HIT: High Intensity Tactics for Growth with Chris Cicchinelli

Chris Cicchinelli talks with LPK Chief Growth Officer Valerie Jacobs talk about forecasting future trends and then taking action on them. Plus, how she created her own job and persuaded people that they need a trend forecaster.

Chris visits with rockstar Mark Schulman to learn how to find passion in life. As the drummer for icons P!nk, Cher, Stevie Nicks, and many more, he has learned from strong women. Chris and Mark talk about why attention to details is so important. Plus, how you can ensure you’re on the top of your game EVERYDAY.

New York Times bestselling author Shawn Achor joins Chris to talk how happiness and success are linked. Just think about this, when the brain becomes more positive, your chance of success increases. It’s a science called positive psychology. Chris dives deep into how you can create happiness, the results optimists see, and if everyone can be happy.

In life, and in business, what is the number one thing we are all selling? You already know the answer.Chris breaks down how you can move up to the next level with your clients. People ask how he got to this point in his business. He had to learn early on to be grateful and happy which led him to the secret of growing. Plus, what his mom, Pure Romance Founder Patty Brisben, told him that gave him a new outlook on business.

We all have a lot on our plates when it comes to tasks, business calls, family matters. We wake up striving to check everything off your list. But entitled people can get in the way and steal time. Those people, hijackers, contact us because they know CEOs are problem-solvers. Losing that time makes us lose our focus.We all have an inner and outer ring we’re going after. The inner ring is the bullseye of what we’re trying to accomplish. The outer ring is the steps we’re taking to get there. If you take that 5-minute call from someone interrupting your day, it will take hours to get back on track. Why? Because then you have to get refocused. Start looking at your time monetarily. Everything you do needs to lead to the inner circle. Don’t get caught up in loving to serve people. As a business owner, we have to focus on the mission at hand. Throughout your day, take some time to meditate. This allows stress levels to melt away and it sharpens memory. Also, accomplish To Do List tasks every day. Chris’ preferred method of getting things done is the avalanche method. Do the most important task early on and then go down to the least important. Also, try the snowball method. This starts with the easiest tasks of the day. Third, learn to delegate. Business owners decide how best to spend our time.  Give attention and time and put more detail in your work. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, change your state.  

To get to the comfortable lifestyle you want, you have to be uncomfortable. If you see Chris in real life, the last thing he wants to hear is how lucky he is. Chris spent 3 years traveling in a U-Haul with his mom to promote the business. Up-and-coming business owners always ask how to get to his level. Here’s how: commit to the process, detach from the outcome. When you do the uncomfortable over and over again, that’s where you see progress. Let’s break down LUCK. L is for love. If you do not love what you do, you need to find it ASAP. U is for unstoppable. We are our own creators of destiny. Use fear as fuel. C is for consistency. Most people are consistently inconsistent. People who think consistency is boring probably already have a boring life. K is for kindness and karma. Live life by helping others around you and you’ll shift and grow to serve others. Luck is preparation meeting opportunity. That’s how you make your own luck.

In today’s world, marketing matters. Chris explains the negative and positives of marketing and branding during a pandemic. Now is the time to reassure your customers that your business is doing well and that it is also OPEN. We have to tell the customer what is going on and stay connected with them. One way to do this is by refreshing your products and packaging. During COVID-19, our process has changed. You can’t send a party experience to someone in the mail. Consider how you take an in-home party experience and transform it when you’re delivering a package. Also, make sure you have a follow-up system in place. There is a lot of noise in the market place. We are getting inundated with ads, but we are not making the experience easier for the customer. Be a problem solver, not the problem. You don’t want a one-time sale, you want a customer who will stay with you forever. Always focus on the lifetime value.

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” - Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived an amazing and inspiring life through his actions and speeches. Chris talks about the 10 things that this civil rights icon lived by that we should replicate in our daily lives. For example, as an adult it can be hard to dare to dream. But, if you don’t dream, then you’re risking not getting ahead in life. Right now, we see a lot of hate in the world. We must remember to lead with love. You can’t inspire change by sitting still. You have to go out into the world and be educated. Go out and serve others and not yourself first. An important aspect of inspiring change is also forgiving others. This may involve stepping outside of your comfort zone. Fight for your family to have the currency of life, which is choice. Commit to your vision without evidence. Fear, logistics, and failure will hold back that vision. Don’t let anyone take away your vision. It matters. We are some of the most powerful creatures. Make sure you continue to be clear about where you want to go.

Chris is speaking to everyone who says, “I am an entrepreneur.” He breaks down how to avoid 8 mistakes. Ask yourself, what is it that you’re truly going after? This way you can improve every day and people around you can see how excited you are to do business. What you’re selling matters, but also find a way to know and love your customers. 10% of sales come from products and 90% come from marketing. Set yourself up for success by surrounding yourself with people with the same mission. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant spent years without winning a championship. There was one catalyst that changed all that: coach Phil Jackson. Think about the people who are going to help you get ahead. We just started 2021, and now is the perfect time to commit to doing life different.

Chris breaks down how you run into 2021 with a new vision. We have pivoted due to the pandemic, but now we have to try harder. The greatest way you’re going to make a different is with your attitude. How you respond to difficult circumstances will determine how far you go in life. Attitude comes from different things, like home life, background, or environment and your mindset affects everyone around you. What you are thinking about is what you are bringing about. If you talk like a loser, you are going to lose. Also, you can’t change how other people act, but you can change how you react to them. Begin the new year with a challenge: say more positive things about people.

Commit to finding pleasure in discipline. Discipline is the bridge between what you say and what you go out and actually do. To do this, quit arguing with the plan. Many people hire a trainer and then argue with them. If they ask you to do 12 reps, you don’t just do 8. Don’t just get through the workout, get something from the workout. Will you continuously learn what’s out there? Focus on education that will fill you with an optimistic attitude. Read books. Listen to podcasts. Watch TedTalks. That’s how you’ll learn how to make money and conserve it. Will you focus on a plan? Time is more valuable than money. You can’t make more time, so do more with the time you are given. Will you get out of your bubble? The people that travel the most of some of the smartest people in the room. Life doesn’t get better by luck. Today, you decide the lessons you put in place. Are you going to become more disciplined?

Don’t let concentration go out the window. Take these next 10 minutes to listen to Chris’ advice on overcoming distraction. The first and most important step: turn off those notifications! It will take you 30 more minutes to get re-engaged in tasks. Hear why Chris creates a playlist when focusing on a task. Another step to increasing concentration, find someplace that is yours. When you’ve been sitting for a while, get up and move. This stops you from drifting away into laziness. Take care of the most important asset, which is you!

Raise your hand if you never finish your to do list! Chris Cicchinelli gives us quick tips to get things done. How to set realistic expectations for projects and, ultimately, your business.The Secret is You with Chris Cicchinelli

Chris Cicchinelli took Pure Romance from a $1 million company to a $400 million company. Along the way, he saw failure, but also success. Now he’s taking what he learned to help you! How you can live by the mantra living uncomfortable will give a comfortable lifestyle and how he sees fellow CEO Gary Vaynerchuk live by that mantra. Plus, why it’s important for you to know your value!The Secret is You with Chris Cicchinelli

We’re pivoting! Chris Cicchinelli made the most of the shutdown and wrote a book called The Secret is You. In this episode, he breaks down the ways you can have a healthy, productive debate. As a business owner, he tells us how to get our points across without arguing.

Rejection is not failure. Chris explains how you can make rejection the fuel you need to succeed. Don’t take ‘no’ personally, and make it an opportunity to improve.

Grab a pen and paper and take some notes! Chris has six simple steps you can follow to reach your goals

Now is the time to focus. You don’t plan for bad things to happen, but it’s outside of your control. You can hatch a plan now. Chris breaks down how you can use 90 days to reach your goals.

In times of crisis, teams depend on a leader to guide them. In this episode, Chris cooks up 6 key ingredients that make a great leader.

Simplification can increase your motivation and brighten your future. Chris breaks down the ways you can find inspiration and build your business.

Treat every sales call like it’s the first time they see you in action. Play every game like it’s your last. Chris talks about reacting to failure and how it can impact your business, so you can be like Mike.

You have access to the entire world thanks to the internet. Why not take advantage of it? In this episode, Chris gives 5 lessons that you can use to improve your presence on social media.

Your home is filled with distractions. Kids don’t have school, your TV blasts the latest update on COVID-19, and your phone lights up with all kinds of notifications. Chris breaks down the 7 things you need to do, so your business doesn’t crack under pressure.

Coronavirus may have canceled sports, school and going into work, but don’t let coronavirus cancel the rest of your life. Chris talks about the most important thing to keep your business on track so you can get in the arena and complete.

The currency of life isn’t money, it’s choice. In this episode, Chris talks about putting choice into your own hands by working hard enough to earn it. Life is designed to give you what you deserve, not what you want. Are you giving effort or excuses?

The 2nd quarter of 2020 is on the horizon. Can you say the same about your goals? Defining success in the new year is easy but maintaining that path throughout the year can be a different story. It’s time to check in on your progress, your discipline and most importantly, your mindset.

You’re either working towards success, are successful, or have given up. Where do you fall? In this episode, Chris talks about creating a clear vision of abundance and being an active participant in attaining it. Because, you can’t participate in the cause without participating in the effect. Are you ready to go for the goals?

Success isn’t celebrity status or an impressive job title, it’s a culmination of attitude, skill and knowledge. Most importantly, success is whatever you want it to be. Stop asking others, “what is success” and start asking yourself, “what does success mean to me?”

Living with change isn’t enough… we need to FIGHT for change. In today’s episode, Chris talks about how he and Jess are turning their mission with the Living With Change foundation up a notch. How can you join their fight? Hit play and find out!

Patrick Mahomes shows us what can be possible when you make your emotions work for you—not against you.

Your brand isn’t the products you sell or the logo you wear, it’s YOU. Your actions, your values, and your impact on people. Justin Timberlake has been building his brand since childhood and after meeting him, it shows. You don’t have to be a pop star or even a CEO because in today’s world, someone is always watching. How would people describe your brand?

Chris welcomes Josh Guttman to explore how quickly a business should grow and why giving is better than receiving.

Chris talks to Barefoot Wine Founders Michael Houlihan & Bonnie Harvey.

Everyone knows the new year is the time to make the changes you want to see in your life, your career, and beyond. Make sure you're giving yourself every opportunity to succeed with Chris’s five tips on having the best year yet!

There’s a reason ProLink Staffing was named one of the best places to work in Cincinnati; It’s Tony Munafo, its Founder and CEO. Tony’s commitment to empowering his employees with training and mentorship is evident by the growing success of the company. Entrepreneurs— take note!

For over 25 years, Sound Concepts CEO McKinley Oswald has been moving businesses into the fast lane by improving their technology strategy. Chris and McKinley break down the importance of forward-thinking implementation and deployment, and the strategies that could make or break your business!

The title of a leader isn’t something that’s passed on, it’s earned. Chris and Britney Ruby Miller discuss the obstacles of taking over the family business and proving themselves as leaders despite of it.

Are people having less sex? LPK’s Chief Insight Officer, Valerie Jacobs, is back to talk about the “sex recession” we’re living in. In an age where sex is more open and acceptable, why are younger people having sex less? Chris and Valerie explore the reasons for the recession and the impact it has on our culture.

Celebrate diversity! Chris talks with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Vice President of Inclusion, Mary Stagaman, about why it’s important to cultivate a diverse and inclusive workplace. Mary talks about the community benefits of diverse organizations and brings hard-hitting facts to the table about the real bottom-line benefits of inclusive hiring practices.

Put yourself in the driver’s seat! Chris and Suzanne meet with Andrea Owen, a life coach and business owner with years of experience in life management. Andrea explains the importance of self-reflection, the strategies for recovering from disaster, and when and how to listen to your “inner critic.”

Are you casting the right people to fill your organization’s roles? Chris takes a backstage look with Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati’s own D. Lynn Meyers on the psychology of casting. Chris and Lynn pull back the curtain on why you should try taking a casting director’s perspective when looking for your next perfect candidate.

Business trends are fickle, powerful, and might seem unpredictable, but to LPK’s Chief Insight & Innovation Officer, Valerie Jacobs, they’re too important to ignore! Chris and Valerie explore trend behaviors and trend cycles—why is innovation so important for businesses today, and what in next in our fast-paced, digitally-connected world?

Financial consultant Brad Nelson knows what it’s like to start from the ground up. Brad’s own journey from overwhelming debt to financial independence is the foundation of his work as a personal finance coach. Chris and Brad discuss how you can battle financial obstacles (really!) and how you can develop the skills (and habits!) you need to be truly debt-free!

From paycheck-to-paycheck to serving on the Pure Romance Senior Board of Directors, Lindsay Wagoner has seen and done it all. Chris and Lindsay crack the code on owning your own business—discussing the hardest obstacles you’ll face and the incredible heights you can reach if you’re willing to put in the work. Are you ready to get your hands dirty and do what you’ve gotta do to succeed?

It’s the big 5-0! Pure Romance SVP of Sales & Training Cheryl Force and sales guru Brian Parsley are back to talk about happiness: what it means, how to measure it, and how to grow it for yourself! When’s the last time you gave yourself a motivational talk to be the best you? Simple changes in your perspective can turn the tables when it comes to finding joy in your own life.

Let’s talk strategy! It’s all about the power of perspective—Chris gets in-depth on Dan Zadra’s guide for more focused living, “The 5 Book: Where Will You Be Five Years From Today?” Have you thought about your next 5 years? That’s only 1,825 short days! Chris also talks about visualizing success, because life’s too short for regrets. A good mindset might be the only thing you need to turn your “what if” into “what IS!”

From body language to work ethic, Chris turns the tables with 10 business tips that don’t need “talent.” With more than 20 years of experience working with entrepreneurs, Chris nails down some of the biggest life-changers that anyone can start doing—right now! The real question is, what are you waiting for?

No surprise here: It’s hard to go out and get business every day. In decades of work with business owners, Chris often comes across entrepreneurs with image problems. The one issue they share? They have trouble saying “yes”. Chris breaks down a purely customer-focused approach that empowers you and your team to meet buyer needs. How can you go the extra mile to be able to say “yes” more often and strengthen your relationships?

Maybe it’s their budget, maybe it’s the time, or maybe your solution just doesn’t fit their needs. Whatever the reason, customers sometimes throw up a communication wall. Get things rolling again with Chris’s best “been ghosted” tactics that’ll help you rekindle customer contact AND save your sale!

Chris has awesome news: a new Harvard study says that optimists—people who tend to approach life with a “glass half full” outlook—live 15% longer! (Spoiler alert: that means YOU can, too!) Ready for the sunny side of life? Find out what you can do today to start living your life with optimism and positivity.

It’s no surprise that most people fear change, but did you know that most high-achieving entrepreneurs have learned how to stop that fear—right in its tracks? Chris and Brian use decades of experience in business growth, sales, and marketing to arm you with the most powerful weapons against the uncertainty of the unknown.