caerusnet

Author: Steve Zyskowski

  • Olivia Somsel’s Dialing Up Referrals With Caerusnet517

    Olivia Somsel is determined to lead her Caerusnet517 referral team to greatness!  The young and professional full-time real estate agent facilitates a Lansing area Caerusnet team and is helping her Members begin to Master The Art of Referrals.  She’s not one to shy away from a challenge, knowing that personal growth and development are keys to success.   And while Olivia’s husband Eric is a financial advisor, they would both likely agree that one of the best investments one can ever make … is in their own personal development.

    How long have you been in your profession and how did you get into this field? This is my 4th year in real estate. I decided to get into the profession as a career when I got married and had to move. With the help of the book, “What Color is Your Parachute?” by Richard Bolles (pictured),  I reviewed what I liked and didn’t like about my job at the time and looked for professions that would fulfill what I liked. Real Estate was one of them. It was risky, but I dove in head first!

    What is the best thing about your business/career?  I believe the best thing about my career is helping people and making them happy. I enjoy putting a smile on people’s faces. When a buyer gets so excited that we finally found the home they love and they close on it, their smile makes me happy;  And when a seller finally sells his/her home and gets to move on to their next phase in life, their smile and excitement is contagious!

    What is it about the Caerusnet model that you like most? I like the Trust Builder Meetings and relationship aspect of Caerusnet the most. You really develop trust and can get to know people on a personal level. By doing so, you can really touch and change people’s lives for the better.

    Share a success story about why giving referrals and bringing visitors to the meeting is beneficial to you. When my husband invited a new mortgage lender I had not yet met to the team meetings I was hesitant because I preferred and was working on getting a different mortgage lender. However, the invite and introduction was well worth it! The lender on our team and I have a great working relationship. He is always out and about promoting Caerusnet517 and inviting visitors! This is very beneficial to Eric (my husband) and I as we cannot be in as many places promoting Caerusnet517 as 3+ people can be. Strong ‘CORE’ Members are very important!

    Any tips on learning how to find situations where you can create a referral or invite a visitor? Be out in the community! Go to an event and talk to people. Have the mindset of helping others versus just helping yourself.  When you are out doing business and your clients mentions other needs they have, think “who do I know that can address this need?”

    What is your strategy with your Member Minute and your Spotlight Presentation?  My strategy with the Member Minute and spotlight presentation is to change it up once in a while. Yes, be consistent in a way that helps Members understand what you do and what your focus is; But if you have multiple target markets maybe switch between them at different meetings. I also like providing snippets of information that people don’t know in my Member Minutes and spotlight presentations as well.

    Tips on how Members can be more successful in Caerusnet? Show up! Practice your Member Minute outside and inside the Caerusnet Meetings. Caerusnet is a safe place to network. We want you to practice with us! Some Members may not be really good at elevator pitches and showing confidence with public speaking, we as Facilitators (or other Members) can help. Pay attention and listen to your teammates. Don’t just play on your phone, check emails, and text messages. It’s only an hour! Basically it’s a sales appointment where you are making yourself available for referrals. A fantastic way to grow your business!

    What is it about facilitating a referral team that you hope to accomplish, professionally? As a Facilitator I hope to add value to my Members businesses. Everyone wants referrals whether they know how to grow by referral or not. I hope to teach my Members at every meeting at least one thing they can take with them that will help their individual business grow, and the team as a whole. I want to give back and give each of my Members referrals, growing myself as a referral master as well! I try to take one thing from every meeting to help grow their businesses. We all have room to grow. If we’re not growing … we’re falling behind!

    Want to visit Caerusnet517 and/or connect with Olivia Somsel?  Click here for her info.
    Click here for Caerusnet517’s Facebook page.

     

     

     

  • Chaz Carillo’s Green Referral Machine

    Commercial insurance agent and Caerusnet Facilitator, Chaz Carrillo, has been working a consistent plan to grow the Lansing Wednesday morning “Green Team” with quality businesses over the past couple of years.  If you visit Chaz’s Caerusnet Lansing team, hosted at the Fox47 TV news station, you will likely be greeted by Chaz with his warm smile while wearing his trademark bow-tie.  There will likely also be Drake music playing chill in the background before he starts his meeting.  Chaz is fun, productive and is also a family man, happily married with many young children.  The Lansing Green Team has remarkable synergy and it’s not surprising as Chaz has a reputation for being a networking guru, impossibly being everywhere at one time in Lansing, and is quickly becoming one of the most connected and respected networkers in the region.

    Note: Chaz became a Caerusnet Facilitator as a referral from business coach, Tom Hamp to Steven Zyskowki, Founder of Caerusnet.  Tom is also the successful Facilitator of a legacy Lansing Caerusnet team that meets Tuesday afternoons. 

    We had a chance to visit with the award winning MVP Facilitator to glean his expertise on the wild world of referral passing.  Here’s what we learned from Chaz …

    How long have you been in your profession?
    I jumped into insurance about four years ago.  Before this I was running a construction company as the VP of Operations and Sales.

    How did you get into this field?
    By accident.  I was looking at starting a company or purchasing a business when insurance was found.  Insurance gives me the opportunity to focus on working with local business owners and help people understand a product they rarely know about but are required to purchase.

    What is the best thing about your business/career?
    Helping people.

    What is it about the Caerusnet model that you like most?
    Flexibility and control as a Facilitator.  I feel like the Caerusnet model is a chassis of a car with the engine being the Facilitator.  And how you build that car is depends on the engine.  You have the benefit of a solid chassis and the customization depending your personality and strengths and weaknesses as a Facilitator.

    Could you share a success story about why giving referrals/bringing visitors is beneficial to you?
    Identifying good and bad relationships and helping others is very self serving.  As a professional being a resource to other professionals and clients as the “go-to” person to help them not only in your field but in many, is a great asset.  A network of quality people speaks volumes to all the people around you, not only in who you know but also the quality of the work you do, attracting like-minded individuals.

    Any tips on learning how to find situations where you can create a referral or invite a visitor?
    Ask good questions.  Listen to what people are saying and don’t try to fix their problems, try to define it.  Quality questions tell people a couple of things.  1.  Your listening to them.  2.  You care about what they are saying.  3.  You’re interested in their success.

    What is your strategy with your member minute and your spotlight presentation? 
    Make it simple.  Make it specific.  Make it fun.  Don’t forget your ask.

    What is your approach to positioning yourself as a resource in the community?
    Be a resource.  Some people mascaraed around trying to be known as “the person”.  Instead, first try to truly be a resource in the community, and then after you start marketing some of the things you’re working on to further their success. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not.  Focus on knowing yourself and playing to your strengths and getting better at your weaknesses.  Much like a business, you get better or you get worse, no one ever stays the same.

    Tips on how to be successful in Caerusnet?
    Show up.  Be prepared to do your minute.  Listen hard to others to be a resource to the team.  Be consistent in Trust Builders regularly with the team.  Invite visitors to check it out, not to join.  If you do half of these you will have a very positive benefit in your Caerusnet Membership.

    Share how your Caerusnet members have positively influenced you or your business besides passing referrals.
    My team is amazing.  We are a positive and professional team.  Focused on quality professionals and quality business referrals.  The meeting is enjoyable and something I look forward to every week.  The members are engaged and hold themselves accountable to quality time during our meetings and meeting others outside of or weekly team times.

    What is it about facilitating a referral team that you hope to accomplish, professionally?
    For the team, I want to max out my team with 30 awesome Members!  We currently only have three spots left so we are very close. Personally, I would like to write 50 new policies coming from my referral team next year in 2019.  But that’s an internal goal, so don’t tell anybody.

     

    If you would like to connect with Chaz Carrillo, find his contact info. here by clicking on the Facilitator directory.

  • Jimmie Plaskey Suits Up For Referrals!

    By Steven Zyskowski, President of Caerusnet

    As a former college football player, Jimmie Plaskey understands the concept of teamwork.  When Jimmie recognized he could harness his leadership skills as an up and coming financial adviser to run his own referral passing team in the city of Brighton, he suited up for the game!  And while Jimmie is a successful, young adviser, and his referral team is steadily growing, he’s still a student of the process also as an active Member of the Brighton Wed 10AM team.

    I had a chance to interview Jimmie recently to get his take on the world of referrals …
    How long have you been in your profession?

    I’ve been with Executive Wealth Management since 2011.
    How did you get into this field?

    Quite a round about way. But long story short, I started as an intern in 2011 and fell in love with the industry and started full time at EWM in 2013.  I’ll take it one step further and tell you why I got into this field.  I believe in educating, inspiring, and creating a peace of mind. I believe that those are informed make better lasting financial decisions. I believe this because of my unique history through the market recession of 2008 with a financial professional giving my family the easy answer and not the right answers. I help others through building a structurally sound financial plan that is well maintained on a regular basis.

    What is the best thing about your business/career?
    Positively impacting my client’s lives.  

    What is it about the Caerusnet model that you like most?
    It’s not what I like most about the Caerusnet model … it’s what I appreciate most about it. I appreciate the atmosphere. I appreciate the understanding of busy schedules and last minute appointments. I appreciate that as a Member, I just need to worry about my business and as a Facilitator, all of my Members aren’t looking to take on my responsibilities they are there to share and sell their businesses. I appreciate that this weekly networking group meets around 30 weeks per year and takes time off around the summer and holidays.

    Any tips on learning how to find situations where you can create a referral or invite a visitor?
    Yes! When I first started in financial planning, in my client meetings, I was so worried about the plan and finance aspect that I failed to mention and even think about referrals. I created a one-page document that listed out all of the types of businesses I was comfortable referring that I now give to every client in every meeting. It’s become one of the important aspect to my business.

    Any tips on how to be successful in Caerusnet?
    Being successful in Caerusnet is simple. It’s a simple as the old proverb states, “The best things in life happen outside of your comfort zone”. Upon joining Caerusnet as a Member in 2015, I was very out of my comfort zone having to speak in front of a group of people and 3 years later I’m facilitating a group! Here are my tips in no specific order:

    Go the extra mile.

    Make sure you attend all possible meetings, especially on the days when you’re feeling lazy and really don’t want to get up and go.

    Do the Trust Builder Meetings!

    Get to really know the other Members of your group. It will not only help you get to know them, but it will greatly increase your “refer-ability”.

    Practice

    Have a very polished Member minute. This is your 60 second commercial!

    Be authentic

    You’re in Caerusnet for a reason; you care about your business, want to establish and build a network, and turn ultimately increase profit. Be yourself. When thinking about prospects that may do business with you remember this; “Some will, some won’t, so what.

    Make sure the Members of the group know you are authentic and genuine.

    What is it about facilitating a referral team that you hope to accomplish, professionally?
    I want to build a network of a solid group of professionals that are energized and hungry to build their businesses. I want to have THAT Caerusnet team, the team that has a waiting list to get in. As a private wealth advisor, I passionately care about my clients and their well being. I want to ensure that all referrals I pass to my clients are professionals that I genuinely know, like, and trust.

    If you’d like to connect with Jimmie (James) Plaskey, you can find him by clicking here.

    Click here to let us know if there a Caerusnet Member or Facilitator you’d like to see featured in a Caerusnet Focus piece.

  • POWERFUL Referral Language – Eavesdrop On This Conversation!

    POWERFUL, polite and suggestive canned phrases is how “the pros” purposefully cultivate a referral mindset and increase their referrals with their customers and local referral partners.

    Eavesdrop on this fun and informative conversation between Caerusnet Brighton Wednesday 1PM team Member and online marketing specialist, Spencer Field (https://orangecubegroup.com/) and Steven Zyskowski, founder of Caerusnet and active referral team Facilitator.  This powerful six minute VIDEO is critical to watch for anyone who wishes to grow by referral at the local level.

  • She’s a professional connector and a career referrer! Meet Wendy Caverly!

    Since starting Caerusnet in 2008, the only “career” Caerusnet facilitator was its creator, Steven Zyskowski. After years of Zyskowski introducing and proving the Caerusnet concept worked, other professionals started to see that facilitating a Caerusnet referral passing team is a strategic and natural way to help others.   Wendy Caverly, aka Caerusnet Connections, took notice in 2014 and today runs seven Caerusnet teams as her primary profession!  Wendy will be honored as 2017 Southeast Michigan Facilitator of The Year at the upcoming Caerusnet Member MVP Awards & Movie Celebration on January 13th, 2018.

     

    How long have you been a Caerusnet Facilitator?
    I have been a Caerusnet Facilitator since February 2014. Since then, Facilitating has become my primary profession.

    How did you get into your field?

    Previously, I worked as a sales representative for a credit card processor. During that time, I was invited to visit a Caerusnet team, of which I quickly became a Member. Being new to the area, I knew I wouldn’t immediately be able to pass referrals since my personal local network was small, so I focused on having Trust Builder Meetings with other Members and on bringing guests (people I met networking in the community). I loved it! You see, I love getting to know other professionals better, what drives them and then finding out how I can help them connect with others to reach that next level. When I found myself at a crossroads with my job, I chose to follow my passion- supporting and encouraging people to grow their professional lives while connecting them to others who can help them achieve their goals.

    What do you enjoy most about facilitating your team meetings?
    What an awesome job I have! My business is to help others succeed at their business. My favorite part of our meetings is the Spotlight Presenter portion. It’s amazing seeing the sincerity, knowledge and professionalism of my Members. But overall, I most enjoy getting to know everyone and helping them find that person or connection they’ve been looking for. It makes me happy when I see two people having a meeting and connecting who without Caerusnet, may not have otherwise met.

    Why did you decide to manage more than one group?
    I have had the advantage of being a Member of more than one team, as well as guest-Facilitating several other teams. Those experiences gave me the opportunity to meet many quality professionals from all around. They also gave me the ability to expand my own personal network that I can tap into and refer to as needed. Caerusnet teams only take 30 Members and then they are considered full. However, there are hundreds of possible professions in the business community and I wanted as many chances as possible for other professionals and small business owners to enjoy the advantages that come with Caerusnet Membership. Membership gives them the opportunity to be part of and contribute to the much larger Caerusnet network, stretching far beyond just their home team. Having more than one team gives me a larger foot print, and also provides a direct connection for my Members to more than one area.

    Do you have any words of wisdom for those thinking about becoming a facilitator or those seeking to experience more success
    It really is not as easy as you think it might be. Groups may not grow as fast as you think they will. And it takes more time than you’d think to organize and run a one-hour meeting. And sometimes you have to make difficult decisions managing the teams. But Caerusnet Facilitators don’t just talk about ‘give to get’, they practice it as well. Be patient, be as flexible as you can (within reason) and enjoy it. It is worth the effort!

    Wendy (aka Caerusnet Connections) facilitates seven Caerusnet referral teams located in Fenton, Howell, Dexter, Milford/New Hudson, Novi and Pickney. Email: [email protected], cell: 810-348-0820.

    Ava_smr_dsArticle written by Ava Zyskowski.

  • NEW Caerusnet Facilitated Referral Teams in Michigan!

    by Steven Zyskowski

    With credit being given to Michigan Caerusnet Members and the professional Facilitators who run the team meetings, Caerusnet continue to grow its footprint in Michigan by referral only!

    This blog post focuses on new Caerusnet teams and Facilitators!  Feel free to visit (yes, visiting is FREE) and/or share this information with others you feel could benefit.

    If you would like to reach out to any of the professionals mentioned below, please click here to get their contact information.

    Caerusnet breaks into a new Michigan county with the launch of Caerusnet Adrian!  This team is led by Eric Jones from WorkForce PayHub, an Adrian based payroll and HR consulting firm.  Eric was a past Member of an Ann Arbor Caerusnet team and along with his partner and current Caerusnet Member, Chillah Weller, plan to develop and grow a great Caerusnet Adrian team.  This is a brand new team yet to hold its first meeting.

    In Livingston County, where Caerusnet was founded, two new teams are on the rise that are currently in “core” status (meaning they are assembling the first 10 Members of their team) …

    BRIGHTON WED 3PM is facilitated by Jimmie Plaskey, a financial adviser at Executive Wealth Management.  For over two years, Jimmie has been (and is still) an active and well-liked Caerusnet Member of the Wed 10AM Caerusnet team.  Jimmie is looking to grow his team with the “next” leaders of the community and is passionate about helping young professionals learn what it takes to grow by referral.

    BRIGHTON TUES 10AM is facilitated by Doug Moffat.  Doug is a founding Member of the Caerusnet Wednesday 8AM team and recently became an independent life insurance agent after working for many years with a large financial services firm.  Doug is excited about the opportunity to spread his wings and Facilitate his own Caerusnet Tuesday 10AM team from scratch.  His desire is to help others in the community have the same great experience he has had as a Caerusnet Member.  This is a brand new team.

    In the Lansing area:

    HOLT THUR 1PM team is facilitated by outgoing realtor, Olivia Somsel, who is convinced that referrals are the way to grow a small business!  The Holt team meets at Shaheen Chevrolet and is excited to host an upcoming March 29th VISITOR DAY.  Olivia’s plans are to build a great team serving the Holt/Lansing communities and she is committed making it happen.

    LANSING GOLF NETWORKING LEAGUE Powered by Caerusnet is run by experienced Caerusnet Facilitator and small business coach, Tom Hamp.  Tom is launching something new this year as he joins forces with the Golf Networking League.  If you love golfing and also want structured referrals, this team could be the perfect fit for those seeking “referrals on the fairway”.

    In Wayne County, the dynamic duo of Kate Lambert and Vince Engerer co-Facilitate Caerusnet Plymouth on Tuesday at 1PM. They own Apple Graphics, a full service print and direct mail firm, and they have been Caerusnet Members of the Canton Thursday 1PM team for over two years.  They run their fun and welcoming meetings out of the Burroughs Building in downtown Plymouth and are excited to build long lasting relationships in the community.

    In Oakland County, be sure to visit Marie Dowler’s Caerusnet Bloomfield Hills Tuesday 8AM referral team.   As a well-loved professional realtor and experienced networker, Marie is doing a fantastic job facilitating and is ready to take her Bloomfield Hills team to the next level!  The meetings are run out of Max Broock Realtors on Telegraph Rd and they have an upcoming March 13th VISITOR DAY.

    Click here for a list of all Caerusnet Team locations, including (but not limited to) Kevin Suboski’s new Ypsilanti Caerusnet team and Wendy Caverly’s “Caerusnet Connections” teams!

    If you have ever thought of facilitating yourself or know someone who could make a great Facilitator, click here!

    As always, stay connected!  – Steve

     

  • Beth Notarius is Caerusnet’s Chief Heart-repreneur & Grief Recovery Specialist!

    Beth Notarius is known in her 1PM Caerusnet Brighton Wednesday team as a grief recovery specialist as well as the team’s “Chief Heart-repreneur”.  As the driving force behind of Beth Notarius, Inc, she’s an entrepreneur with a big heart and a contagious smile. She helps everyday people learn about grief and helps them heal emotionally to improve their lives.

    How long have you been in your profession?

    I became a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist® through the Grief Recovery Institute® and an Approved TED* (*The Empowerment Dynamic)™ Practitioner in 2011. These two certifications positioned me with the tools to help individuals and organizations with two areas of life that we know little about how to handle — Grief and Drama.

    How did you get into this field?

    I didn’t select this field, it selected me!

    For 17 years, my husband and I owned a business that sold, implemented and supported Wholesale Distribution software. His sudden death (8 months after my father died) left me emotionally devastated and non-functioning. Amazingly, four months later, I had discovered and completed the Grief Recovery Method® program. I had never felt so emotionally complete, whole or passionate in my entire life. For the first time, I listened to my heart and knew I had found my calling.

    Then serendipity took over as I happened upon the three foundational structures of my new career. 1) The Grief Recovery Method training so I could facilitate emotional healing; 2) National Peace Academy training where I cemented a vision of being a community change-maker in the sphere of personal peace; 3) TED* (*The Empowerment Dynamic) training so I could help individuals and organizations ditch the drama and shift to resourceful, resilient, and really good relationships.

    Finally, I realized that these three disciplines interconnected and explained how I managed to find joy while caring for my father with Alzheimer’s disease. The Relate/Create/Hope/Cope Approach to Empowerment was born and graphically pulled the various disciplines together.

    What is the best thing about your business/career?

    That’s a great question. I have the gratification of watching people transform before my eyes.  It is amazing to witness someone go from a feeling of brokenness to personal peace and joy.

    What is it about the Caerusnet model that you like most?

    I get to network without having to join committees or manage the group. It is an enjoyable way to hone my skills and grow my business. Everyone in the group is hard working, dedicated and are good community-minded citizens!

    Tips on how to be successful in Caerusnet?

    Give from your heart to the group and develop personal connections that go beyond business. It’s quality rather than quantity of relationships. This builds trust and mutual desire to help each other.

    Confidence! There is emotional safety with Caerusnet. The energy of the group is positive, supportive, patient, and they really are rooting for you! This was especially important to me in developing a business that was a total change from my history. Joining Caerusnet is one of the best business decisions I’ve made.

    To contact Beth, visit her website at: www.bethnotarius.com, call her at 248-919-7617, email: [email protected], or visit her at the Brighton Wednesday 1PM referral team meetings!

  • Farming Relationships with MaryBeth Potrykus

    You will find her at most Chamber and networking mixer events in Brighton.  She’s supportive and she’s fun.  And while hunting is in her blood, MaryBeth has learned how to farm for referrals as a Caerusnet Member of the Brighton Wednesday 10AM team.  Enjoy our quick and to the point chat with “Mama Bear” (you can ask her how she got the nickname).  She has good information to share as her team’s 2017 MVP!

    How long have you been in your profession?
    Mama Bear Productions was founded in 2004

    How did you get into this field?
    A friend introduced me to Shaklee.  I had such wonderful results from the products for my health, I wanted to help others.

    What is the best thing about your business/career?
    I’ve been blessed with helping hundreds of people, with their health and financially.

    What is it about the Caerusnet model that you like most?  I like organization.  The meetings are started the same way, information on how to have an exceptional member minute and giving referrals, I don’t have to volunteer to head up the group, and there is always time to laugh.

    Share a success story about why giving referrals/bringing visitors is beneficial to you.  It’s always a great feeling to give to and help another person.  I know, like and trust the people on my team.  It’s a win-win for the business people in my group and for those I refer to them.  Nancy Blake, America’s Electric, was new to Networking.  I’ve seen her grow in her confidence.  She receives many referrals.  This is a woman who quit her job to help her husband with his business.  It was a big leap of faith and it is wonderful to see it is paying off.

    Any tips on learning how to find situations where you can create a referral or invite a visitor? Listening to an individual and hearing how they want to grow their business.  When people know there is no commitment and just check out the team to see if it is a fit, they are more relaxed and are interested.  I also offer suggestions on what is a good member minute and to commit it to memory, which helps with their confidence.

    What is your strategy with your member minute and your spotlight presentation?  My member minute consists of:  Who I am, what I do, and who is a good referral.   Getting to the point and being consistent.   In the spotlight presentation, which I’ve done several times, I flare it up.  I like people to hear why I sell Shaklee, all of my services, and personal information as well.  I want people to be confident when referring me.

    What is your approach to positioning yourself as a resource in the community?  I’m in the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce and have been for almost 12 years.  When I speak with people, I ask questions.  Not because I’m nosey, but I want to know how to help.  It’s just in my nature.

    Tips on how to be successful in Caerusnet?
    Give referrals.  Schedule Trust Builders.  And listen to other Caerusnet members.  We have two ears and one mouth for a reason.

    Share how your Caerusnet members have positively influenced you or your business besides passing referrals. Friendships.  I’ve met wonderful people in Caerusnet.  Recently, Andrew Bosak, our real estate agent from Buckley Jolley, went above and beyond for me.  I wasn’t selling my house.  Another realtor made a mistake, and I was receiving calls about vacant property I’m supposedly selling.  He provided excellent advice and contacted the appropriate people so that the calls would cease.  He didn’t make any money from this situation, but did it anyway.  Andrew is a good person and I look forward to passing him more referrals.

    To contact MaryBeth “Mama Bear” Potrykus, visit her website: https://mamabear.myshaklee.com/us/en/about_paying-it-forward.html, email her at [email protected], or call her at 810-813-3308.

  • Tami Bethune & BTG Solutions Creating Opportunity in Caerusnet!

     

    While visiting the bustling community of Brighton a few years ago, Tami Bethune, of BTG Solutions, noticed a business card display board hanging on the wall at Two Brother’s Café. And while Tami had never put her own cards on display before, on a whim, she decided to on that day.  Not too long after, Caerusnet sub-Facilitator, Ava Zyskowski noticed Tami’s card at the popular coffee shop.  Recognizing that the Brighton Wednesday 8AM team had a need for a referable website designer and digital marketer, Ava reached out to Tami by phone and invited her to visit the team during a brief but friendly phone call.  Tami has been a Caerusnet Member ever since first visiting the team and has become an invaluable Member.  We had a chance to talk with Tami about her business and her referral strategies.  Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the conversation we recently had with Tami …

    How long have you been in your profession?  Over 35 years including major generations of technological advances – Main Frames, Distributed Business Networks and Mini Computers, Personal Computers, Cloud Computing and Mobile. Artificial Intelligence and the Internet-of-Things (IoT) are the next frontier. My experience started off in the corporate world where I learned best practices and the importance of documentation and communications. The most recent 20 years have been with small businesses, including startups and non-profits.

    How did you get into this field? My intellectual strengths are math and logic/analysis. The traditional path out of high school was 4 years of college for engineering or teaching. Engineering sounded too technical. Teaching was a comfortable option, but there was the 4 years of schooling lock step with professors and in the end an average pay scale. So I decided to enter into the then “new” field of computer science with a 2 year Associate Degree in Specialized Business Application studying application software systems design and programming in COBOL, Fortran, RPG and Easycoder.

    What is the best thing about your business/career? My business acumen is to provide the best solution for the client taking into account their budget, their staffing and current processes, needed training and communications and follow-up. To do that I become an insider and trusted advisor to my clients and that is an awesome responsibility and privilege. That’s one of the best things about my business – working with other savvy business people.

    What is it about the Caerusnet model that you like most? It is a welcoming environment and, as promised, fun! I enjoy the formatted team interaction with people who I have grown to know, like and trust.

    What is your strategy with your member minute and your spotlight presentation? Member minutes follow a format.  Mine goes like this, “Hi, I’m Tami Bethune, BTG Solutions, bridging the gap in technology for small businesses.” Most prospective clients reach out to me for website design and online marketing through social media. So I pick one of these topics to focus my message: video marketing, statistical insights, trends, new websites that have gone live, domain management, site security, etc. Often the toolbox lesson-of-the-day leads me to formulate my message in a more memorable way. Wrap-up would be the same as the intro – “Tami Bethune, BTG Solutions, bridging the gap in technology for small businesses.”

    For the Spotlight, I like to use a slide show to help others visualize the variety of businesses that have used my services. This helps the team to know who they can refer me to. I also shared some sample website designs so they could see the finished products.

    I have a unique social media marketing program called Launch 2+45. That has been the focus of past spotlight presentations and I will likely continue to share that with the team. I encourage everyone on my team to follow me on Linkedin and connect with me through the many social channels as provided in my email signature and my website. This enables me to be aware of their online posts and refer their services through social media. Another realm of referral networking!

    Tips on how to be successful in Caerusnet? To be successful in Caerusnet is to be mentally present during the one hour team meeting. To be present, you will need to have your mind clear of the busyness of your day and week. 2-3 slow deep breaths on the walk into the meeting will help with that. Arrive 5 minutes early to greet team members, grab a coffee and find your seat. Fill out your name tag and referral slips if you can early. During the meeting your phone will be muted giving you and other members your best chance to be fully present during the meeting.

    Share how your Caerusnet members have positively influenced you or your business besides passing referrals.  My Caerusnet team members are standup people who help me think outside of my world. I learn new language for delivering an idea. I see excellent spotlight presentations that lead me to tweak my technique. I hear about great books, old and new, that have been inspiring to people that have been inspiring to me!

    To contact Tami Bethune, visit her at most Brighton Wednesday 8AM Caerusnet team meetings, email her at [email protected] or call her at 248-345-2054.

    #knowliketrust #godsofopportunity #Caerusnet

  • Caerusnet Awarded Best Marketing Service!

    **If a friend or business associate shared this article with you it’s because they think you could find value in our referral team system just like they have.  Visit a 1 hour local meeting for free to experience something new and network with the best!  See the TEAM LOCATIONS & DIRECTORY tab on our website to find a team near you.  No team near you?  Consider starting your own team using our proven system.

     

    Caerusnet was awarded 2017 Best of Business Marketing Services!

    This is a tremendous accomplishment in that there is only one winner per year — and Caerusnet has won back to back (also won in 2016).   We recognize that it wouldn’t be possible at all without the consistent effort and commitment of the amazing Caerusnet Members over the past nine years.  They are truly fun to be around, dependable, passionate about what they do and successful in their practice.  Brighton Members understand the value of being involved in a great, facilitated referral network, like Caerusnet.  These are people who love their community and we are honored to serve them.

    Did you know that in a recent, anonymous survey of over 150 randomly selected Caerusnet Members, 100% of respondents said they would recommend Caerusnet to other business professionals?   The average time a person is a Caerusnet Member is three years.  And that’s pretty cool when you consider that Memberships are renewed monthly and a Member can drop out at any time without penalty.  We also collected some great feedback from Members about how to improve and are implementing many of these great ideas.

     

    With great Members and Facilitators across Michigan, the sky is truly the limit to our levels of success!  Thank you for your support and we intend to THREE-PEAT this award next year!

    Stay connected!
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    1471321_10201379783961977_1247120656_nSteven Zyskowski
    President and Founder of Caerusnet
    Facilitator: Ann Arbor, Brighton, Canton