BrandStand » Thinking about Inc.

September 30, 2009 | Jeff Cohn

Thinking about Inc.

Jeff Cohn receives Inc. 5000 award.

I just finished attending the 2009 Inc. (as in Inc. Magazine) Conference, celebrating the Inc.500/5000 list of the nations’ fastest growing companies. To be on this list, a company must show a minimum level of revenue ($1m) and submit certified financials to prove revenue growth. The top 5000 companies are ranked. This year, Cohn Marketing marked our second consecutive year on the list at the rank of 1279. Those companies on the list as well as “alumni” of the list are invited to the conference, now held annually in D.C. Part award and recognition, part motivation, part education and part just fun, the conference brings together entrepreneurs from all walks of life that have made the list. It’s a great experience each year, meeting these incredible people that have started businesses with a good idea, a few dollars and a lot of hope and prayers.

The Inc. Conference offers 2.5 days of general and break out sessions with some of the country’s best thinkers on business and entrepreneurship. This year featured some new voices and some trusted previous presenters. At the top of the list were three especially impactful voices, Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, Jim Collins, bestselling author and business thinker and Ari Weinzweig, founder of Zingermans in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Each had a different message worthy of thought and consideration. Zappos CEO Tony focused his presentation on how Zappos focuses on customer loyalty as a driver of brand. Collins spoke about his new book about why “Great” companies fail as well as good reminders of the many important messages in his hugely selling book “Good to Great,” including the key concepts of the core values, having the rights seats on the bus and the right people in those seats, etc. Ari spoke of Servant Leadership, his company’s way of management that teaches managers to “serve” the level below them, ultimately leading to the front line employees serving the customer.

Another great experience came courtesy of the Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City. This foundation is one of the top 25 foundations in America and is solely focus on the subject of entrepreneurial achievement. I was an invited guest to a special event presented by Kauffman featuring Chris Gardner, the subject of the Will Smith “The Pursuit of Happyness.” Mr. Gardner spoke about the need to empower entrepreneurs in the U.S., dovetailing in the launch of a new initiative by the foundation to bring a policy voice for entrepreneurship to the U.S. Government. I’m glad they are taking this on as so much of the country’s economic and job growth comes from small growth oriented business

One extremely moving moment came at the beginning of the big celebration dinner. At the beginning of the dinner, a few key entrepreneurs were highlighted on the large video screens. The last person was a woman named Allison Schubach, who created Invisibib, a company resulting from her own personal disability. She discovered a need for transparent adult bibs that could catch food spills without being clinical. Her company emerged from this simple idea and is a thriving venture now. As she was applauded with a standing ovation as she sat in her wheelchair on stage, I don’t think there could possibly have been a dry eye in the house. One feels a sense of tremendous acknowledgement for someone that has overcome such adversity, built a business and served millions with their idea. And at the same time, you cannot escae the feeling of motivation to follow in her proverbial footsteps and make a difference in the world.

This was my fifth time attending the Inc. Conference, having been there three times with my friend and client Michael Szyliowicz when his company, Mont Blanc Gourmet was on the Inc. 500 list. The last two years we’ve gone because of Cohn Marketing’s inclusion. Helping my friend and client to be there and being there as a result of my team’s focus on excellence are two of my most proud achievements. Inc. celebrates this in so many ways. And now, with the lessons of the speakers, the motivation of Ms. Schubach and my own sense of drive, I’m excited to focus on being there again and again.