David Thomson has written a fascinating book "Blueprint to a Billion: 7 Essentials to Achieve Exponential Growth" (Wiley $28). He spent 3 years analyzing the United States highest-growth companies and what it takes for companies to break the billion dollar barrier. Here's the list:

The right strategy - plan on changing the world (Ebay); reshape a niche (Starbucks) or beat everyone in your category (Home Depot)
The right industry
The right customers - Who do you sell to and how do you get to them
The right partners - If you're big, pick a small. nimble partner to increase innovation. If you are small, pick a big guy to open doors for you
The right expenses - Control costs to achieve at least 20% gross margin from the beginning
The right chiefs - One to focus externally, another for internal operations
The right directors - Customers, partners, and experts instead of invdestors. Your board should be an extension of the management team.

Lots of good meat here even for smaller companies and startups.

Gillian Parrillo
Sacramento Executive