Founder, Chairman and CEO Blimpie International, Inc. – New York, New York
Tony Conza founded the Blimpie (sub sandwich) restaurant chain in 1964, with two friends in Hoboken, New Jersey, with no money, a simple idea and a lot of passion. Today, Blimpie International has approximately 2000 franchises with system-wide sales approaching $400 million in all 50 states and 12 foreign countries. Mr. Conza is known to millions as the star of Blimpie TV and radio commercials. He has also been a guest on several television business and news programs and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, Business Week, INC., and Entrepreneur. Mr. Conza is a member of the Board of Governors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America where, as chairman of their marketing committee, he has been responsible for creating the popular public service announcements featuring Colin Powell and Denzel Washington. He also serves on the Dean’s Council at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is the recipient of the Ernst & Young/Inc. Magazine “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award, the New York State Restaurant Association’s “Chain of the Year” Award, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s “President’s Award” and the Ellis Island “Medal of Honor.” Mr. Conza regularly lectures on business, entrepreneurship, franchising, branding, leadership and cause-related marketing. He is the author of the book, Success: It’s A Beautiful Thing in which he espouses his principles for achieving success, the most important of which, in his opinion, is to develop a passion for what you do.
Philosophy of Life
Here is my life philosophy:
First, success is not about making money. It’s about enjoying life. Money may make you more comfortable; it may bring you recognition or prestige. It may enable you to buy or do the things you desire. But you will never be able to measure your happiness by what’s in your bank account.
Second, think hard about your dreams, then pursue them with a passion. Enjoyment in what you do comes from a love and a passion for what you do. The desire for success will not get you the passion. But get the passion and you will be successful.
And success is a beautiful thing!
