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When Achievers Face Failure, Here’s 4 Things They Do

Posted on 05.05.15 |

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG Capital Management Group

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG

Theodore Roosevelt once commented,” Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much. Because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”

Let’s face it, we all make mistakes and fail from time to time. The question is, “Is it possible to view failure from a glass half full (positive) perspective?” I would answer with a resounding “Yes” if you chose to look at a failure as a step toward success. Many times it is by our trials that we progress.

Behind most success stories there lie many incidents of failure. Most people don’t see all the failures. They only see one side of the process. Many believe success is just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Those who consistently succeed know better. It’s through these failures and their willingness to move forward that their success is born. Winston Churchill used to say, ” The ability to be successful is the ability to go from failure to failure without giving up.”

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Categories: Marketing, Practice Management Tags: Mike Sciortino, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Thomas Watson, Walt Disney, Winston Churchill

5 Simple Ways Your Encouragement Will Empower Others

Posted on 04.28.15 |

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG Capital Management Group

Leo Buscaglia said, ” Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

How do you find someone who needs encouragement? They are living and breathing. Look around you at home, at work, or wherever you are and you will find the people around you are in need of encouragement. Here is the great news! Encouraging someone is easy. It can be done by anyone, anytime, anywhere.

What I have found is if you look behind every great achiever you will find a superb encourager. Encouragers commit themselves to giving others encouragement daily. Whether in sports or in business, encouragers are all around us impacting others every single day.

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Categories: Marketing, Practice Management Tags: Charles Schwab, Knute Rockne, Mike Sciortino, ripple effect

Discover 4 Habits To Help Your Business Work For You

Posted on 04.20.15 |

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG Capital Management Group

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG

As Amelia Earhart once said, ” The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” Tenacity is made easier if you practice the right habits.

Through the years that I’ve traveled working with advisors and helping them grow their businesses, one common problem repeatedly comes up. How do I grow my business while still servicing my existing clients? So what’s the secret to doing this? Never be afraid to delegate various tasks in your business.

I remember one advisor in particular. He thought he had it all… A decent size book of clients, a great location in the center of town and a great support staff. However, he wanted more. I had seen this scenario played out many times before with advisors I had worked with. I have found that what they ultimately want is more time freedom. So, how can you accomplish that?

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Categories: Marketing, Practice Management, Tactical Investment Strategies Tags: advisors, Amelia Earhart, brian tracy, Colin Powell, Maxwell Maltz, Mike Sciortino, Napoleon Hill

The 5 Most Powerful Word Combinations You Can Use

Posted on 04.13.15 |

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG Capital Management Group

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG

In the words of Napoleon Hill, ” Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.” How true!

Think, is what I’m saying:

True

Helpful

Inspiring

Necessary

Kind

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Categories: Marketing, Practice Management Tags: Dale Carnegie, Mark Twain, Mike Sciortino, Mother Teresa, Napoleon Hill

Maximize Focus, Minimize Distractions

Posted on 04.06.15 |

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG Capital Management Group

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG

Can it get any more focused than stepping into the chalk, the batter’s box, for a hitter? Distractions must be blocked out as all eyes are on him to produce.

With today being the opening day for most Major League Baseball teams, all of the teams are entering the season with renewed focus and high expectations. As Aristotle said so many years ago, ” First have a definite, clear practical ideal: a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends: wisdom, money, materials and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.”  Sounds like Aristotle would make a great current day team owner.

As the season progresses, what will be the difference between the successful teams and the not so successful teams? You guessed it, focus. Focus on the little things while blocking out the numerous distractions.

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Categories: Marketing, Practice Management, Tactical Investment Strategies Tags: Aristotle, baseball, Destiny, Mike Sciortino, Yogi Berra

Master Closing With 3 Simple Approaches

Posted on 03.30.15 |

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG Capital Management Group

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG

Harvey Mackay said, ” You learn when you listen, you earn when you listen – not just money, but respect.”

When I started in the business I was extremely fortunate to have been afforded the benefit of consultative selling training. The simple act of being taught how to attentively listen to clients and prospects has made an enormous impact on my career. It has enabled me to present in a reassuring and reinforcing manner. In a moment, I will share some of these ideas.

This brings up a question I asked during some training recently. What business are you in? Yes, the correct answer is the “People Business.” Treating your clients with respect and helping them reach their goals and objectives, one at a time. What a great business!

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Categories: Marketing, Practice Management, Tactical Investment Strategies Tags: consistent, consultative selling, Discipline, Harvey Mackay, Mike Sciortino, sales

The “Sweetest 16” Quotes From An All-Time Legend

Posted on 03.24.15 |

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG Capital Management Group

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG

Tournament time! Cinderella teams! All-Time Legends! Fast Breaks! Slam dunks! Buzzer beaters! In the words of Dick Vitale, “Are you serious?”

As with each team starting out in the tournament with the hopes of raising the trophy and cutting down the nets at the end, you as an advisor are on a constant journey toward your pinnacle as well. You are always striving for consistency, building momentum and focusing you and your staff on doing your best.

Throughout the 60’s and 70’s, one of the game’s all-time legends, John Wooden, guided and coached the UCLA Bruins. They were the most dominant team in sports winning 10 NCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball titles. What can you learn from Coach Wooden and apply to your business?

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Categories: Marketing, Practice Management, Tactical Investment Strategies Tags: advisors, fundamentals, John Wooden, Mike Sciortino, principles, Success, wisdom

3 Ways To Maximize Your One Thing

Posted on 03.16.15 |

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG Capital Management Group

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG

You are paid in life in direct proportion to the number of problems you solve, opportunities you fulfill and contributions you make. As an advisor, you are chosen by your clients not only by those factors but also by your differentiating factor. So, what’s your one thing? What sets you apart?

The door is wide open for you to utilize your platform to have a positive impact. As Pablo Picasso said, ” All human beings are born with the same creative potential. Most people squander theirs away on a million superfluous things. I expend mine on one thing and one thing only – my art.”

I ask again, “what’s your one thing?” Many advisors I know respond, ” My ability to serve my clients and exceed their expectations.”  I would concur that this is a very worthy one thing. How do they do it? By constantly asking themselves 3 questions:

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Categories: Marketing, Practice Management Tags: advisor, Albert Schweitzer, clients, John Naisbitt, Mike Sciortino, overperform, Pablo Picasso, serve

Improve Listening With 4 Easy Steps

Posted on 03.09.15 |

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG Capital Management Group

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG

Years ago when I was just starting out in  the business I used to continuously listen to recordings by successful sales trainers any chance I could. It was invaluable to hear stories about how these trainers handled all aspects of the selling process. Today, I would like to share a very important lesson that has been invaluable to me in my career.

One morning, I was riding down the road on the way to an appointment as I listened to J. Douglas Edwards talking about the importance of active listening when all of a sudden he yells out, ” SHUT UP, SHUT UP.” This was followed by dead silence. He had made a point that to this day I have never forgotten. Once you have made your presentation, you need to sit back and listen to the client’s response. You may feel that you are waiting an usually long time, but the operative word here is listen. In this case, the trainer was trying to emphasize that when the client responds, they will tell you how you may help them solve their problem.

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Categories: Marketing, Practice Management Tags: advisor, client, clients, J. Douglas Edwards, Mike Sciortino, sales trainers

Stand Up And Stand Out: Embrace The Secret Power of Now

Posted on 03.03.15 |

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG Capital Management Group

Michael F. Sciortino, Sr. Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Head of Distribution, CMG

He who every morning plans the transactions of the day and follows out that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life. The orderly arrangement of his time is like a ray of light which darts itself through all his occupations. But where there is no plan, where the disposal of time is surrendered to the chance incidents, chaos will soon reign.”

– Victor Hugo

Over the years, I have observed that advisors are top performers in our business when they are so determined to be top performers that they will do things to be top performers that most people would never do. What is their secret? Well, you’ve probably heard the old saying,” Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today.” Their secret is taking action NOW! They become successful because they find ways to serve their clients better. To them, the only future their clients have is the one they help them create NOW. Successful advisors inspire their clients to make the necessary changes NOW that will enable them to reach their goals. They realize that every moment is a time of choice, every hour creates your destiny and they choose to act NOW.

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Categories: Marketing, Practice Management Tags: advisor, clients, impact, Mike Sciortino, secret, top performers

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