Tell us about yourself.
I’m Chadd Ciccarelli—author, strategist, and former Amazon exec. I spent over a decade inside Amazon, launching global programs, scaling high-growth initiatives, and leading over 1,000+ interviews as a Bar Raiser. I deal in frameworks that work under pressure.
These days, brands bring me in when they need systems. When growth is stalled, when teams need direction, or when they’re about to launch something big—I help them build the processes, playbooks, and leadership models to scale with precision.
Before tech, I was a touring musician. After Amazon, I jumped into startups, real estate, and the music business—because I’ve always been wired to build, adapt, and move fast. My first book, It’s All Trash ‘til It’s Cash, is a tactical guide for builders who want to get results without the corporate nonsense.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Pittsburgh. It’s not a city that hands you things. You learn to figure it out, to read the room, to question everything. That stuck with me.
Since then, I’ve lived all over—Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, now Sydney. Every city leaves a mark, but Pittsburgh? That’s where the edge comes from. It taught me that words should mean something. That every sentence should hit like it’s got something to prove. And that if you’re gonna tell a story, make it count.
What was your journey to getting published like?
My journey to getting published wasn’t some neat, step-by-step plan—it was more like a series of false starts, long flights, and one clear decision: get it done.
After wrapping up over a decade at Amazon, I hit the road. Traveled. Wandered. I spent time in the Czech Republic chasing this romantic vision of writing like some 18th-century philosopher in Prague. That didn’t quite pan out—but the thinking started there. The ideas, the reflections, the rough drafts—they all started to take shape.
But it wasn’t until I came back to Sydney that everything clicked. That’s where the book came together. The city has this energy—sharp, creative, grounded. It’s where I locked in, put my head down, and finished what I started. Sydney’s not just home now—it’s where the book came to life. And honestly, I can’t think of a better place for that to happen.
What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
The best piece of feedback I’ve ever received? “Deliver feedback the way you like to receive it.”
Sounds simple, but it’s surgical. It stopped me cold.
Most people either sugarcoat feedback into something useless, or weaponize it into a hit job. Neither helps. That line taught me to cut the drama and focus on clarity. I want the truth. Straight, sharp, actionable. So that’s how I give it. No ego, no lecture, just: here’s what worked, here’s what didn’t, and here’s how to make it better.
That mindset has shaped how I lead, how I write, and how I build teams. Because good feedback isn’t about being nice or being right. It’s about making things better—fast.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Advice for aspiring writers? Here’s the hard truth—writers write. That’s it. That’s the job. No one’s going to start for you. No one’s going to give you permission. You either sit down and do the work, or you don’t.
Waiting for the perfect time, the perfect setup, the perfect sentence? That’s how you stay stuck. Start now. Start messy. Clarity comes later—after the reps, after the pages, after the stumbles.
And when feedback comes your way—treat it like a gift. Even when it stings. Especially when it stings. That’s where the growth is. I’m still learning. Still tightening the craft. Because the second you think you’ve got it all figured out, you’re already falling behind.
So if you want to write? Don’t talk about it. Don’t dream about it. Just write.
What’s a fun fact about you that your readers might not know?
Fun fact most readers probably don’t know? I used to be a touring musician in a hardcore band. This was back in the pre-internet, pre-MySpace days—when you earned every show, every fan, one packed basement at a time. We were grinding it out—loading gear into vans, sleeping on floors, and sharing stages with bands like Snapcase, Chokehold, and Grade.
The band was called Slowpoke, and we recently re-released our vinyl A World in Turmoil. It was raw, loud, and absolutely real. That era taught me more about grit, creativity, and building from nothing than any business book ever could.
And if you’re a fan of the Preserving Hardcore venue in New Kensington—yeah, we’re in there. Just a footnote in the museum, but still a piece of that history. That scene shaped me, and I’ll never forget where it all started.
What’s your guilty pleasure book or genre?
I don’t believe in guilt when it comes to what you read. If it speaks to you, if it hits something real—then it matters.
That said, I’ve got a soft spot for sharp, irreverent storytelling—graphic novels, gritty memoirs, and yeah, animated series turned into serious narratives. I’m into anything that breaks the rules and still lands the punch. Stuff like Castlevania on Netflix or the relentless genius of South Park and Rick & Morty. It’s smart, it’s layered, and it doesn’t care what you think—and that’s exactly why I like it.
What’s your favorite quote about writing?
{“Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” —Friedrich Nietzsche
That’s writing in a nutshell.
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
When I’m not writing, I’m usually exploring as much of Australia as I can—this place never stops surprising me. Coastlines, cities, outback—every corner has its own rhythm. It keeps me curious, keeps me moving.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The first story I remember reading was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss—and it hit me like a lightning bolt. As a kid, it felt wild, unpredictable, almost rebellious. The rhythm, the repetition, the way it played with language—it cracked something open. It didn’t just tell a story, it moved. That was the moment I realized words could be fun, strange, and powerful all at once
What has inspired you and your writing style?
What influenced my writing style? It’s a mix of sharp edges and deep thinking.
I’ve always been drawn to people who told the truth without dressing it up—Anthony Bourdain’s raw honesty, Bukowski’s grit, Hunter S. Thompson’s chaos. Combine that with a background in philosophy from my time at Carnegie Mellon, where I studied thinkers like Thomas Kuhn and Clark Glymour, and you get the blend: clarity with weight, structure with bite.
I like writing that cuts through. No filler. Just the signal. If it doesn’t hit, challenge, or move you—it’s not worth the page. That’s the standard I try to hold. Every line should earn its place.
How do you deal with negative reviews?
Simple—I listen, I learn, and I don’t flinch.
If there’s truth buried in the shot, I’ll take it, sharpen it, and make the work better. No ego. Just execution. But if it’s noise—emotion without insight—I don’t carry it. I don’t let it rent space in my head.
The reality is, if you’re building anything worth a damn, you’re going to take hits. The difference is whether you fold—or you get sharper. I choose sharper. Every time.
How do you connect with your readers?
I speak directly—and I don’t waste their time.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m diving into my next book—and this time, I’m expanding the It’s All Trash ‘til It’s Cash theme into a whole new arena.
This next one is focused on the modern entrepreneur—the solopreneurs, creators, and independent operators who are building real businesses without big teams, outside funding, or permission from anyone. They’re leveraging platforms, automation, and reach to scale on their own terms.
I want to take the core idea—that nothing matters until it delivers real value—and apply it to this new generation of builders. It’s not about hype, it’s about execution. Real models. Real stories. Real tactics.
This is It’s All Trash ‘til It’s Cash—version 2.0. Same principle. New battlefield.
Are there any Easter eggs or hidden messages in your work?
Nope. What you see is what you get. I don’t hide the message—I put it front and center. Direct. Clear. Unapologetic.
How do you approach writing dialogue for your characters?
Not applicable to my style as its business writing and philosophy.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
If I could share one thin, it’d be this—don’t wait for permission.
Whatever it is you’re thinking about doing, building, writing, creating—start now. No one’s coming to tap you on the shoulder. No perfect timing. No clean path. Just a window that opens for a second, and you either move or you don’t.
Chadd Ciccarelli’s Author Websites and Profiles
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