caerusnet

Author: Steve Zyskowski

  • Building Relationships In Business Is Critical – Amazing Interview by Jason ROAR Tracey & Steven Zyskowski

    Building Relationships In Business Is Critical – Amazing Interview by Jason ROAR Tracey & Steven Zyskowski

    https://open.spotify.com/show/4uEPtSoL96119EFavMPyjE?go=1&utm_source=embed_v3&t=0&nd=1

    Getting married, and starting a business…

    What do these two things have in common?

    While we romanticize and have a grand vision for what a relationship and owning a business is going to be like. The truth is both starting a business and getting married have very high failure rates.

    When the going gets tough, and the going will get tough, what keeps you there? What motivates you to learn, grow, adjust, survive, thrive???

    As Steven Zyskowski shares it takes far more than shallow reasoning such as “Because I can make a lot of money” or “Because he/she is hot.”  Jason Tracey, sales coach with Roar Consulting, leads a great interview with Steve that covers a mountain of topics.

    ADDITIONAL:

    “You’re never going to make it.” “Somebody else is already doing that.”

    If you are an entrepreneur you have probably heard phrases just like these along your journey. What did you do to push through the skeptics?

    For those of you that have dreamed of starting a business, but are currently being caged by the skeptics use Steven Zyskowski story as an inspiration! After all, great businesses simply solve problems that are presented in the market place.

    Because Steve is a product of the product he saw firsthand the glaring holes within networking organizations, and was able to create a solution to serve #smallbusinessprofessionals with Caerusnet.

     

  • Why do you Facilitate a Caerusnet team? Staying Connected with Kevin McGuire & Steven Zyskowski

    Why do you Facilitate a Caerusnet team? Staying Connected with Kevin McGuire & Steven Zyskowski

    In this episode of Staying Connected, Caerusnet founder, Steven Zyskowski interviews Livonia team Facilitator, Kevin McGuire. Kevin shares why he facilitates and what he enjoys most about facilitating a Caerusnet referral team. We wish 2020’s best new Caerusnet Facilitator the absolute best as he continues to grow team Livonia and add more teams to his footprint over the years! Want to connect with Kevin McGuire? You can book time with him here: https://myreferralteam.com/

  • This Caerusnetter Is Ready To Party Anytime

    This Caerusnetter Is Ready To Party Anytime

    Wendy Griest absolutely loves kids, community, and connection.  As a person with high empathy, Wendy thrives on building positive relationships with others and loves nothing more than creating long lasting, beneficial relationships.  As a Caerusnet networking veteran and a person with marketing vision, Wendy saw an opportunity to bring joy into her community with her new business, Party in The House.  We had a chance to connect with Wendy and learn more about her new business and how it all got started.  If you have been ever been searching for a unique way to throw a party or truly impress your significant other with a creative picnic for two, Wendy would love to help make your memory forever lasting!

     

    How long have you been in your profession and why did you start this business?

    I have planned parties for family and friends for over 20 years and now I do it professionally. Party in the house began as an idea based on universal need for human interaction and familiar fun during an unprecedented time. Covid has rocked the world literally in our country seemed more divided than ever. Our communities were hurting.  Parents were and are still hurting because their kids are confused and unable to see extended family and friends, or even go to school at some points. Daily routines have been significantly disrupted. Weddings, birthday parties and even simple date nights were limited and restricted. Some small businesses closed or came close to closing and I just knew that I could make a difference in those areas.

    What is the best thing about your business/career?

    We have been blown away by the response from our clients, their friends, and our community. We have had moms cry out with joy.  Watching their little kids and seeing their expressions when they see their party for the first time brings us so much happiness. These parties have been great for kids to get back some sort of normalcy this year a party like ours is a way to remind your kids that they can still have fun with their friends and family but safely.

    How are you different and/or what is your niche?

    We have themes to suit adults and kids of all ages. Our most popular packages are kids slumber parties, adult slumber parties, charming indoor and outdoor picnics, moms or lady’s night out, date night in, and ‘mommy and me’ parties. We have many more themes broken up by age group on our website at www.partyinthehousemi.com and we do allow custom themes, for an up charge, if what we offer doesn’t suit your needs perfectly. We also have a lot of add-on entertainment from games, arts and crafts, character visits, karaoke machines, popcorn and cotton candy makers to cooking classes, psychic readings, cocktail making classes, Dj photo booths, mini photo shoot, private chefs and more.

    What is your approach to positioning yourself as a resource in the community?

    Giving back is everything to us. Our “Parties for a Purpose” program allows us to accept nominations for someone in your life who is going through immense hardship, illness, loss of a loved one or any life altering tragedy. We pick one winner each month for a free party with all the bells and whistles as our way of spreading hope, cheer, and joy. We aim to be a source of joy and happiness for everyone as we have all struggled through a truly crazy year. This program allows us to help those in need in a way that will brighten their spirits and it fits our one true mission which is to create and spread joy and smiles.

    Share a success story about why giving referrals/bringing visitors are beneficial to you? Just today in my Caerusnet team a visitor was attending who is a DJ. It just so happens we are looking for a DJ vendor. You never know how the person you are bringing could connect and benefit those in your group. So, what do you have to lose by inviting them? Nothing!

    Can you share how your Caerusnet members have positively influenced you or your business beside passing referrals?

    I have been a Caerusnet Members for many years now. It is so inspiring to hear other Members sharing their successes and challenges.  We are very real with each other.   Caerusnet has given me so much in both my professional and my personal life.  I’m an entrepreneur and I can’t see my life without Caerusnet in it.  It has blessed me in so many ways.

    What do you like best about being on a Caerusnet online team?

    I have been a Member for many years and was accustomed to meeting in-person.  However, the online platform is so convenient for my busy lifestyle it is hard to not see the benefits of doing it this way

    Your thoughts on passing referrals and inviting guests to the meetings?

    Referrals are so important, whether big or small. There are so many ways to collaborate to benefit the people on your team for referrals. When you have a guest attending, you may think they will connect with certain members and be surprised at how many additional members are affected by their visit! Someone who recently visited one of my teams was not somebody I could connect with directly however they had so many people in their circle that they connected me with that I was able to add much needed vendors

    Want to pass Wendy a referral for Party In The House?  Click here!

     

  • 50% of Landscaper’s New Business Is From Caerusnet Referrals

    50% of Landscaper’s New Business Is From Caerusnet Referrals

     

     Trisha Turner has been turning heads in Caerusnet.  Her energetic and honest presence is felt at every meeting.  Until she joined Caerusnet a couple years ago, she didn’t know much about the farming process involved in growing a business by referral.  That knowledge has come in handy this year as Trisha launched

    Turner Design – a full-service landscape design and installation firm.  It’s been great to watch Trisha grow her business by doing right in the community and we had a chance to connect with her to share her story.

    How long have you been in your profession? 16 years.  I started as a landscape laborer and worked my way up the ranks.

    How did you get into this field? From a horticulture elective class taken at Michigan State University my freshman year of college.  My parents said that I would ‘find my way’ with the programs available at State and they were right.

    What is the best thing about your business/career?  I get to play outside!  Plus, free vitamin D😊!

    How are you different and/or what’s your niche?  I am different because I care about the lasting effects of my advice and designs.  Right plant, right place is a real thing and I will not propose design solutions that are not realistic for a homeowner to afford or maintain.  If you don’t like the color red, there will be no red roses in your design!  I want clients to feel they can afford my services, so I offer complete design and installation as well as a la carte services for the do-it-yourselfer.

    What is it about the Caerusnet model that you like most?  I like that every member truly cares about their reputation and services provided.  I know if I refer a client, friend or family member to any member of Caerusnet that they will be taken care of well above my expectations.

    Share a success story about why giving referrals/bringing visitors are beneficial to you.  I had a client last year that was new to the area.  I was able to recommend a doctor to her and a pet sitter (both of which were members of Caerusnet).  Experiences with both professionals referred made incredible impacts on her life!  She was able to remedy her illness with holistic remedies and get off medication and able to enjoy vacations with her family out of state without worrying about her animals.  It felt good when she told me, “Wow Trisha, you are quite the resource!”  She was impressed with my network and I was happy to help.  Taking care of my clients means more than making sure their landscape is flawless.  We are all people with various daily concerns and when I can be more than ‘just your landscaper’ I jump to the chance!

     

    Trisha loves helping clients, like Steven Zyskowski, select the right indoor plants for their homes. Indoor plants clean the air and make a home healthier to live in.

    Any tips on learning how to find situations where you can create a referral or invite a visitor? In the beginning I was too pushy, and it pushed people away.  I didn’t understand why people were not as excited as I was about joining this referral group that has helped me so much.  I realized, during a trust builder with another Caerusnet member, that I have to be more casual in my approach.  I network with professionals at least two times a week.  I don’t want to invite just any one to this group but people that truly care about their service and their clients.  When I come across winners, I spread the word and follow up with an email.  I verbally introduce them to Caerusnet and allow them to check out the website themselves.  I have found that not all people are comfortable with putting themselves out there.  I wasn’t either and was forced by a former boss to attend so I get it.  Once you become part of the family, though, it’s hard to not shine!

    What is your strategy with your member minute and your spotlight presentation? Talk about ‘hot’ landscape items and myself.  People want to work with and purchase from someone they know and trust.  By outlining my personal life along with pros and cons of hot topics I feel my message gets across.

    What is your approach to positioning yourself as a resource in the community?      To genuinely help people.  I just so happen to be a landscaper and designer, so I can specifically help people achieve their plant goals!  I recently joined the Howell Chamber of Commerce and am already feeling more incorporated in my community by getting to know other businesses and business owners in my neighborhood despite the challenges of networking due to COVID.  I want my name out there and I want to refer others so I can be a complete resource for my clients.

    Tips on how to be successful in Caerusnet? YOU MUST DO TRUST BUILDERS!  One to one meet ups are critical to fully understanding what other members do in their professional and personal life.  Both aspects are important to fully understand a person.  I try to do one trust builder with everyone in my team once a year atleast and then reach out to a couple of additional Caerusnet members from different groups throughout the year as well.  Motivated people seem to find other motivated people so it is not hard to find another member to enjoy a lunch with.  Often times one meeting turns into, “ I know someone I think you need to meet!”  The rest is history!

    Share how your Caerusnet members have positively influenced you or your business besides passing referrals.  Members have directed me to extracurricular programs for my toddler (more significant pre-COVID), I was connected with an incredible holistic doctor that has completely changed my daily life for the better and through a presentation in Caerusnet I was introduced to the Yes Network that opened my eyes to entrepreneurism and helped me take the jump into starting my own business.

    Do you have a referral success story (passed or received) that you’d like to share?  Recently, I met with one of the ambassadors of the Howell Chamber of Commerce.  I casually mentioned Caerusnet and she was very interested.  Just like myself, she is always looking for incredible people to network with.  I sent her an email introducing her to my facilitator and wrote my positive experience with the group and why I think she would benefit.  She will be visiting the group next week!  That same day, a Caerusnet member called me and referred me to one of his clients for landscape services.  He did, what we call a warm referral, and introduced me to her verbally and told her I will call her tomorrow afternoon.  With him and I both being Caerusnet members, he KNOWS that I will call her tomorrow afternoon and take wonderful care of his client.  What a day?!

    https://turnerdesignmi.com/

    Trisha shares a great testimonial here with her Brighton Wednesday 10AM Caerusnet team:

  • “Want To Know How To Prevent Burnout & Grow Younger?” with Justine Altman (VIDEO)

    “Want To Know How To Prevent Burnout & Grow Younger?” with Justine Altman (VIDEO)

    Caerusnet & ReferralTopia sincerely thanks Justine Altman for contributing valuable content to our ON DEMAND ReferralTopia 2021 Library!

    Enjoy this full presentation of “Want To Know How To Prevent Burnout & Grow Younger?” by Caerusnet Canton Member. Justine Altman, https://journeytovitality.com/.  Without health, there can be no wealth so be sure to DRESS for Health Success (more on this in the video below).

     

  • Caerusnet Member Breakfast Photo Gallery & RECAP

    Caerusnet Member Breakfast Photo Gallery & RECAP

    On June 30th, well over 100 Caerusnet Members and guests attended the first annual Caerusnet Member Breakfast at the Crystal Gardens banquet center in Howell.  Caerusnet spared no expense by offering the most deluxe breakfast buffet the Crystal Gardens offered. Devonna Snowden (Crystal Gardens / Brighton Wednesday 8AM) was busy promoting the event long before it kicked off and the turnout was fantastic.

    The Members and guests had an incredible morning reconnecting, making new relationships and enjoyed sharing the morning together.  Caerusnet’s Steven Zyskowski, Chuck Dodge and Karyn Kokeny all gave uplifting presentations to an inspired audience who, during the pandemic, had been starved of in-person networking.

    The Member Breakfast was exactly what everyone needed to fill their buckets.  Caerusnet Brighton Wednesday 10AM team’s newest Member, Dr. Shawn, rocked the house with his awesome Caerusnet branded photo booth (leave a review for Shawn here), which provided tons of enjoyment at the event.

    Enjoy this awesome photo gallery (courtesy of DJ Shawn) and you can watch a recording of Caerusnet’s Founder, Steve Zyskowski’s opening presentation on YouTube.

     

  • Jason Tracey on Selling during “The Date”

    Jason Tracey on Selling during “The Date”

    How many sales people do you know make it a habit of over promising and under delivering?

    What a prospect really wants is to feel heard (and seen) by the person they’re considering buying from. Small business professionals and entrepreneurs have to wear many “hats” to successfully be in business and the “sales hat” is just as important as any. If a prospect believes you actually care about them – you’ve gotten further than 90% of the competition. In “The Date”, Jason Tracey (Caerusnet Brighton Wednesday 10AM team) from Roar Consulting perfects explains in about 90 seconds the mistake most sales people make in unforgettable way.

  • Encore of Doug Moffat’s ReferralTopia 2021 Presentation “Humble Inquiry”

    Encore of Doug Moffat’s ReferralTopia 2021 Presentation “Humble Inquiry”

    Enjoy this awesome presentation by Doug Moffat given live at ReferralTopia 2021.  The spoken word is one of the best ways to intentionally live your life and create the world you want.  Save the date for ReferralTopia2022: April 21, Earth Day eve.

     

  • Emily Evolves As A Networker In Caerusnet

    Emily Evolves As A Networker In Caerusnet

    Health coach and yoga instructor, Emily Vanderhovel, joined the Caerusnet Brighton Tuesday 8AM team in September, 2020 – six months into the pandemic. She was invited to visit the team by Dr. Aaron Banister from Two Roads Wellness (the chiropractor on the team and multi team MVP). He recognized that Emily was getting ready to market her business locally and that he held the key to inviting her into his referral universe at Caerusnet. This was especially valuable during a time when making new connections was difficult.  We had a chance to speak with Emily to get a sense of what she’s experienced in her first nine months of Membership with Caerusnet.

    woman sitting on a bridge, caerusnet

    How did you get into this field?

    I originally started going to yoga to help heal a shoulder injury and ended up finding so many physical AND mental benefits from it. I was hooked and decided this was something I was very passionate about and wanted to share with the world!

    What is the best thing about your business/career?

    Watching people heal in different ways! Some physically, some mentally. It is so inspiring watching people who are new to yoga or who think their bodies aren’t “meant” for yoga see just how awesome and capable their bodies are!

    How are you different and/or what’s your niche?

    I love teaching in a way that is very gentle and fun for every age and level! I am trained specifically in accessible yoga, chair yoga, and dementia yoga on top of my RYT-200. I love working one on one with people to find custom movement that feels good in their body.

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

    The more we get to know each other, you find just how much you may have in common with someone in a completely different field than you. You find how, together, we are stronger and connected. Between Member Minutes and Trust Builders, you can really get to know people on a more personal level and build a strong rapport with one another.

    Tips on how to be successful in Caerusnet? 

    Always show up and even more importantly, show up as your authentic self to attract your ideal clients! People can easily read through inauthenticity. Be you and be proud of what you do!

    Share how your Caerusnet Members have positively influenced you or your business besides passing referrals.

    I had a trust builder with another Member who has been doing this much longer than me and was able to mentor me on ways to help build my business and gain confidence in myself as well!

    Want to connect with Emily?  Here’s her website: https://evotoevolve.com/

     

  • ReferralTopia2021 – We Planted The Seeds of New Referral Relationships!

    ReferralTopia2021 – We Planted The Seeds of New Referral Relationships!

    Approximately 200 local Michigan small business professionals registered to attend ReferralTopia on Earth Day, April 22, 2021.  The event ran from 9AM-3PM on Zoom and was followed up by an in person mixer at Ginopolis Smokehouse in Brighton, attended by approximately 50 networkers.  ReferralTopia attendance was attended by approximately 50% Caerusnet Members (past, present and future).  The other 50% found out about ReferralTopia due to social sharing.  They worked together to plant the seeds of new referral relationships.

    The line-up of live speakers at ReferralTopia was second to none.  Steven Zyskowski, founder of Caerusnet and creator of ReferralTopia, kicked the day off with an inspiring presentation and gave instructions on how to based tackle the full day of networking.   Doug Moffat, owner of The Moffat Group (leadership coaching and defensive insurance specialist, Caerusnet Facilitator in Brighton, Ann Arbor & Detroit), kicked the day off with an amazing presentation about Humble Inquiry.  Later in the early afternoon, best selling author and entrepreneur, Lisa Mininni, presented on Human Wiring.  The final presenter was best selling author, TedX speaker and Forbes contributing columnist,  Stan Phelps.  Stan is well known for his best selling Goldfish series of books and his presentation was about “Lagniappe” – doing the extra, little things that add up to a differentiated experience.  To watch the replays of these presentations, click here:  https://caerusnet.com/referraltopia-2021-live-presenters-replay/

    “Zooming” in from Highland, Daedra (upper left corner) and Brian Surowiec (bottom left) from Strawesome demonstrated how they make glass straws to ReferralTopia attendee Jen Ling (bottom rt) and Steven Zyskowski.

     

    In addition to live presenters, the business expo featured 17 expo exhibitors!  A diverse group made for great networking.  The exhibitors were: Karl Carter, Thunder Bay business consultants; Eloisa Underwood, Perk Pros text message marketing; Brian M Truskowski, transitional life coach; Tom Hamp, Open Book Selling; Clark Keller, Data Driven Marketing; Hassan Hodges, Hassan Hodges Photography; Daedra & Brian Surowiec, Strawesome; James Linenger, Financial Architects; Kristy Scholl, Flagstar Bank; Valerie Kearns, Paychex; Amber Keyes, Keyes To The Kingdom; Charlotte Kaye, Charlotte Kaye decluttering coach; Barbara Zinser, Charles Reinhart Realtors; Mike Ooink, Ap

    plied Imaging; Jessica Starks, Transworld business brokers; Kevin McGuire, representing Caerusnet referral teams & Roger Burnett, Social Good Promotions.

    After the full day of online networking concluded approximately 50 professionals went to Ginopolis Smokehouse in Brighton to attend the afterglow.  All attendees walked away with free 20 oz Caerusnet / ReferralTopia torpedo glasses, compliments of Caerusnet and Social Good Promotions.  In addition, Strawesome made awesome Caerusnet glass straws to give away as a keepsake, well.

    The ReferralTopia planning team: Roger (top left), Minesh (bottom left), Julie Palmer (bottom right) and Steve (upper right).

    ReferralTopia took a lot of planning to pull off.  There was no format to follow, so, as usual, Caerusnet blazed a new trail.  This event would not have been possible without the commitment made by the ReferralTopia planning team: Julie Palmer, JemEvents; Roger Burnett, Social Good Promotions, and Minesh Baxi.  Thank you to all who attended and promoted #ReferalTopia2021.  We can’t wait to do it again next year! Save the date for ReferralTopia2022: Thursday, April 21 (Earth Day Eve)!