Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xvii

1 The Blueprint Thesis: A Different Approach to Growth 1

Part One Create and Sustain a Breakthrough Value Proposition 23

2 The Blueprint Value Proposition 25

Part Two Create and Sustain Exponential Revenue Growth 51

3 Exploit a High-Growth Market Segment 53

4 Marquee Customers Shape the Revenue Powerhouse 75

5 Leverage Big Brother Alliances for Breaking into New Markets 105

Part Three Seizing the Opportunity to Create Exponential Returns 129

6 Becoming the Masters of Exponential Returns 131

7 The Management Team: Inside-Outside Leadership 155

8 The Board: Comprised of Essentials Experts 183

9 Linking the 7 Essentials 189

10 Blueprint Companies for the Next Decade and Your Part in Them: An Epilogue 213

Appendix A Top 100 Blueprint Companies 223

Appendix B Delivering Breakthrough Benefits Drives Exponential Growth 227

Appendix C Assessing Management’s Focus, Drive, and Ability 233

Appendix D Methodology 237

Endnotes 243

Index 253

About the Author

DAVID G. THOMSON has been leading business growth for twenty years in general management and executive sales/marketing at Nortel Networks and Hewlett-Packard. He also served as an associate principal during his five years at McKinsey & Company. Thomson graduated with an electrical engineering degree from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario. He resides with his family in Overland Park, Kansas.