Victory is Ours!

IFAPAC introduced a new mascot that the membership voted to name “Victory.” Whenever you see our mascot, Victory, you know that NAIFA’s IFAPAC is working to support candidates that support our profession. However, have you ever wondered how that actually happens and how it connects with your day-to-day business? If this sounds like you and you haven’t considered getting politically active in the past, now is the time. Proposed legislation at both the state and federal levels pose huge challenges to financial services professionals that serve Main Street USA. It’s more important than ever that we actively come together to advocate on behalf of our respective businesses and the clients we serve. The good news is that you don’t need to know the first thing about the political process or how NAIFA advocates at the state and federal levels — we are here to teach you and provide an impactful experience. To participate, all you need to do is let us know you want to make a difference.

touchpoints and does everything from designing personalized greeting cards that include personalized token data and then are both emailed and printed/mailed, as well as utilizing social media. He equips himself with the right tools to reach more people in the least amount of time — again, focusing on the optimization of resources.

4. Stop Wasting Ammunition (Truffles Are Expensive!)

Marti often counsels his fellow entrepreneurs with another military philosophy of optimization by painting a tangible picture as to why you don’t shoot all your bullets at low-value targets, but instead, make sure that every shot counts. He says he often delivers this message through his role as a chef, which can be far less threatening than hearing it from a business coach. He goes through the math with those entrepreneurs that he coaches and shows them that the resources of energy and time are extremely expensive — just like expensive ingredients in a recipe. It is the ultimate lesson in waste not, want not.

5. Losers and Bums Are Often the Creators who Disrupt Business

Not only is Marti a renowned chef, but he is also a historian. He cites Fred Smith of FedEx as one of his favorite examples of those who inspire him — a category he lovingly refers to as “losers and bums.” Along the lines of savoring the “no,” Marti cautions those he coaches to not just believe in yourself but do not give headspace to anyone who says that you will fail. “If you’re going to be successful, go do it,” Mongiello said. “Shut up your mind and go keep failing until you get it right and succeed.”

6. Banquets Are for the Victorious Marti has an expression that he uses to pump himself up each day which is In Circus Maximus, or to “be in the arena.” He visualizes the ancient Roman Colosseum, hears the roars of the crowd and those of the three Bengal tigers that are about to be released to hunt him down. He says to himself, “I am here to do as much damage as possible and to set the world on fire!” Marti uses this method to get himself into his salesready mindset so that he is ready to take on the good fight and provide more people with the fruits of his labor, which he delivers with a pure heart because he has put in the effort and deserves the victory of the win.

7. Strategize Behind Closed Doors and then March as One Marti’s last ingredient in his recipe for success goes beyond the individual and focuses on the team. First, he notes that if you’re the smartest person in the room, then you need to go find another room; “simply put, don’t surround yourself with yes people.” Next, Marti takes another page from the military and discusses how battle plans are made: “Everyone goes into a room and