CEOs agree, The Book of Lists Works

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Sue Zazon, Columbus Region CEO/President for FirstMerit Bank, took some time recently to answer a few questions about Columbus Business First's Book of Lists.

Something occurred to me several weeks ago.

At a recent Breakfast with Business First event, watching who knows what (I tend to zone out during our busy fall season) a group of young business people caught my eye. They were huddled around a table sipping coffee and shuffling through a large book. I watched them for what seemed like an eternity but it was probably more like 30 seconds.

One by one they thumbed through the book, between pastry bites. They'd point at pages and take turns reading. They'd leave the table, network, then return. Like a good home base, the book stayed. I knew what it was. It was our annual Book of Lists. Over 100 industry lists ranking the top companies by category in Central Ohio.

I walked over, introduced myself and asked what they were searching for. They looked at each other and one said, "nothing specific, just everything in here. This is gold – full of info we could use to build our business." When they left, they took the book. I thought they came with it, but evidently it belonged to a member of our staff.

The point is not that well-dressed business people are capable of walking off with a $75 book. It's that the content is valuable enough to steal.

That's when it hit me. It works. It really works.

So we asked local CEOs what they thought. And this is what Sue Zazon, CEO for FirstMerit Bank, had to say (click image).

Special thanks to our amazingly talented video crew, Outsider Entertainment. From creative direction and award-winning videography to motion graphics and sound design, they're a topnotch bunch. If you're looking for approachable, egoless professionals, they fit the bill. outsidere.com