We asked attendees at the 2010 Inc. 500|5000 Conference how they were feeling about business and their businesses. We also gave them a chance to open up a little. Here's how some conferencegoers responded.
When did you start your first business, and what was it?
I had a magic-trick business. I sold my first card trick when I was 14.
-- Jesse Lipson, CEO, ShareFile
When I was 11 years old, I bought and sold investment-grade comic books through the mail.
-- Lee Wochner, CEO, Counterintuity
What's your company's coolest employee perk?
We take the entire company somewhere, and everyone gets one guest. This year, we're going to Aruba.
-- David Doggette, CEO, 2HB Software Designs
Free beer from 3 p.m. on.
-- Brooks Bell, CEO, Brooks Bell Interactive
What's your No. 1 indulgence?
I own 52 colognes.
-- Hassan Bawab, CEO, Magic Logix
Remote-control airplanes.
-- Sonny Clark, president, Advanced Network Solutions
What do you do to relax?
I'm a perennial chick-flick guy. I blame my mom.
-- David Doggette
I'm a pilot, so I fly.
-- Mark Swanson, CEO, Telovations
Moderate drinking and watching TV.
-- Jesse Lipson
What kind of kid were you in high school?
I was the kid who put a live squid in the librarian's desk drawer.
-- Mark Swanson
I skipped the prom to go to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
-- Jacquie Morgan, co-founder, BalancePoint
What's the weirdest thing in your office?
Probably me.
-- David Doggette
A 3-D picture of a cat standing in front of an artist's palette. Never buy art from a gas station.
-- Jesse Lipson
Name one thing about you that would surprise your employees.
I smoke a hookah all day at home.
-- Hassan Bawab
That I'm extremely empathetic.
-- Daniel Schmidtendorff, CEO, Communication Company of South Bend
I used to be a hockey cheerleader -- that's a cheerleader on ice skates.
-- Jennifer Scully, CEO, Clinical Resources
What's one lesson you learned from your worst boss?
I will never lose my mind in front of my employees.
-- Lee Wochner
Don't send e-mails asking employees to do things on Christmas.
-- Mark Swanson
Command and control techniques don't work.
-- Jacquie Morgan
Who do you wish would friend you on Facebook?
My daughter's boyfriend.
-- Mark Swanson
Warren Buffett. I want his connections.
-- Jennifer Scully
Tiger Woods, before the scandal.
-- Adil Adi, CEO, WorldLink
Tiger Woods, after the scandal.
-- David Doggette
If you never had to worry about making money, what would you do?
I'd write Gospel music.
-- David Doggette
I'd be sitting on top of a mountain doing yoga.
-- Adil Adi
I'd fly first class and own a lot more shoes.
-- Brooks Bell