Chris Cicconi

Chris Cicconi Inc

Fraction sales, leadership and business development.

Helping founders and early stage sales orgs build repeatable and scalable processes.

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Founder & Head of Sales

ARC Roasters

We make speciality coffee fun and accessible.

Co-Founder & Chief Caffeination Officer 

Unicrn

Founding Team Member & Jr Partner
Unicrn is a hand-selected collective of the best freelance sales, marketing, revenue operations, and enablement professionals from the world’s fastest growing companies.

Our mission is to quickly and seamlessly connect growing businesses with the right fractional talent to help everyone get farther, faster. Our GTM Pod system matches business needs with proven industry experts who strategize, document, and execute the GTM motion.

Head of Business Development

983 Media Productions, LLC

Working with 983 Media's founder to build partnerships with both potential clients, as well as other vendors, venues etc in an effort to deliver an exceptional eSports experience to all game developers and players.
Taking a leading role in helping 983 launch it's publishing arm - 983 Interactive. 
On air experience:
Host of "The Frontline" The Official Kards Podcast as well as all Official eSports events (a game by 1939 Games)
Gwent Qualifier Caster and Gwent Partner (a game by CD Projekt RED)
Production assistant for the Parallel World Championships

VP of Partnerships

Replicant

Led a team of 7 business development representatives selling an AI powered contact center automation tool to 5 core industries.
Generated over $48M in pipeline so far this fiscal year.
Promoted 2 BDRs to AE roles

Director of Business Development

Visier Inc.

Implemented a "Pipeline Acceleration Plan" to dig out of a pipeline deficit to meet the $59m OKR for the year, 3 months early.
This included growing the team from 6 to 12 BDRs and 2 BDR leads while implementing improved onboarding & framework to help them see success quickly.
The team set a record for the most pipeline generated in the 10+ year history of the company in July.

Senior Manager, Business Development

HRWize

Within this role, I not only handled the full sales cycle, but also hired, trained, developed and lead the full cycle sales team. HRWize is an HRIS system focus on small and medium size businesses of any industry, mainly within Canada, but with no limit to partner globally.

Sales Manager

Aerotek

While continuing to partner with my clients to deliver the highest quality of talent and service, I also manage our Professional Services division in Montreal. This entails both building out strategy and managing, coaching and developing our team of 10 account managers and recruiters to assure that we provide access to the quality candidates you need to support your business.

Continued to grow the divison to over $13M in revenue

Practice Lead - Professional Services

I became the first Account Executive for Aerotek's Professional Services Division in Canada. 
My role entailed business development and management of the fulfillment team for the Professional Services division. 
Lead a team of up to 6 individuals (recruiters & account managers) and grew the division from scratch to over $8M in revenue.
Archived 5 "President's Clubs" and multiple "Million Dollar Clubs".
Won the Director's Award in 2017

Account Executive - Professional Services

I specialized in technical staffing through Aerotek CE® (contract engineering), a division of Aerotek.

Technical Recruiter

Aerotek® Inc. is a leading provider of technical, professional and industrial recruiting and staffing services. We are part of Allegis Group® Inc., the second largest staffing company in the United States.

Sourcing Specialist

Sports Experts

I was responsible for training employees on the technical aspects of products, supervise them, open and close the store and register.

Keyholder

Paying it Forward 👉 One Day at a Time

Salesperson 💸 --> Coach ✍️ --> Leader 🙋‍♂️
Sometimes a content creator 🎥 - always a goofball 【ツ】

I love building things, but not physical things.

I have a passion for building teams, networks, processes, procedures and revenue but most importantly people. 

This had led me to helping founders pivot from founder led sales to a sustainable and scalable sales engine.

Hit me up if you want to talk sales, fractional leadership, 👟or ☕️.
--------------------
I was once given an opportunity that has allowed me to build my wonderful career.
I want to make sure others have the same chance.
#payitforward

Content Creator

Host of "The War Room: The Kards Pre-Game Show" by 983 Media (a game by 1939 games)
Host for all Kards Official eSports events, including the World Championship Series
Host of "The Frontline" The Official Kards Podcast by 983 Media
Gwent Qualifier Caster and Gwent Partner (a game by CD Projekt RED)

Chris 🦄 Cicconi

I lost 150lbs this year! 

What a ride it has been.

Except I didn't, but AI can make the pounds melt away in 30 seconds or less.

LinkedIn is already filled with enough smoke and mirrors
The "8 figure playbooks" (only $99!)
The made up close rates (seriously, I close at 108%)
The engagement bait "Comment 'clown shoes' to unlock my sales secrets"

Now that we can fake physical reality too....It's getting harder to separate reality from fiction. 

Social media is already a mental health minefield, and it will only get worse when AI can fake fitness, success, and bank accounts. 

Critical thinking isn't just a soft skill anymore, it's a survival skill. 

So don't believe everything you read (or see) on here 🙃

Building Sales @ KnowledgeNow | Still Fixing GTM. Still Roasting Bad Takes.

Imagine getting outed for liking your own post...

By a cold email where they mention you liked "Chris Cicconi's post"

Folks, the bar is so low you can walk over it without even noticing....

I should respond that "Chris Cicconi is an absolute 🤡 " and you probably shouldn't quote him in your cold email.

Cold calling is just as much what you say as how you say it.

You can have the perfect script, but if you don’t believe you’re talking to the right person, your tone gives you away.

You hesitate.
You sound uncertain.
You accidentally ask the CEO “uh….is Bob there?” 

Giulio nails it in this video.
Don’t waste time confirming, just dive into the message.

The problem? 
Most reps don’t trust their data enough to do that.

We’ve been conditioned to double-check because we’ve spent YEARS calling the wrong people.

Back when everything went through a receptionist (yes, I’m old), you always knew who you were getting.

Now? It’s all mobile dialing and half the numbers are wrong.

That’s why I use FullEnrich
Their coverage and accuracy gives me the confidence that I’m actually speaking to the right person. So when I dial, I’m not guessing. 

For a proper cold call, what you say has to match how you say it.
Having the right data is what makes it possible. 

Anybody had success with confirming who you're speaking to?
Or do you traditionally jump right into the message and assume you have the right person on the horn?

Brand partnership • Building Sales @ KnowledgeNow | Still Fixing GTM. Still Roasting Bad Takes.

Thanks for proving my point LinkedIn.

I posted on Friday about how I lost 150lbs this year complete with a before and after selfie.

Except that I didn't, the selfie was AI and all I wanted to highlight was how good AI has become.

And my comments were filled with wonderful people supporting this massive life changing event. 

Not sure if it speaks more to AI being credible or people only reading the hook of LinkedIn posts, but my point was still proven.

Don't believe everything you see, read or hear.

Thanks for proving my point

Warning: Boomer take incoming 

I'm happy I started my sales career with minimal technology.

I had Salesforce and old school LinkedIn and that was about it...

Why? 
I had to enter my own notes into Salesforce (and Siebel before that 🤮 )
I had to dial by hand - punching all 10 numbers in with my fat fingers
I had to learn how to write a proper email
I had to learn how to ask prospects and clients for their cell phone numbers

And I could go on and on, but I truly believe that it has allowed me to learn the fundamentals and appreciate all the new tech.

I can power dial, find mobile numbers with the click of a button and have something automate my CRM notes 🤣 

...I still write my emails by hand because AI ain't it. 

What process or technology dates you as a professional?

In honour of US Thanksgiving, I have a hot take.

Stuffing is the superior side.

It doesn't need to be cooked in the turkey.
It can even be with a base of boxed Stove Top.
Spruce it up and it can't be beat.

Gravy makes it better.
Putting olives in it ruins it.

And you will not be able to convince me otherwise.

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends.
We need more excuses to eat stuffing.

You're allowed your opinion.
That doesn't mean I have to share that opinion.
And I'm not wrong for disagreeing.

Vicki here doesn't like being on the receiving end of permission based openers.
That's cool, not everybody does.
But it works for some people.

Should those people stop because one person cried about it on the internet? Absolutely not. 

I do agree with her last point though, be natural, be kind, be yourself and if you deliver a PBO really well, do that too.

My pet peeve?

Meeting somebody for a virtual coffee chat.

A couple days go by and all of a sudden my inbox welcomes their newsletter to it.

Just because you have my email from a calendar invite doesn't mean I want to read your newsletter.

In fact, after spending 30 minutes with you, it's probably the opposite.





...I know I saw my pet peeve as me opening line, maybe I should have written "one of my pet peeves" 🤷

I don't believe in gatekeeping coffee.

...or sales for that matter.

What do I mean?

Sure, I roast my own coffee.
Yes, I prefer a single origin Ethiopian prepared with a V60

But when somebody orders a "Double, double" (look it up, it's a 🇨🇦 thing) from Tim Hortons and looks at me expecting a disapproving look, they won't get it.

It's your coffee, you do what you want with it, you're the one drinking it.

It's the same in sales. 
I like leaving voicemails when I cold call.
I might even use a PBO every now and again.

So when somebody posts that they don't believe in leaving voicemails? 
That's cool, I believe you're leaving money on the table, but it's not my money. 

Where I draw the line? 
When you tell people how they should act.

You might not leave voicemails but don't go running around saying other people shouldn't either.

Just like I won't tell you that Starbucks coffee is basically roasted beyond death and tastes like cigarette butts to me. 

Because they still serve 10 million customers a day and I'm one person with my own preferences.

So Qwilr messaged me the other day and said...
"Hey Chris, we have this Super Mario inspired - "

And that's where I stopped them. 
Because anybody who has seen the giant Lego Bowser and Lego NES in the background of my Zoom calls knows that jumping on this was a no brainer.

I got to relive the highlights (...and lowlights) of my career in all the glory of 8 bit, music included. 

While I'm not entirely sure if Bowser roasts on BBQ night - I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

This was a blast and I love the creativity they put into everything they do.

Check out the link in the comments to play through your own career! 
For better or worse 🤣

Sh!t's simple.

Human's just like to overcomplicate things.

Yes, this is both about sales and not about sales.

I've lost a good amount of weight this year and people have asked
"How did you do it"
Simple --> Calories Out>Calories In.
Hard Part --> Cookies are delicious

The same applies to money, want more savings?
Simple --> Money In > Money Out 
Hard Part --> Getting more money and life being expensive AF

Want to do well at sales?
Simple --> Don't be a 🤡 
Hard part --> The primal desire to say things like "I hope this email finds you well" and "Just following up on this" 

In all seriousness, we want to complicate things with crazy supplements, something called the Smith Manuever (it's a 🇨🇦 money thing and I don't even know that I understand it)  or creating a 47 step automated outbound sequence. 

And we don't even have the basics down yet.

We all want to feel special, or that we're further ahead than we are.
Take a step back, check your ego and focus on the fundamentals.

The bar has become so low sales folks.

And this isn't a knock against this dude giving his talk.

The crazy part about it is that he had to say:
"Prep 1-2 questions for your meetings" 

I can't understand what that isn't just understood. 
To be honest 1-2 questions is still underprepared in my books.

Your prospects have limited time and you have even less time with them, if you can't be bothered to prepare for your meeting, maybe it's best to cancel and save everybody some time...

Can we stop "vibing" with AI please?

Why can't we just, do the thing? 

Actually, Vibe Coding is pretty cool, because I am zero technical.

But Vibe Selling? 
Can't we just sell?

Nothing AI has spit out, thus far, has been worthy of being put in front of another human being in a sales environment. 

Vibe Selling. Vibe Marketing. Vibe Investing. Vibe Product Management (yes I've actually seen this). Vibe Snacking (to be fair, THIS is my forte). 

It's become a buzzword worse than companies slapping "AI" on their product just for stock price bump. 

Yes, AI has plenty of uses in the sales world and in the world in general, but can we stop labeling it "just because"?

I usually hate the whole discounting process in sales. 

Ironically, the end of year discount is something I can support.

Why?

Because you're actually getting something out of it. 

The biggest problem with discounts is reps are handing them out like candy in an effort to close the deal, without rhyme or reason. 

But sales is a negotiation and pricing should be too. I'll happily give a client a discount if that means they can:
-Start earlier
-Start later
-Skip some steps in the approval process
-Pay sooner 
etc.

I give you a discount and I get something in return.

At the end of the year, getting revenue in to hit your number/company number is totally fine in my books (especially in my world of working with small companies)

Because you are trading off a discount with a contract being signed and/or payment being made before the end of the year.

The only caveat? Stick to your guns. If it doesn't happen and it gets pushed into the new year, the discount has to come off.

Reps who ask the tough questions close more deals, faster. 

The sad part? The questions aren't even that tough.

I was on a call this week with a client we were presenting a proposal to for an additional project.

Everything seemed to line up budget, scope etc

They're good clients, we've worked with them for years, so the presenter leaves it off with:
🗣️ "So let us know once you talk to your boss to get approval and we'll be ready to go"

Me, having PTSD from being ghosted forever and always jumps in
🔊  "Could we set up a time to follow up next week once you talk to your boss?"

The response? 
🤑 "Why don't we just go ahead and schedule the kick off call and if something goes sideways, we'll regroup"

We wait from waiting to hear back to scheduling the kickoff call. 

No, not every deal will close that easily, but you better believe next time I'm just going to ask to schedule the kick off call proactively 🤣

Leading our Hawaii-based team of professionals to offer local businesses the best in HR services, technology, and expertise.

Performance Achievements
- FY 2025 SuperStarts qualifier
- Hit full 2025 fiscal year quota in 5 months
- FY 2025 President's Club Qualifier

Major Account Sales Leader

Sales Mastery Coaching - Helping salespeople get the coaching they deserve

Dale is a business growth consultant and certified change practitioner with over 15 years of experience working in professional business-to-business roles. Almost all of Dale's experience is in new business development with a focus on growth and new client/logo acquisition. His extensive background includes front-line sales in a highly saturated, high competition industry through successfully leading a multi-state sales operation for a Fortune 200 company. Throughout his career, Dale has earned distinguished awards and recognition for his efforts on both a local and national level.

Dale's diverse experience across many different businesses, combined with his first-hand knowledge of what it takes to deliver sales results, gives him the ability to analyze and understand sales systems in even the most complex industries. Dale has had the privilege of developing hundreds of sales reps in his career, including those that have gone on to be top in their field at a national level.

In addition to working directly with clients on a sales consultant or advisory basis, Dale is also a publisher of digital course content and other sales-related media geared toward helping sales professionals and leaders develop their attitude, skills, and knowledge to be successful.

Sales Coach & Owner

Hawaiian Cool Water

General Manager

Atlas Insurance Agency, Inc.

Spearheaded new business unit initiative for the largest insurance broker in the state of Hawaii.

Vice President

ProService Hawaii

Key Responsibilities:
- Led a team of up to 14 outside sales professionals across the state of Hawaii to close 100% new business opportunities
- Managed daily sales activities and development including training
- Management of KPIs and other key metrics
- Worked in collaboration with pricing team and approved final sales pricing for all proposals

Performance Achievements:
- 2019 President's Club
- Led initiatives that resulted in increased conversion rates during the sales process
- Developed new sales roles

Key Responsibilities:
- 100% new client sales role. Responsible for full sales cycle from prospecting to implementation handoff.

Performance Achievements:
- 2017 Rookie of the Year
- Achieved full 2017 quota by August

Business Development Manager

Toshiba Business Solutions

Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership of sales team across three offices
- Recruit, train, and coach a team of outside sales professionals with diverse levels of experience
- Part of executive leadership team for TBS presence in MN, Western WI, and ND
- Coordinate efforts between sales, service, and operations to ensure a positive client experience
- Development of overall market strategy in conjunction with TBS MN region Vice President

Performance Achievements:
- President's Club FY 2015
- National New Business Sales Leader of the Year FY 2015
- New Business National Marketplace of the Year FY 2015
- New Business National Marketplace of the Quarter: Q2 & Q4 FY15 
- Coached/developed reps to win national awards for new business in Q2FY15 & Q4FY15
- Coached a rep who placed 2nd in Toshiba's National Sales Skill contest
- Budget attainment in FY16A (Apr. - Sept. 2016), FY15 (Apr. 2015-Mar. 2016) & FY 14B (Sept. 2014-Mar. 2015)
- Leadership Award, Toshiba Professional Sales Summit

Director of Sales

Coordinated Business Systems

Key Responsibilities:
- Perform day to day management and sales activities, marketing Coordinated Business System's valued products and services to business clients in the metropolitan area
- Responsible for recruiting, hiring, training, and developing a brand new team of outside sales professionals to increase Coordinated's market presence
- Grow customer base and recurring revenues in a 100% new customer only assignment

Key Achievements:
- Coached & developed reps to 91-154% of quota in 2013 in a 100% net new business assignment
- Developed a rep to qualify for "Rookie of the Year" in 2013
- Developed reps who won the "Young Gun" award in May 2014 & July 2014
- Assisted in the closing of one of the largest managed print services contracts for Coordinated
- Completed 3 sales management training conferences focused on a range of topics including recruitment, interviewing, training, development, management, and motivation (RIORDAN)

Marco, Inc.

Worked to achieve managed services goals and drive an increase in profitable recurring revenue streams for Marco. Supported a team of sales representatives across a large geography providing support in sales strategy and pricing. Participated in sales calls with reps to further discover, qualify, and close managed services opportunities.

Key Responsibilities: 
- Subject matter expert (SME) supporting a team of 20 territory based technology advisors across Minnesota and surrounding 4 state area to help achieve their Managed Services quotas
- Conduct ongoing recurring business reviews (RBR) with existing clients to advise them on their current environment and make recommendations for improvement based on best practices
- Perform comprehensive assessments for current and prospective clients
- Present Marco's successful managed services program to prospective clients

Key Achievements
- Supported closing of MPS contracts exceeding $1 million in revenue over contracted terms

Managed Print Specialist

Canon Business Solutions

Overall responsibilities included prospecting new clients, assisting in transition of new clients to Canon technology, customer service for growing base of clients, and assisting sales team in large implementation schedules. Hawaii assignment was 100% competitive, with no starting base of clients.

Also assisted with ongoing training, development, and coaching of new reps. Performed sales rep candidate ride days during interview processes.

Key Achievements:
- Completed Canon's Intelligent Dealer Electronic Archival System (IDEAS) Certification course
- Helped to capture new key accounts with local name recognition to grow the Canon Business Solutions brand in the new Hawaii start up market
- Secured contract for CBS' first dual b/w & color imagePRESS production unit installation in 
  Hawaii market
- Personally designed, coded, and implemented custom print submission web interface for largest client in Hawaii market 
- Engaged and delivered first managed print contracts in Hawaii market
- Region Top Performer Q3 2010
- Region Top Performer Q3 2011

Senior Account Executive

Xerox

Engaged in daily revenue generating and retention activities including customer service, cold-calling, prospecting, and new client acquisition in a business-to-business sales model.  Primary function is to help business clients achieve greater productivity, reduce cost, and increase competitive advantage through the use of technology offered by Xerox.

Key Achievements:
- Kaʻiulani Club Award winner 2007 (Top 6 in sales)
- Team sales award Q4 2007
- 138% of quota in 2007 (President's Club level)
- 108% of quota in 2008 before transition to new position at Canon Business Solutions
- Team sales award Q1 2008

Document Solutions Executive

With over 15 years in B2B sales and change management, I bring passion and expertise to every project. I've led teams to exceptional growth, championed transformative initiatives, and crafted tailored solutions. As a Certified Change Practitioner and Sales Leader, I focus on driving results and fostering meaningful connections. Let's collaborate and unlock your business's full potential.

taplio

The Battle

Chris 🦄 Cicconi

Dale Yasunaga

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taplio

The Battle

Chris 🦄 Cicconi

Dale Yasunaga

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Chris 🦄 Cicconi's LinkedIn Performance

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