Yearly Archives: 2014

Success is Mastery

mastery

A few years ago, as part of an employee coaching program I hosted a session on the book Mastery by George Leonard. Despite the fact that Mastery was written more than 20 years ago, I found its teachings to be timeless. I strongly recommend this read for anyone with the dedication to pursue this extremely disciplined path. I reference some of Leonard's material in Chapter 6 of Welcome to the Big Leagues, as the true advocates of mastery will never find themselves in a Slump.

You can find free links to download George Leonard's book online or purchase a physical copy on Amazon. I would post the free link here but do not feel right about giving away an author's copyrighted material. Instead, I will give you a free copy of the slide deck I created on the book to help keep the learning fun. Enjoy!

Mastery Presentation

"Whenever someone is successful in a certain area of life, what that really means is they have mastered the laws of cause and effect in that particular area. For example, if you know someone who is successful financially, it should be pretty clear that they have mastered the 'cause' (what effort is required) to create the 'effect' (the result/outcome). If someone is successful with their health and fitness, they have mastered what it takes to create their body. Success isn’t chance, success is mastery." -George Leonard

Purchase Welcome to the Big Leagues...

Click Here

"The corporate rookie of today could benefit from additional support, as the demanding and competitive business landscape has become less forgiving of mistakes and poor decisions. Welcome to the Big Leagues emphasizes the importance of actively managing a host of critical success factors like the ability to drive results, strong collaboration and fiscal responsibility. It provides readers with the much needed edge on how to succeed."

Bettina Koblick, CHRO, Symantec

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-14T15:43:04-07:00

Bettina Koblick, CHRO, Symantec

"The corporate rookie of today could benefit from additional support, as the demanding and competitive business landscape has become less forgiving of mistakes and poor decisions. Welcome to the Big Leagues emphasizes the importance of actively managing a host of critical success factors like the ability to drive results, strong collaboration and fiscal responsibility. It provides readers with the much needed Continue Reading

"Welcome to the Big Leagues is a very enjoyable read that’s packed with many insights on how to succeed in corporate America and life in general. I strongly recommend it for all new college graduates who are now ready to up their game."

Andrew Del Matto, CFO, Fortinet

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-14T15:40:11-07:00

Andrew Del Matto, CFO, Fortinet

"Welcome to the Big Leagues is a very enjoyable read that’s packed with many insights on how to succeed in corporate America and life in general. I strongly recommend it for all new college graduates who are now ready to up their game."

"A positive wake-up call to remind us on how to do things right again. Welcome to the Big Leagues logically details the methodologies needed for building a blue print towards success. I wish I had this when I was entering the working world after my undergraduate degree. Every college graduate with the aspiration of performing at full potential should read this book."

Jay Kaufman, VP Marketing & Strategy, Annai Systems

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-26T20:14:08-07:00

Jay Kaufman, VP Marketing & Strategy, Annai Systems

"A positive wake-up call to remind us on how to do things right again. Welcome to the Big Leagues logically details the methodologies needed for building a blue print towards success. I wish I had this when I was entering the working world after my undergraduate degree. Every college graduate with the aspiration of performing at full potential should read Continue Reading

"Very creative! Welcome to the Big Leagues is a unique thesis on how to make an impact on the corporate environment. Using baseball as the backdrop, the reader is able to easily absorb and remember the lessons, the author, Carmine Del Sordi, is conveying. Very few business books speak to both physical and mental wellbeing; which further makes it essential to read."

David Tu, President, DCL Inc

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-14T16:28:33-07:00

David Tu, President, DCL Inc

"Very creative! Welcome to the Big Leagues is a unique thesis on how to make an impact on the corporate environment. Using baseball as the backdrop, the reader is able to easily absorb and remember the lessons, the author, Carmine Del Sordi, is conveying. Very few business books speak to both physical and mental wellbeing; which further makes it essential Continue Reading

"Welcome to the Big Leagues offers inspiration, humor, and the much needed insights to overcome the barriers that exist in the business world. It is a very enjoyable read where the author shares his personal stories in a way to help others."

Sally Jenkins, VP Marketing, VMware

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2015-03-30T12:25:09-07:00

Sally Jenkins, VP Marketing, VMware

"Welcome to the Big Leagues offers inspiration, humor, and the much needed insights to overcome the barriers that exist in the business world. It is a very enjoyable read where the author shares his personal stories in a way to help others."

"Welcome to the Big Leagues does a very good job of guiding the corporate rookie through the minefield of joining corporate America and providing a path to a successful career. Having played the game for close to 40 years; which included owning the roles of coach and mentor, I highly recommend this book for rookies and veterans alike."

John Sorci Jr., VP Global Operations, Symantec

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-09-24T16:00:37-07:00

John Sorci Jr., VP Global Operations, Symantec

"Welcome to the Big Leagues does a very good job of guiding the corporate rookie through the minefield of joining corporate America and providing a path to a successful career. Having played the game for close to 40 years; which included owning the roles of coach and mentor, I highly recommend this book for rookies and veterans alike."

"Carmine identifies the critical components that are necessary to live, survive and succeed in the corporate world. He does so in a manner that parallels the world of baseball and adds a dash of humor along the way. He is right on the mark and hits home as I relate back to the early part of my career. The corporate world is a very competitive environment that can be loaded with stress, ill feelings towards others as well as being a very unhealthy place to be. It is only those who understand how to identify roadblocks and how to handle them who thrive in such settings. In his book, Carmine has done an excellent job in highlighting all of this and giving some great advice to the corporate rookie, but I will also say that it is a refreshing read for us veterans that have been through it. I found that I was very entertained and recommend it to all."

Peter Gebert, VP Finance, Mannkind Corp

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-14T15:37:11-07:00

Peter Gebert, VP Finance, Mannkind Corp

"Carmine identifies the critical components that are necessary to live, survive and succeed in the corporate world. He does so in a manner that parallels the world of baseball and adds a dash of humor along the way."

"Welcome to the Big Leagues embodies Carmine's passion and commitment towards achieving greatness. The valuable tips and concepts apply throughout all industries and business sectors. With three corporate rookies of my own, I bought each a copy."

David Laverty, COO, Nixon Inc

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-14T16:03:36-07:00

David Laverty, COO, Nixon Inc

"Welcome to the Big Leagues embodies Carmine's passion and commitment towards achieving greatness. The valuable tips and concepts apply throughout all industries and business sectors. With three corporate rookies of my own, I bought each a copy."

"Every business rookie and professional will recognize themselves somewhere in Welcome to the Big Leagues, as it presents thought provoking stories and solutions to the challenges we face in our daily lives. Del Sordi creates a powerful tool that helps readers to align actions with who they want to be and where they want to go in life."

Jack Morgenstern, Global Head, Wipro Technologies

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-26T20:17:43-07:00

Jack Morgenstern, Global Head, Wipro Technologies

"Every business rookie and professional will recognize themselves somewhere in Welcome to the Big Leagues, as it presents thought provoking stories and solutions to the challenges we face in our daily lives. Del Sordi creates a powerful tool that helps readers to align actions with who they want to be and where they want to go in life."

"I've read Welcome to the Big Leagues twice and found it to be just like watching a movie, where you pick up more the second time around. This book is very powerful and packed with real world advice that college students, graduates, and millennials will all benefit from."

Spencer Hughes, Radio Host, The Spencer Hughes Show

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-09-25T07:10:06-07:00

Spencer Hughes, Radio Host, The Spencer Hughes Show

"I've read Welcome to the Big Leagues twice and found it to be just like watching a movie, where you pick up more the second time around. This book is very powerful and packed with real world advice that college students, graduates, and millennials will all benefit from."

"As a manager and mentor of recent college graduates throughout my whole career, I have finally found a guide book to recommend to those that want to succeed. Welcome to the Big Leagues gives straight-forward advice to new entrants to the maze that is corporate America. Passionate, practical and with a purpose!"

Jeanne Phares, VP, Group Controller, Macerich

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-14T16:10:18-07:00

Jeanne Phares, VP, Group Controller, Macerich

"As a manager and mentor of recent college graduates throughout my whole career, I have finally found a guide book to recommend to those that want to succeed. Welcome to the Big Leagues gives straight-forward advice to new entrants to the maze that is corporate America. Passionate, practical and with a purpose!"

"Finally a 'manual' for true professionalism in today's corporate workplace. From my seat, I have witnessed far too many times a recurring theme: Rookies, newcomers, young employees all looking to go from A to Z without any stops in between. This book should be a mandatory read for all job applicants and veterans like us who could surely use a refresher. Carmine Del Sordi knocks it out of the park."

Todd Kauffmann, Senior VP, UBS Financial Services

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-14T16:05:40-07:00

Todd Kauffmann, Senior VP, UBS Financial Services

"Finally a 'manual' for true professionalism in today's corporate workplace. From my seat, I have witnessed far too many times a recurring theme: Rookies, newcomers, young employees all looking to go from A to Z without any stops in between. This book should be a mandatory read for all job applicants and veterans like us who could surely use a refresher. Carmine Continue Reading

"In the business world, greatness only comes to those who consistently perform at peak levels and work hard to raise the bar from there. Welcome to the Big Leagues is a profound guide; packed with essential tips and powerful stories to coach rookies on how to achieve all-star performance, while getting the most out of career and life."

Luigi Sciabarrasi, Senior VP, DTZ

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-14T16:08:32-07:00

Luigi Sciabarrasi, Senior VP, DTZ

"In the business world, greatness only comes to those who consistently perform at peak levels and work hard to raise the bar from there. Welcome to the Big Leagues is a profound guide; packed with essential tips and powerful stories to coach rookies on how to achieve all-star performance, while getting the most out of career and life."

"Carmine presents this treatise against the backdrop of professional baseball; it is a highly entertaining read, providing humor and insight to cement his points and advice. Welcome to the Big Leagues is not only a guide for the corporate neophyte, but a useful guide for evaluation at any level in one’s career. After 30 years in technology development, I have found that it brings clarity to events that have affected my own professional career. I strongly recommend the read."

Steve Menchen, Scientific Fellow, ThermoFisher Scientific

Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie
5.0
2014-03-14T15:44:27-07:00

Steve Menchen, Scientific Fellow, ThermoFisher Scientific

"Carmine presents this treatise against the backdrop of professional baseball; it is a highly entertaining read, providing humor and insight to cement his points and advice. Welcome to the Big Leagues is not only a guide for the corporate neophyte, but a useful guide for evaluation at any level in one’s career. After 30 years in technology development, I have found Continue Reading
5.0
14

Perfect College Graduation Gift

Launching on 4/12/14, at the LA Times Festival of Books on the USC Campus, the hardcover edition of Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie, makes the perfect graduation present. This book was written to help college graduates, along with new entrants to the corporate world, thrive in…
Read more

Recommended Reading

scienceAt the end of Welcome to the Big Leagues, I recommend 5 additional books to read. These will help to keep the learning streak alive and broaden your perspective on the world, and your role in it. I do not mention When Science Goes Wrong by Simon LeVay, but I will do so now, as it is an easy and enthralling read. In business, quality is everything. Simon's book is full of short, but true examples of great catastrophes and errors made by some of the most educated, if not brilliant. As an individual and as a species, we have all been known to face extreme setbacks on the road to success. The more we learn now, the better chance we have of dodging such bullets in the future.

 

Purchase Welcome to the Big Leagues...

Click Here

Physical Wellbeing

allfourIn Chapter 7, The Stretch, of Welcome to the Big Leagues, I write about wellbeing and one of the key areas focuses on the Physical. You may be thinking "why would a business book take on the subject of Physical Wellbeing"? My answer: Welcome to the Big Leagues is much more than just an ordinary business book. My goal was to help the rookie crowd to avoid the drastic mistakes that I and many others have made. These errors go beyond the office, as trouble in one area of our lives impairs others.

There are many business veterans who teeter on the line of success. This group will also benefit from reading Welcome to the Big Leagues as a refresher.

As a person who almost always worked hard to stay physically fit, there were two periods in my life where I let the wheels fall off. As you may have guessed, the first occasion was as a corporate rookie. Consumed by work, I gained approximately 25 lbs. within a year.

The embedded pictures display my repeated battle between good and poor health. In Picture A, I was a newbie to the corporate world who just started to put on a few extra pounds; which didn't concern me. Picture B, was taken only one year later. During this time, I was in very poor health and shape. My workout regimen had been abandoned and it was not uncommon for me to binge at fast food restaurants four times per week. I felt and looked as though this lifestyle had aged me by at least 10 years.

Picture C was taken roughly two years after picture B. I had been living a much healthier lifestyle. Exercise was part of my daily routine and I made very smart food choices. My youth had been restored and I was in excellent health. You are what you eat and it showed.

Picture D was taken only one year after picture C. Those additional 25lbs returned home once again! Only this time, heart complications came with it. After a couple of poor EKGs, my newly sought cardiologist prescribed blood pressure medication.

The good news is that I returned to good health once again. I lost the extra weight and committed myself to a steady exercise routine. I have completed three full marathons after Picture D was taken and will complete more in the future.

Like all topics in this book, the areas of Wellbeing are very important to me. My stories and remedies were shared to help you. In order to effectively spread knowledge, I revealed and exposed more about myself than I ever thought that I would. As a leader who tells it like it is and leads by example, this really doesn't surprise me. Help to spread the good word and pick up your copy of Welcome to the Big Leagues on 4/12.

Purchase Welcome to the Big Leagues...

Click Here

 

Colin Powell on Leadership

I came across this presentation 14 years ago while in graduate school at USF. It resonated back then and it is just as relevant now. Powell's views on leadership are timeless. If you have the desire to grow into a business leader then this information is a must ... (Click on text below to download)…
Read more

Return On Investment (ROI)

One of the most important practices in business is to gauge the efficiency of investments. The ROI calculation allows management to measure this performance. The formula is easy to remember:
ROI=(Gains of Investment-Cost of Investment)/Cost of Investment

If that wasn't basic enough, then there are also ROI best practices to follow for almost all types of investments. When considering new mergers or acquisitions, management will typically pay three to five times earnings. In an ideal scenario the rate of return would be approximately 35% per year.
As young business professionals and CEO's of your own careers, managing the ROI on your personal spend is equally as important. This exercise should have already been performed when comparing the costs of your undergraduate degree against your estimated future earnings (despite the fact that only 27% of graduates work in the field of their major). For a little more on the basic concept of ROI, check out this embedded YouTube video.

When writing Welcome to the Big Leagues, I thought of the books costs to the consumer and compared it to the value that it will bring to your career and life. In short the costs were negligible and the wisdom gained, priceless. 🙂

In its rawest form, I designed the blueprint of Welcome to the Big Leagues to consist of 9 innings. Where each would contain five key tips to help new entrants of the business world follow a path of sustained success. The original intent was to have a grand total of 45 key business tips; which would essentially cap the cost of each to roughly 50 cents. Similar to the price of one of those stale, brightly colored and hard as a rock gumballs you find in vending machines at shopping malls.

Welcome to the Big Leagues transformed into something greater than what I had initially intended. Yes, it is still packed with essential tips. The Top 25 Corporate Dos and Don'ts take this intent one step further, but the heightened value comes from the stories. The subject matter is addressed in a way that is digestible to everyone. Real world examples and life experiences make the material very easy and enjoyable to read. Chapter 7: The Stretch, focuses on wellbeing where limiting these tips to only new entrants of the corporate world is truly a disservice. That's fine, as you are the ones putting your best foot forward each day to make a difference. You deserve the insight and awareness on how to proactively avoid the obstacles and pitfalls of the journey ahead.

After reading Welcome to the Big Leagues, I encourage you to utilize this site's Forum to share your story and/or to post questions. Also, know that I view your feedback as a gift and ask that you provide yours on the Contacts Page. Encouraging testimony may be posted for all to see.

Welcome to the Big Leagues releases on 4/12/14. Be sure to support the launch and capitalize on the value of your personal copy.

Purchase Welcome to the Big Leagues...

Click Here

POEMS

When I was attending Menlo Park Middle School in Edison, NJ, a contest was held for all grade levels in anticipation of the upcoming spring season. The rules were simple. Write a poem that celebrates spring and submit it by the end of the week. As only a third grader at the time, I won…
Read more