors. We need to get them referrals, either a buyer or a seller. Without them the a/c guy and the lawn guy and the pool guy and the carpenter and the hair dresser and the painter and the tile guy will not get a referral. You know what I mean, we are all in this group, NHN to help each other. All trades are one company categories, we are not going to compete with each other. We will be recruiting soon.
Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI
Jacob Mermin Inspections
www.mermininspections.com
Co-founder Neighbor Helping Neighbor
239-243-7322