Domenic A. Chiarella

Tomato Paste Leadership by Domenic A. Chairella (Coming Soon)
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With degrees in computer engineering and a master’s in entrepreneurship, Domenic Chiarella built, scaled, and sold four multimillion-dollar businesses over forty years. But his greatest success? Moving beyond chasing business success to building a thriving life and company.

From a systems-driven mindset, Domenic discovered the power of creativity and human connection in leadership. His journey led him to shift from control to empowerment, redefining success as sustainable growth that benefits both business and life. Today, he shares these transformative insights with audiences and clients worldwide, helping entrepreneurs achieve true, lasting success.

Above all, Domenic is a father to three incredible daughters—his proudest achievements—and husband to an amazing wife, who continually reminds him of life’s greatest joys.

In Tomato Paste Leadership, you suggest that sustainable success comes from slowing down and focusing deeply. How did this philosophy evolve from your own experience building multimillion-dollar businesses?
For years, I believed that the faster I moved and the harder I worked, the more I could achieve. I poured my energy into growth: more clients, more consultants, more staff, more everything. But success built on speed alone isn’t sustainable. I learned that the hard way. The turning point came when I realized I was missing dinners with my family, missing the joy of being present on our family Disney trips, and missing moments I could never get back. I recognized there must be a better way. That’s when I started asking: what if success isn’t about doing more, but about doing what matters: better, deeper, slower? Like tomato paste, the richness comes from reducing the excess. That’s the kind of leadership I practice now and the kind this book teaches.

You use the metaphor of “tomato paste” in your title—rich, concentrated, essential. How does this concept reflect your leadership framework, and what does it mean for today's entrepreneurs?
Tomato paste isn’t made quickly. It’s reduced, concentrated, and intentional. That’s exactly how leadership should function. Too many entrepreneurs are chasing flavorless volume, attempting to do everything, be everywhere, and lead everyone. My framework helps them slow down and focus on the essentials: structure, systems, and values that endure. Just like my family’s tomato paste could sustain us throughout the year, leadership that is deeply rooted and thoughtfully constructed will support your business far beyond the next quarter.

One of your core messages is that systems should serve your life—not consume it. What are the first signs a leader is working for their business rather than having their business work for them?
If your calendar controls you instead of you controlling your calendar, that’s a sign. If your business is managing you instead of you managing your business, that’s a sign. If you’re answering every question, putting out every fire, and your team can’t operate without you, your business is managing you. I’ve experienced it. It’s exhausting. Systems should be the framework, the scaffolding that supports your company, not the rope that binds you. When designed properly, systems empower you to lead, rest, and focus on what only you can do.

Burnout is a common struggle among business owners. How does your approach help leaders simplify operations and empower their teams without sacrificing growth?
The answer isn’t always more; it’s better. In Tomato Paste Leadership, I show how clarity, structure, and delegation create a business that breathes. We begin by diagnosing what’s broken: usually, a lack of a cohesive system framework, undefined roles, a clear culture that elevates the organization, undefined expectations, and too many decisions bottlenecked at the top. Once you build systems and develop people, growth becomes sustainable. You’re not growing through the owner’s hustle; you’re growing through health.

You’ve built and sold four successful companies. What’s one mistake you see leaders make over and over again, and how does Tomato Paste Leadership help them course-correct?
The biggest mistake? Trying to be the hero. Leaders often believe they need to have all the answers, do everything, and bear all the burdens. However, this leads to dependency and burnout. I understand that you, as the owner, have invested your life and soul into the business. It is your money, and if you fail, you fail your family, your community, and yourself. I also recognize that there is a fear of letting go; that is a valid concern. I had it, and I see owners facing it. In the book, I show how to evolve from hero to mentor, from doer to designer. You don’t scale by doing more; you scale by creating systems that can succeed without you at the center of everything. The systems take over control, the people run the systems, and now you lead in a new way. 

You emphasize creating systems as a pathway to freedom. What are some of the most common myths entrepreneurs believe about systems—and how do you debunk them?
One myth is that systems will box you in. The truth is, systems give you freedom. When the essential functions and departments of a company have documented and repeatable processes, you gain time, consistency, and peace of mind. Another myth? That systems are cold or corporate. Not true. When built from your values, systems express your leadership. They’re not robotic; they’re relational. They help people succeed, not just processes. Systems run the company that serves the client. Allowing the systems to handle the mundane, so to speak, enables you and your employees to focus on what’s most important: serving the client.

In the book, you highlight clarity to transform chaos. What daily or weekly practices do you recommend for leaders to maintain that clarity amidst constant demands?
This is a tricky question. If the owner has the foundations that the book covers thoroughly in place, your daily and weekly practices become ones of mentoring and listening to the men and women who run the systems. The practice of sitting with employees weekly to listen to what they are doing, how they handled situations, and assess their needs, as well as the needs of the company, is crucial. Your daily and weekly practice becomes one of mentoring the culture, teaching the systems, and helping them with new ideas for areas of improvement. This represents a cultural shift from telling them what to do, how to do it, and when, to a more supportive approach that focuses on how the systems work for them. Your experience becomes a tool for them to understand how things can function and what you would do if something didn’t work. I also recommend scheduling uninterrupted time for the business every week. This is for strategic work. Clarity doesn’t come from reacting all day; it comes from reflecting, resetting, and recommitting to your purpose and the company's future objectives. 

How does your Power Foundation Intensive relate to the principles outlined in Tomato Paste Leadership, and how have clients responded to the results?
The Power Foundation Intensive serves as the practical application of the book. If Tomato Paste Leadership is the recipe, the Intensive is the hands-on cooking class. We take ideas such as defining roles, setting vision, and building systems, helping business owners apply them in one core area of their business. Clients often tell me, “I didn’t realize how much stress I was carrying until we cleared the fog.” They leave with clarity, tools, and the confidence to lead, not just manage.

What role does personal alignment play in business growth, and how do you help leaders realign when they feel disconnected from their vision?
When leaders stray from their life's purpose, everything, from family to business, feels off. I’ve lived it and have seen it. The company grows, but the joy fades. You start by returning to their core beliefs: What matters most to you? What kind of life are you building this business around? Once you reconnect with that purpose, decisions become clearer. Systems, strategy, and leadership all align, not just with the business plan, but with the person running it. Lastly, your purpose in life shapes the company's values, which in turn create the culture. 

If a reader could only implement one idea from Tomato Paste Leadership this quarter, which would you recommend—and why?
Systematize one department. Just one. Identify the area causing the most friction: Sales, Production, Accounting, or HR. Here’s the most essential part: define the key roles and responsibilities and mentor the employees on the systems that run the company. That single action of systemization will demonstrate the power of clarity. It creates a ripple effect: fewer bottlenecks, less stress, and more momentum. One system at a time; that’s how you build a lasting business.

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Visit Domenic’s website to learn more:
https://www.domenicchiarella.com/
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/domenicachiarella/