Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have more than 17 years of experience working within Fortune 500 companies than span both coasts of the US. As a leader, I am also trying to bring out the very best in my team, as well as myself. I wrote this book to help the Corporate Rookie of today to thrive in both career and life.
This is not your typically business book, as the last thing I wanted to do was to publish another one of those dry and mundane books that I’ve become all too accustomed to reading. Welcome to the Big Leagues is so much more and I get very personal in it.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Welcome to the Big Leagues: Nine Innings of Essential Tips for the Corporate Rookie.
I take great provide in coaching others how to become a top performer and strive to reach full potential. Similar to life, the corporate world can be a challenging environment to manage and it is also very unforgiving of mistakes. My tips not only deal with the dos and don’t of the business world, they also tackle life outside of the office, as trouble in one area negatively impacts the other.
My goal was to write something for the 18-26 year-old that will help this demographic to thrive in the corporate world and in life. However, veterans who have read Welcome to the Big Leagues, have also found it very useful.
I wrote this book as if I were lecturing my younger relatives. Especially in the earlier chapters where I use a lot of edge. After starting with tough love, my tone softens a bit to later emphasize the importance of keys areas. There is great value in Chapter 7 where the focus is on five key elements of wellbeing: Physical, Occupational, Economic, Mental and Social (POEMS acronym). I stress the importance of pursuing each area in moderation with good stories on how to do it, as well as what not to do; which is very easy to find when referencing baseball players or greedy business execs.
In the book Blink, Malcolm Gladwell writes a segment on New Coke. He tells about how it dominated in all of the taste tests against Old Coke, Pepsi and the many others. Incredible results! It was certain to be a real blockbuster in the marketplace. However, when the product launched it failed miserably. The reason being was that it was too sweet and consumers could not endure an entire can. When I think of my book, I think of the opposite to be true. There’s not one Chapter that’s the best ever written but when you endure the entire book, you leave with something very special.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My only unusual habit was my overall routine. I’m an early bird and started writing the book each morning between 3 and 4am. I wouldn’t stop working until 5pm on most days. I provided myself with a very aggressive timeline and stuck to it. I had I three month window in my life that made this much dedication possible, and I chose to capitalize on it.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Malcolm Gladwell and Bill O’Reilly. Gladwell is one of my favorite authors and O’Reilly stands up for what he believes. Bill gets a bad rap, but I truly believe that he is out for the wellbeing of “the folks”. I read all of his books and hope that one day he will read one of mine.
What are you working on now?
Focusing my attention back on the corporate world. I plan to write again fulltime during retirement. Perhaps in 15 years.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My own website… www.thecorporaterookie.com
I wanted to develop a brand and believe that I did it with The Corporate Rookie. I have a website and a group on LinkedIn. I post frequent blog articles that have value to the audience. I also keep www.thecorporaterookie.com in my email signature and use it as much as I can…Youtube comments, Facebook, LinkedIn groups and etc… Anything to help get the name out there.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t only look to write something meaningful, also make sure the words you speak each day have meaning. If they don’t then why should you be heard. Before writing a book, be sure to know who you are…right down to the very core. Then make sure that your message and writing support this.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Success has many fathers, failure has none.
This is true in both the business world and life. Everyone loves a winner and most point the finger when something goes wrong.
What are you reading now?
Pete Townshend’s autobiography.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I will continue to post blogs on The Corporate Rookie website. Hopefully the number of viewers pick up after 4/12, once the book is released.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Bible and Moby Dick, since I haven’t read those. The Alchemist and Illusions are two of my lighter reading favorites.
Author Websites and Profiles
Carmine Del Sordi Website
Carmine Del Sordi Amazon Profile
Carmine Del Sordi’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Carmine Del Sordi is a post from Awesome Gang