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In July, I landed in Las Vegas for NBA Summer League, excited to watch new talent on the court and coach rookies in the NBA Player Development Program. It was a dream come true, and I stepped off the plane ready for an unforgettable week. Little did I know something far more special was in store.
Like many entrepreneurs glued to their phones, I followed my regular deplaning routine, checking my texts and emails the second I have reception. The very first message floored me: Inc. Magazine congratulating Empower U., the company I founded, for making the list of America’s 5000 fastest-growing companies.
After verifying the sender’s domain to make sure it wasn’t a prank, I realized that the communication was indeed real, although the reality of what it revealed felt anything but. I’d like to believe that most successful entrepreneurs are big dreamers at heart. I am no different. Naturally, my mind immediately jumped to where we might rank: Top 1000? Top 500? Top 100? What could this mean for my company’s future? The daydreams played over and over in my head like the words to the most annoying song you know.
On reveal day, we listened to words of wisdom from business leaders, including the sharks of Shark Tank. I tuned in, but what I really wanted to see was our rank. When the time came, time itself seemed to enter Matrix mode as the numbers rolled out slowly like that river card that ruins the winning hand you thought you had. There we were—all in— and there it was, #4999. Some might see that as squeaking by, like squeezing into a packed NYC train just before it leaves the station, risking life and limb in the process of prying the door to make way. But for me, it felt familiar—like I’d been here before.
I love to engage in reflection from time to time. In high school, my senior superlative was “Most Likely to Be Late to Graduation,” and even there I may have been runner-up. True to form, I literally walked (briskly) into the ceremony as they were calling my name to receive my diploma. I remember another time where my AAU basketball team played for a state championship. I was last off the bench to get into the game, but we won the title. I was sour in the moment, but in hindsight, the moment was fleeting. Today, exactly 30 years later, I still have a shiny trophy to show for it.
These are only a couple examples out of many, but the theme of the life lesson taught was consistent: Getting to the big game is far more important than whether you get to start or star in it. Being first or last can be seen as the imposters of triumph and disaster that Rudyard Kipling’s “If” advises us to treat as one and the same. Some people panic about being last. Others, like myself, may not particularly experience comfort or discomfort there, but rather find inspiration.
There’s something liberating about being at the back. You can watch, learn, and plan without the pressure of leading too soon. And you can surprise people. One moment they think you’re just barely clinging to dear life, the next you’ve surged beyond imagination.
That’s what #4999 is to me. Not a ceiling, but a launching pad. Not scraping the bottom, but scraping the surface. When we told our team, I framed it as proof we’re at the doorway of something extraordinary. We made the Inc. 5000! However we walked in, we’re here now—and it only gets better from here.
Just a few years ago, Empower U. was only an idea: reimagining behavioral health through culturally competent, deeply human care for underserved communities. We began with a small team, a big heart, and an even bigger challenge: Prove we could scale without losing our values.
Since then, we’ve served thousands of individuals and families, built systems that support clinicians and clients, and grown beyond what seemed possible. The work hasn’t been glamorous: long days, sleepless nights, and tough conversations (some ending in departures). Add in the doubt every entrepreneur knows, those moments when the voice in your head achieves a decibel level loud enough to make you question whether you still have what it takes or why you do any of this at all. But every challenge added muscle to the mission. Some even left cool-enough battle scars to share while supporting other entrepreneurs and their organizations on their journey.
This ranking isn’t about prestige. It’s about proof. Proof that a minority-owned, values-driven behavioral health agency belongs on the national stage. Proof that social impact and revenue growth are not mutually exclusive. Proof that underdogs have a place in the conversation—and a seat in the future.
We’re expanding into new states, integrating technology into mental health delivery, and partnering with schools, corporations, and communities to change the way care is experienced. Recognition like this assures us that we’re not just dreaming. We’re doing something right.
We aim to be strong contributors in the movement that shifts the standard for what business growth looks like. Where profitability meets purpose, and success is measured in lives changed, not just lines on a spreadsheet or statement. It’s the what, how, and when that is entrepreneurship’s constant juggling act. With this mission and especially in this climate, we surely have 4999 problems, but a list ain’t one.
To every founder, creator, and dreamer who feels stuck at the bottom, remember: The climb is where the magic happens. Every step up writes the next chapter and yours is already being written. Keep stepping.
Here’s to looking up!
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Marlon Gray
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