Business Secrets of the Aggie 100

A group of successful entrepreneurs who grew and prospered in 2009 and 2010 share the keys to success.  Pay attention.

"Give first and receive later."

Bernie B. Bernard, James M. Brooks

B&B Laboratories

"The people you surround yourself with are critical - they should be hard-working, passionate aobu the business you are in, and ideally, smarter than you."

William Sims

Accent Wire, Ltd.

"Never be scared to take a risk.  It is those risks that often push you to the next level and thos risks, successful or not, that teach you the most."

Jackie Lackey

Encore Visions

"Consider your employees one of your most important assets.  A happy employee results in a happy customer."

Kimberly Smart Willmott

Pentecom, LLC

"Never accept that there is not a better way.  With the speed at which information and technology move in today's world, if something is being done 'the same way it always has been,' then there is probably a great opportunity to improve it.  Often it is not the idea for improvement that leads to a strong business, but the drive to change people's way of thinking to accept that improvement."

Ryan Sitton, Jennifer Sitton

Pinnacle Asset Integrity Services

"Take care of your employees as they are hard to find."

Alvin Adamcik

MI Cable Company

"If you don't always do what's in the customer's best interests, someone else will."

Phil Miner

Miner Central Texas Ltd.

"Realize that you'll reach a point when your company's success is despite your efforts and not because of them.  Eventually, you must modestly step aside from your daily role, empower your team and make the business about them - it's not about you anymore."

Gary Peterson

gap intelligence

"Establish your company with a clear vision, mission and values... People will commit to something greater than themselves if it is clear and they believe in it.  Ultimately, people drive your success."

Stefan LeRow

Capstone Mechanical

"You are never going to grow if you don't take a chance."

Phil Miner

Miner North Texas Ltd

"In business, grow or die."

Donald G. Valentine

John Moore Services, Inc.

"Growth can consumer massive amounts of cash, even when your income statement is showing a healthy profit."

William Sims

Accent Wire, Ltd.

"Don't let 'conventional wisdom' limit your options.  Many success stories are the result of people doing what they're not supposed to be able to do."

Ed Muniz

MEI Technologies, Inc.

"Live by the Golden Rule and always ask yourself:  'How would I want them to treat me?'  It is a small world in business relationships and the things you do come back to haunt you sooner than you might expect."

Larry Teverbaugh

K2Share, LLC

"Do not allow other people to influence you with their own negativity.  If you believe in yourself enough to do something great, then do it.  You do not need anyone's approval to make that something a reality."

Trey Jones

Lone Star Land Design

"Hire character and train skill."

Taseer Badar

True View Realty Partners Two, L.P.

"If you wait for the perfect time to begin something new you will be waiting your entire life.  There is no 'perfect time' to change the direction of your life.  Instead of waiting - commit, persevere, and enjoy the experience."

Kyle D. Barrington

Zajonc Corp

"Seek out a mentor and then become a mentor to someone."

Todd Sorrel, Gordon Sorrel

Select Premium Services, Inc.

"Remember to do the right thing at all costs; it will pay off in the long run, even if it's more expensive in the short term."

Ryan Kobermann, Beth Kobermann

ESN Health

"Constantly work to broaden your knowledge about your industry and business in general."

William Sims

Accent Wire, Ltd.

"Choose well when you choose a business partner; take the time to get to know them well.  You will need to trust them as well as depend on them.  It's better to pass up a great business opportunity than to go into business with someone who you can't fully trust."

Todd Smith, Scott Holder

Texas Quail Farms L.P.

"You can buy office supplies anywhere but people like buying from people they trust.  At Tejas, we believe that personal relationships still matter and as long as we can be a trusted advisor to our clients we can compete with anyone."

Stephen M. Fraga, Lupe Fraga

Tejas Office Products, Inc.

"Hire future leaders that are smarter than you.  Cast for them a clear vision of what the future could be and should be.  Develop in them the moral courage to always do what is right no matter what, even when it's hard.  Empower them to exercise initiative and to develop plans to shape your vision.  Finally, give them the authority to execute those plans and make your vision a reality."

Lee Sechrist

Synergy Creations Group, LLC

"Surround yourself with good people and then give them the tools they need to be successful."

Jeff McDougall, Jeff Durrant

PivotPoint Solutions

"Say what you'll do and do what you say.  A successful business is built on a foundation of honesty and integrity.  A great reputation supported by this foundation may take years to build but can be lost in one day."

Michael Martin

Rio Queen, Inc.

"A lot of people have ideas, but few have the courage and belief in themselves to do something about them.  If you aren't willing to invest in yourself, don't expect anyone else to do so."

Joanne Vest

Schedule 2 Drive, L.P.

The Aggie 100 are the 100 fastest growing businesses over the past two years owned, founded, or managed by Texas A&M graduates.  Service Nation, Inc., which operates the Service Roundtable, Retail Contractor Coalition, and the Service Nation Alliance, was fortunate enough to be achieve #43 in the 2011 Aggie 100.  Dr. Richard Lester, Executive Director of the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship with the Mays Business School graciously allowed me to share these quotes, excerpted from "Aggie Legacy of Leadership."