Big Vision, Small Business

Chapter 1

FINDING QUALITY IN THE LAND OF QUANTITY

FINDING EVIDENCE of quantity worship isn’t difficult, even in the midst of so-called small-business advocates. Take, for example, Small Business Week, an event sponsored in May 2000 by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). After referencing some of the contributions made by small businesses to our economy, the organization’s Web site went on to list the selection criteria for Small Business Person of the Year, emphasizing growth in the number of employees and increase in sales or unit volume as indicators of success. The SBA also has defined as “small” those businesses with up to 500 employees, ...