Tag: referral networking groups
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You’re Invited To The Caerusnet Annual Golf Outing Sept 23rd
Past, present and future Caerusnetters will be enjoying a fun day of golf and networking on Friday, September 23rd at Mystic Creek Golf Club in Milford, MI. Click here to register individually or as a team – and/or to be a sponsor and join in the fun!
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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 vendorsWant to pass Wendy a referral for Party In The House? Click here!
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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 launchedTurner 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?!
Trisha shares a great testimonial here with her Brighton Wednesday 10AM Caerusnet team:
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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)!
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Caerusnet Presents ReferralTopia on April 22 – Grow your network in 1 day online!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2021 – MICHIGAN – Caerusnet Facilitated Referral Teams is proud to present ReferralTopia LIVE online this year on April 22nd – Earth Day!
The 9AM-3PM event is exclusively made available to Caerusnet Members and non-Members, so long as they are Michigan based small businesses and service providers.
The all day event is going to be packed with value and for a limited time, tickets can be had for FREE by registering for the event on the Caerusnet website.
ReferralTopia is all about growing your referral network, making great new connections and learning from some amazing LIVE online speakers with serious credentials.
The day will feature three live speakers, an online live business expo and live online rapid relationship building sessions (think speed networking).
See the YouTube playlist to learn more about this amazing day! We look forward to planting the seeds of future referral relationships with you on Earth Day!
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Coach Evan Has A Healthy Referral Mindset In Caerusnet
As a Member of the Caerusnet Canton team, Evan Raoof is passionate about helping his clients train for the performance of their lives. He helps his clients
understand how to approach fitness in a way they can successfully adopt into their lives to become a meaningful part of their daily living. We had a chance to connect with Evan to learn more about him and get his take on the world of referrals!
How did you get into this field? I have always been into to exercise and truly, exercise saved my life. I was born with a type of Cerebral Palsy that impacts a portion of the right side of my body (leg and arm). When attending summer camp at age nine, I didn’t wear my brace for three months. I was faced with walking the right way or being in a wheelchair. We all have a story that allows us to be who we are. In adversity comes strength and will to create happiness.
How are you different and/or what’s your niche? I love the opportunity to help someone get healthy though fitness. My business has transformed me from being simply a personal trainer to also a lifestyle mindset coach. The truth about weight loss and your life is that it is not actually about weight loss sometimes. It is the relationship with yourself first and to others -family and friends. It’s all connected. At FitLiving Academy, I help clients achieve much more than health. I have recently started implementing weight loss and wellness programs into other health related practices and am excited to create such possibilities to impact more people. This helps be broaden the scope of referrals I can create for our clients in all aspects related to fitness, health and wellness.
Evan being interviewed by Jason Tracey, Roar Consulting. Share a success story about why giving referrals/bringing visitors are beneficial to you. The mindset of giving will come back to you 10 x! It took about 8 months to become the “know, like, trust” person and to get a referral from the team – yet that referred client is still paying me monthly. Months later, a Member referred someone who had money saved in a flex spending account without and they invested that with me to start a four-month health program. I value every relationship and take a stand for my clients results Referrals make it easier.
Any tips on learning how to find situations where you can create a referral or invite a visitor? The power is in the Trust Builder Meetings with Caerusnet Members.
As I connect with people I want to help make introductions for, I invite them to visit Caerusnet, where they can meet 25-30 of my powerful referral partners.What is your approach to positioning yourself as a resource in the community? I want to be known as a resource for all things related to fitness, health, and wellness. Caerusnet
is critical in helping get connected to the right people to help me get the word out.
Tips on how to be successful in Caerusnet? Steve Zyskowski runs a fantastic organization with a lot different teams – each with a unique culture, yet they all speak the same language. Visit each team in your area or territories and expand your network. Treat it like an interview. Because it is! Build relationships based on wanting to help others and serving your customers by being a great referral source. Plan on entertaining and educating. Each Member minute is an opportunity to educate, engage and connect with all Members of the Caerusnet team. Educate your Members in your Member Minute, Spotlight Presentation, and the important Trust Builder Meetings. Wear your sales manager’s hat and help other Members see where and when it’s the right time to refer you.
Click here if you woulf like to connect with Coach Evan!
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The Caerusnet REDEMPTION – Team Canton’s “Near Death” Experience Should Inspire US All
Enjoy and learn from this insightful discussion between Caerusnet Founder, Steven Zyskowski, and the founding Members of Caerusnet Canton. Their journey to success was earned through doing the right things and having the right attitudes. This team has faced challenges that other teams may not have rebounded from. Not only did team Canton rebound from major member loss (they went from 15 Members down to 7) but today, they are a prized Caerusnet team of almost 24 Members. What did they do to break through the glass ceiling? Watch Caerusnet Canton’s Redemption to find out.
A BIG “thank you” to Members Steven Burkhalter, Stacey Jaime, Todd Barr, Wade Myers and Julie Riley for volunteering your time to share your story with the entire Caerusnet network!Caerusnet has been an innovator and pioneer in the business networking arena since 2008. In early 2020 the company added ONLINE facilitated referral teams to its offering, supporting LOCAL small businesses with global technology. Caerusnet Facilitators organize local 1HR referral team meetings in the communities they do business in. The meetings can be online, in person, or a hybrid of both. Caerusnet is also SUPER affordable for most small business professionals. Want to find out if Caerusnet could help you and your business make great local contacts that will help you get more referrals in your business? Great! Visit our website today and contact a Facilitator to determine if we’re a good fit for you!
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Why We Should Get To Our Caerusnet Meeting Early
While the Caerusnet referral team meetings are 1HR long, Members are always encouraged to get attend 10 minutes before the meeting starts. Why? Often, there is great conversation, laughter are more! Watch the benefits of arriving early including being able to sing Happy Birthday to a fellow Member!
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Hassan Hodges Is Feeling The Referral Love In Caerusnet
Hassan Hodges’ was invited to visit the Caerusnet Ann Arbor 11AM referral team by Jim Campbell (a long standing, successful Member of the team who holds the world record for helping more professionals learn about Caerusnet than just about anyone). While having first seen Hassan’s photographic images on Facebook, Jim could see that Hassan had a lot of talent. Jim reached out to Hassan and discovered he was ready to get “out there” and grow his new photography business. Hassan accepted Jim’s offer to visit and quickly joined in the following weeks. He’s been a wonderful addition to the team and has been dependable, creative and consistent in his efforts. We were thrilled to spend time with Hassan and to learn from Hassan’s ½ year journey in business and as a newer Caerusnet Member.
How long have you been in your profession? As a profession, I’ve been doing this for 6 months. As a hobby, I’ve been taking pictures for 20+ years. Amazingly, I attended my first Caerusnet meeting on my second week in business.
How did you get into this field? I got started with photography at my college newspaper documenting Rutgers football during a 1-10 season which was a great introduction to making interesting images from a smoldering pile of disappointment. I resisted the desire to start a photography business for more than 10 years while I had two other careers in media and technology before taking the leap last fall.
What is the best thing about your business/career? I feel everything happening around me more deeply than other people do, and photography is my outlet for expressing what I feel. The thing that makes me the happiest is sharing what I see in the world with other people.
How are you different and/or what’s your niche? I have one speed: Full go, and I don’t do well with constraining myself. I don’t aim for perfection; I aim for beautifully authentic. I feel everything around me, and that’s what I try to capture: the feelings. I could also list a dozen technical skills I use, but at the end of the day, it’s the image that matters.
What is it about the Caerusnet model that you like most? I like the combination of building relationships and having tactical referrals. I’ve been in other group that have been good for making friends, and groups that have worked well for business contacts. Caerusnet has a great combination of the two. I thought that starting a business would be transactional, but it’s more like farming on Mars.
What is your strategy with your member minute and your spotlight presentation? I love that we get the same minute every week, which gives me a chance to practice the same pitch with variations and see what resonates. The first part of my strategy is to not draw a blank. After that, its just to be interesting. There are a lot of characters in my group which means I need to be on top of my game to standout.
Tips on how to be successful in Caerusnet? The more you can work with people in your group and get them to also sing your praises in their member minutes and positive focuses, the better off you’ll be. I did a shoot with my friend Leah McChesney and her six kids and she got some great photos and I got a lot of promotion in my group. A win-win for everybody. That’s that way that small business work though, we’re all in this together and lift ourselves up by lifting others. Want to connect with Hassan for a Trust Builder or to pass him a referral? Click here to visit Hassan’s website and you can find his listing here on the Ann Arbor Tuesday 11AM team!