New Release!
The 1000 Four Method
The Anti-Silicon Valley Approach to Having a Big Impact with Small Businesses
Build a small business community from a ground up
Avoid wasting money on Silicon Valley hype
Why current economic development programs miss the mark
Attracting talent to your community the right way
Education is the missing link in many communities
Making the 1000 Four Method accessible to all cities and counties
Step by step guide to implementation
Who is this book for?
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This book was written for anyone who wants to improve their community’s economic outlook without relying on big incentive programs or silicon valley style incubators. We believe that every business from the sandwich shops to the Etsy vendors to the SAAS companies and everything in between are vital in creating a vibrant business community. A community’s success and growth depend on the success of all its businesses. Together, if every business saw 10% growth, the community impact would be huge. If you run an incubator, have a business, lead a community, make economic development decisions, or just want to help build your business community then this is your guide. Our goal with this book is to change the conversation around what it takes to build vibrant local economies, whether your community is starting at square one or looking to grow.
What will you get from this book?
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This book is built to teach you how and why building a community of small businesses and startups is so important, plus why it is different than your current approach. It’s based on my experience building a community in Norfolk, Virginia and the experiences of communities across the country. If you run an incubator, have a business, lead a community, make economic development decisions, or just want to build your business community then this is your guide.
The 1000 Four Method is different than most books on startups and their communities. I don’t limit the conversation to the high-growth tech startups. We believe that every business from the sandwich shops to the Etsy vendors to the SAAS companies are vital in creating a vibrant business community. This book breaks down the path for long-term and sustained growth in the business community. These aren’t quick fixes. This is your guide to running the marathon.
I wouldn’t have written this book if it wasn’t necessary. I’ve seen wrong and antiquated ideas being passed around in hundreds of communities. I genuinely want to help all of these communities and their small businesses to succeed and grow.
Our goal with this book is to change the conversation around vibrant local economies, help cities and towns build the support network that business owners need, and put new tools in the arsenal of local leaders.
What does 1000 Four mean?
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1000 Four means helping build 1000 four-employee businesses. We don’t mean exactly 1000 or exactly four employees at each company. 1000 Four means finding ways to boost all the small enterprises instead of chasing the big wins.
Why it matters
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It's more equitable
Its more impactful
Its more sustainable
Praise for 1000 Four
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If we can grow 1000 companies with at least 4 employees over the next 5 years that would be phenomenally impactful to the economy.
Aneesh ChopraVirginia ranked 17th in the nation for business startups in 2011, with a growth rate for new employer establishment of 9.6 percent. It has been said of this region that creating 1,000 four-employee companies is far more achievable than finding four 1,000-employee firms.
John BroderickEarlier this year, I was in Hampton Roads, Virginia, where I met a startup group whose motto was “1000×4.” Their thesis: economic development programs (both government and private sector capital) fight heavily over companies and jobs. This particular geography looked for “four 1,000-person employers.” The startup group—which the economic development agency now backs—looks to support and fund businesses that could grow to 1,000 employees –or could grow to four. It’s more realistic that startups, not buying other big firms, will create the jobs of the future.
Ross Baird