15: CRO Mistakes And What I'd Do Again

In this episode of The Midgame Mindset, Mario Krivokapic opens up about the career-defining lessons, massive failures, and leadership philosophies that shaped him into a world-class sales executive, coach, and now CIO of a boutique investment group.Mario shares how early leadership mistakes nearly destroyed a 14-person sales team, and how that painful wake-up call led him into a lifelong obsession with coaching, personal growth, and servant leadership.From burning CDs of sales audiobooks at 2 a.m. to taking over high-performing global teams, Mario explains why empathy, development, and hands-on coaching are the real accelerators of revenue.#salesleadership #revenuegeneration #salesteam Takeaways:- How to lead with empathy and still enforce high performance — Mario’s transition from destructive young VP to respected servant leader.- The real mechanics behind scaling to $100M ARR, including product-market fit, team structure, and execution discipline.- Why coaching—not dashboards—is the #1 skill missing in sales leadership today.- How team-based accountability transforms culture and protects teams from toxic high performers.- Why “boring businesses” are the new frontier and how Mario evaluates companies for acquisition using EBITDA, succession risk, and long-term cash flow.Episode Chapters:00:00 | Introduction: The Painful Lesson of Destroying a Company01:18 | Guest Introduction: Mario Krivokapic, CEO, Coach, and Revenue Architect01:51 | Mario's Story: From Yugoslavia to the US and Scaling Companies04:08 | The $100 Million ARR Company: Selling High-End Titanium Cookware07:59 | Learning to Lead: Burning the Midnight Oil with Audiobooks on CDs10:04 | The Modern Sales Challenge: Lack of Incentive to Learn in the Age of AI14:11 | From Individual Contributor to Coach: An Intentional Transition22:50 | The "Instant Noodles Economy": Why Bad Managers and Top-Performing Assholes Destroy Teams32:04 | Advice for Young Sales Reps: Focus on Skill Set and the Intangibles37:37 | Madaka Investments' Strategy: Buying "Boring" Businesses and Avoiding Excitement44:31 | Conclusion and How to Connect with MarioAbout the Host: Rich Bishop, founder and CEO of Midgame Consulting, is a dynamic speaker and thought leader in the realms of sales strategy & execution. His engaging presentations and workshops equip high-level executives with actionable insights and strategies to transform their business operations. Known for his hands-on problem-solving approach and proactive leadership, Rich’s sessions are packed with practical advice and real-world examples that inspire and empower. With a focus on measurable outcomes and client success, Rich is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences, webinars, and seminars.More from Mario Krivokapic:- https://www.linkedin.com/in/mario-krivokapic/- 2 And A Half Salesmen Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@2halfsalesman- "Still Underrated! A Complete Guide To The Discovery Call" Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/1BZyYzOMore from Rich Bishop:- Sign Up for Midgame Consulting’s Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/i2340o- Connect with Rich Bishop on LinkedIn - / richbishop2 - Midgame Consulting – https://www.midgameconsulting.com