Every day, my colleagues and I meet with young entrepreneurs seeking funding and expertise to help grow their businesses. All of them have one goal in common: to achieve the kind of success that might one day land them on the Inc. 5000. It’s an honor we’re familiar with, as the outfit I founded and ran for nearly two decades, Big Ass Fans, appeared on the Inc. 5000 for 11 consecutive years. That’s a feat matched by few companies.
Behind that accomplishment was a determination to increase revenue and put profits back into the business to expand product lines and markets; a firm belief that excessive profits at year-end meant missed opportunities; and a steadfast refusal to accept outside investment. And, honestly, after making the list the first time, I always wanted to climb higher in the rankings the next year.
This focus on top-line
