Microsoft, Google, eBay, Staples, Genentech, Starbucks, Nike, and Harley-Davidson . . . these are just a few examples of an elite group of companies that have managed to turn billion-dollar ideas into billion-dollar businesses. What did these and other high-growth companies do to achieve such a goal? What blueprint do they follow to produce such results? Based on three years of in-depth research, David Thomson's Blueprint to a Billion approach provides the first quantitative assessment of the success pattern common across a distinct group of 387 ''blueprint companies''¿the 5% that have IPO'd since 1980 and grown to $1 billion in revenue. They represent America's highest growth companies; they uniquely achieved exponential revenue growth and returns.

This book is not about one unique company, its innovation, and the financial returns it achieved; it's about the quantifiable, success-based pattern¿independent of economic cycles or industries¿shared across this group of 387 elite companies. It's about how you can use seven common essentials to better your business, organization, team, or yourself and produce exponential growth. It's about executing the essentials and linking them. It's about taking the actions that matter while avoiding pitfalls. The 7 essentials explored are:

Essential #1: Create and Sustain a Breakthrough Value Proposition

Essential#2: Exploit a High-Growth Market Segment

Essential #3: Marquee Customers Shape the Revenue Powerhouse

Essential #4: Leverage Big Brother Alliances for Breaking into New Markets

Essential #5: Become the Masters of Exponential Returns

Essential #6: The Management Team: Inside-Outside Leadership

Essential #7: The Board: Comprised of Essentials Experts

Divided into three comprehensive sections, Blueprint to a Billion will show you how to formulate a breakthrough value proposition, create exponential revenue growth¿the most valuable and unique kind of growth¿and seize the opportunity to garner exponential returns. More importantly, it provides practical guidelines that you, as a business leader at any level, can use to improve company performance from one year to the next. While the book is based on quantitative evidence, it provides insightful analysis and very personal stories from many blueprint company leaders.

Both fact-based and actionable, Blueprint to a Billion contains fresh research that provides valuable insights into success-based business building. Adopting and executing one or more essentials will maximize your growth¿both personally and corporately. Executing all 7 essentials will enable your company to achieve unprecedented exponential growth.