Meet Us

Okay so we get it … there are lots of coaching and training programs out there in the marketplace. What you, no doubt, want to know right out of the gate is - Why is the Victory Circles any different and better, and why spend your time and hard earned dollars with us?

We decided to give you a top ten-list of the who, what and why of how our programs can make a big difference in the way you look at your business.

#1 We believe deep in our core that you don’t and shouldn’t have to do it alone in creating success in your business! The Victory Circles was founded in 2006 as a monthly Master Mind group based on the ideals that with the right support and tools so many more entrepreneurs and small business people CAN, in fact, make a difference with their businesses in the world. All while actually enjoying the process!

#2 Victory Circles Founder, Cheri Ruskus, has not only spent the past 11 years as a business coach, she has been in the trenches as an entrepreneur creating multiple successful companies over the course of more than 25 years. In other words, our foundation is backed by strong real world experience that encompasses both the down times and the good times that a business can and will encounter.

#3 Our organization, over the past 7 years, has developed a strong Master Mind curriculum, based on the Principles first created by Napoleon Hill (of Think and Grow Rich and Laws of Success fame). Each month we work towards the mastery of our members in these principles which include: Self Confidence, Leadership, Accurate Thinking, Honoring Time, just to name four of the Twelve Master Mind Principles. We know these principles sit at the core in the critical mindset development of our members and their successes, and of course - victories.

#4 In addition, Cheri Ruskus has taken the learning’s and real world entrepreneurial experiences of these principles and authored the powerful new book, Victory One Moment at a Time – Unlocking the Power of the Master Mind.

#5 The Profitability Coaches and Facilitators in our organization have not only been successful in their own right but have done extensive training here with us in allowing them to better assist members within the Victory Circles.

#6 We work with a wide variety of industry experts across the globe in gaining current knowledge, trends, trainings and a clear cut understanding of what needs to be done to make a small business today - Great! Many of these experts are available live on a regular basis for our members (two expert teleconferences per month in addition to our Radio Show) to gain insight. These expert teleconferences are also packaged nicely in our members audio library which is packed full of audio downloadable recordings of these events.

#7 In our Acceleration Coaching Program we have brought on the success and real world experience of Laurie Taylor, Business Growth Curve Specialist and creator of the Destination Greatness Program. In her program and on her live monthly coaching calls with us, Laurie shares with us the expertise it took to take her organization from zero to twelve million dollars in annual sales over the course of 14 years.

#8 The passion of this organization is based on seeing entrepreneurs succeed. Getting members where it is they need to go both financially and through a strong mindset that also allows them enjoy the process along the way.

#9 You will find that in all of our programs, including our newest one - the Traction Business Plan Building Program - to the Acceleration Coaching Program - our action based curriculums have been designed with the varied needs of today’s entrepreneur and small business person in mind. Which takes us right into #10…

#10 The members of our organization is what we do this all for – not to just grow our business – which yes, we enjoy doing as well – however, we passionately are here to grow our members businesses and hopefully soon your business as well!

Here is a little more data about who we are, our beliefs

…and why your programs are standing the test of time.

We believe that standing at the helm of any organization large or small is no small feat. In fact it can be, to quote the modern day phrase of our youth, “hella scary!” It takes the maximum amount of hope, courage and belief to be the go to person in the power role of CEO of a business. Every small business owner and entrepreneur no matter what title they have given themselves is the CEO of their organization. Yes, that stands for Chief Executive Officer in charge of all!

A key element to the long-term success of any business is the belief by it’s owner that they are moving forward in a direction that is best for the viability of the company they have created. Most small businesses end because of the lack of this key belief. Without proper sounding boards to exchange ideas, share concerns and get positive feedback many a small business owner quits in defeat.

How it began…

Fascinated by the concept of the workings of a Master Mind group and how it assists its members to see past their fears and doubts, Cheri Ruskus, a serial entrepreneur and Business Coach created the Victory Circles in 2006 as a spin off from her coaching organization Business Victories, LLC. With plenty of “networking” groups in the marketplace, and in true entrepreneurial fashion, she wanted to create a much different model - one that she could not find.

Cheri knew she did not want the meet and greet aspect of the meeting to be its sole purpose. Of course, relationship building between members would be important but she knew (and was right) that this key element would happen organically (and not just because the first meeting was in Boulder, Colorado). Cheri wanted to base the meetings more on the Master Mind principles and concepts first outlined by Napoleon Hill in his classic Think and Grow Rich, which she had read in her 20’s thanks to the great insights of a mentor.

The first Victory Circle meeting was held in March 2006 and from the get go it had a formula that worked. Constantly tweaking and adjusting Cheri moved the organization forward by writing a curriculum based on the Master Mind Principles. The 11 principles she chose from Mr. Hill’s laws of success complemented the one she added of her own, Honoring Time. Each one required members to really step out of their box and think differently. Cheri brought on other Business Coaches as Facilitators to run other Circles, and since then the organization has grown. One of those coaches who remains strong with the organization today and is a leader in her field of work around the strengths of entrepreneurs is Gloria Miele based out of Camarillo, California.

After several years when the economy turned it became clear that more coaching tools were needed to insure members were in fact working successfully “on” their businesses as opposed to always “in” their businesses. Cheri teamed up with Business Growth Curve Specialist, Laurie Taylor, who had grown a Boulder based business from inception to 14 million in sales. Together they incorporated Laurie’s Destination Greatness into the Acceleration Coaching Program and it has seen great success among those within the membership who get a strong arm on the financial and planning piece of their businesses.

Fast forward to today…

In January 2012 – seeing a strong need in the entrepreneurial world for small business owners to get back to the fundamental elements of writing a clear, concise and action oriented business plan – the 90 day Traction! Business Plan program was created. After much research and deliberation around what does and does not work when it comes to writing a business plan, the foundation of the program is not only the business plan template that is utilized but also the “100 Questions” that have been incorporated over the course of the program that leaves no idea, system or strategy unturned.

In addition, our monthly meetings have now given way to our quarterly full day Master Mind Intensives. Knowing how valuable our time is (especially for our primary members of women entrepreneurs) we find the work we can accomplish in a full day session – wrapping up one quarter, while getting ready to embark in another has been fantastic. There is also the One-on-One Mastery Days that allow those with the desire to get it done NOW to have a full day focused solely on their business with a Profitability Coach!

To Wrap it up…

From the day of the first Victory Circles Master Mind meeting there was an essence in the air that this organization would make a difference in the entrepreneurial and small business marketplace. A true Master Mind group makes its members accountable while making a difference in the way they think through running their business. The rest as they say is history…a history that continues to unfold…a history if you are not a part of already – we would love to have you join us for the ride!

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