Financial adviser Scott Spalding shares success strategies

What inspires you to show up at work every day? 
Knowing that the work I do will make an immediate difference in the lives of the people I work with as well as their generations to come.

How did you determine your career path?
Ever since college I have been helping friends do budgets & get out of debt so the financial services arena was a natural transition.

What other industries connect to your career choice?
My background is in real estate & finance plays a key role in there. You have to have your financial house in order to truly take advantage of leverage.

Describe the future skill sets that are essential to future business leader and innovators?
Communication has always been a key factor where you have to relate to others & equally important they must relate you. One must embrace technology or your company will be left in the dark.

Define innovation methods you apply to your business and life.
I tend to follow the golden rule & treat others the way I would like to be treated and lead by example. It’s the simple things in life that have the most profound effects.

Describe goal setting methods you use and how you evaluate your success.
I set goals for the year & break the goals down to quarterly, monthly, & weekly tasks.  At the end of week I track what was accomplished & note why a particular task was not reached.

Who do you consider your peers in your field?
Michael Kipniss & Jamar Bates, both men have a tremendous work ethic, lead by example, and go out of their way to assist others.

How do you stay abreast of what’s happening in your industry?
I constantly read industry periodicals such as Advisor Today, Wall Street Journal, Life Insurance Selling, and Life Health Pro.

Name your favorite role models for success in two industries.
Herman J. Russell and Warren Buffet

Names three books that changed how you saw life that you would recommend to others. 
Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun? by Reginald Lewis  Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill & The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley

Describe why lifelong learning is important to you.
The old saying of “if you don’t use it you will lose it” The world around us in constantly changing & you have to stay mentally sharp to succeed & it help with your overall health.

Describe the voice of success that you hear in your head.
I always hear I can do it & when others doubt me that is the added fuel I use to prove them wrong.

Community success based on what you do in the community means what to you?
If you want to change your community it requires you to get involved. It’s one thing to talk about it it’s a game changer to roll up your sleeves and do something about it.

Technology plays what role in your daily life?
It allows me to work more efficiently and when you are on top of technology it makes it easier for others to do business with you.

What software and technology apps have made the biggest difference in your life?
The iPhone allows me to transact business from wherever I am, we are in a society where everyone wants everything now, so this allows me to stay on the pulse of my business. LinkedIn, allows me to meet people I would never know & learn a good bit of information about them with just a few clicks of the button.  I also use various industry financial software applications to evaluate best options for clients.

How do music and culture define your self-identity?
Music always lifts your sprits no matter how you are feeling. Cultural events expose you to different heritages and to your own culture which you may not have known or been readily exposed to.

Define your personal culture.
I’m an earlier riser usually up by 5am and start my day with working out, I try to eat the right foods, and creating a balance between work and my personal life. I also cut down the amount of TV I watch & used my time in a more productive manner.

Describe your favorite vacation spot.
Anywhere with blue/green water & lots of sun so the various islands in the Caribbean are always a top choice.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
To make sure everyone is not afraid of different cultures, deep down we all want the same things (to live well, be happy, financially secure, families well provided for & to be loved) we just all go about it in different ways of getting there.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I wish I would have mastered a foreign language so I can communicate with other cultures & had more opportunities for growth.