Entrepreneurs are notorious for chasing the next big thing. But at the last Inc 5000 Gala in San Antonio, I was reminded of something crucial: the importance of stopping to celebrate.

We're wired to look forward. Even after landing a huge deal, making a key hire, or hitting an impactful goal, we often jump to the next thing on the to-do list without taking a breath. It’s like we’re so immersed in the climb to the top that we forget to stop and appreciate the view.

My experience during the conference portion of the Inc 5000 event drove this point home for me. I was so focused on getting to each talk to gather bits of wisdom we could apply to our business, meeting other entrepreneurs to exchange growth stories, and bouncing back to my room to pump out emails in between, that by the afternoon of the third day my head was spinning.

But when the evening arrived and the time came to put on that sleek tuxedo and black bow tie, I found new energy and inspiration mixed with some nervousness. As I got ready, I reflected on the challenges (eg. losing 40% of our revenue overnight at the beginning of covid), and the achievements (eg. being recognized on the Inc 5000 list of fastest growing companies) we’ve hit since we made our first sale back in June of 2015, the moment that validated that we had a real business opportunity. 

This night would be one of celebration. A celebration of realizing a vision, of teamwork, of grit, of costly lessons, of company culture, and of the beauty of what can be accomplished through entrepreneurship. I met up with a couple new friends I’d made during the week at the pre-gala reception (Emily from The Social Lights and Jerod from Recon Roofing), everyone looking their best and ready to party. When the doors opened, we rushed in to secure a table with a good view of the stage, where the hilarious Terry Crews hosted the Inc 5000 Gala festivities.

I was inspired to hear the names of each of our companies be called out, put on the big screen, and be recognized as some of the fastest growing companies in the country. We were cheering and clapping, whistling and high-fiving, and when Zipdev’s name was mentioned at the very end (I’d like to think they saved the best for last.. but maybe it was just that the names were announced in alphabetical order) and everyone cheered for us, I felt weightless.

The moment seemed surreal. This wasn’t something that my co-founder Daniel and I had envisioned when we first started working on the idea of Zipdev together each Wednesday evening after our corporate jobs back in late 2014. This is a moment I’ll not soon forget, one I’ll treasure and savor for a long time to come.

After the delicious dinner and recognition of all the companies in attendance concluded, it was time to dance. The band rocked it, especially the trombone player, and the dance floor was packed. It was so fun to celebrate with a group of people who 'get it' – who understand the grind, the passion, and the occasional manic nature of entrepreneurship. The Gala was a celebration of this shared experience, a chance to step back (or two-step) and appreciate how far we've all come so far on this journey.

So my message to you, fellow entrepreneur, is to remember to take time to celebrate your victories, big and small. Share these moments with your team, with your supporters, and with yourself. It's these celebrations that reinvigorate our spirits and give us fuel to face the challenges ahead.

Mike Lenny Co-founder, Zipdev.