A total of 233 EO-member companies were named to the 2020 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest growing, privately held companies. We asked these elite leaders about their entrepreneurial journeys. Here’s what Tracy Call of EO Minnesota, founder of Media Bridge Advertising, which ranked No. 4,672 on the 2020 Inc. 5000 shared:

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you share with your younger self?

Here’s what I would share with my younger entrepreneurial self:

• “Get your core values down on paper.” I’ve always lived by my core values, but operationalizing them is a different story. Once we figured out the core values we truly believe in at Media Bridge, they became a filter for everything we do.
• “Size doesn’t matter.” I used to think the measure of success in advertising was having hundreds of employees and multiple departments. Now I know that it’s having a team of unicorns who you love to work with, and doing a select group of things exceptionally well.
• “Breathe. Nobody dies in marketing.” I used to be obsessed with getting people answers in half a second. It’s important to be hyper-responsive, but it’s also important to take a step back and think things through.
• “You have no idea how amazing it’s going to be to see your employees grow personally and professionally.” This has been my greatest joy in being an entrepreneur. I aggressively invest in people. And seeing them hit their stride, find their passion and thrive in our culture is beyond fulfilling.