The 7 Essentials Scorecard

Take a moment to assess your organization’s strategy for growth. This scorecard allows you to confidentially reflect on the degree to which your company embodies and maximizes the benefits of the 7 Essentials. Honest answers should make you proud of your company's accomplishments and acutely aware your increasing potential for exponential growth complemented with benchmarked areas for improvement.

We have also added an “8th Essential” which we are identifying after the book’s release: Invest in Infrastructure. We are identifying that exponential growth companies balance cash flow with investmentment in systems, processes and talent.

Your answers and results are confidential. You will be emailed a confidential link to your scorecard and results for future reference.

Closing the 7 Essential's performance gap will turbo charge your business to achieve exponential revenue growth from a million to a billion!

Good Luck!

David Thomson
1-408-593-5759
david@blueprinttoabillion.com

How to use the Scorecard:

  1. There are statements that describe each of the 7 Essentials. Please click on one of the dots labeled 1 thru 5 depending if you disagree or agree with these statements.
  2. It is important to fill in a minimum of your name, company and email address at the end. Hit "Submit" and you will immediately receive your 7 Essentials Scorecard results.
  3. Print out your report or copy the Link at the top of the Scorecard and save it in your browser Favorites in order for you to confidentially access your scorecard report again. You will also receive an email with this link for future reference.

Answer the questions to the best of your knowledge. Check the number that best corresponds to your response.

Legend
1 = Strongly Disagree
2 = Slightly Disagree
3 = Average / Undecided
4 = Slightly Agree
5 = Strongly Agree
N/A = Not Applicable

Essential #1 Create and Sustain a Breakthrough Value Proposition
1.  Our products and/or services are creating a new world for customers by uniquely solving a compelling, unmet need
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
2.  Our products and services are redefining the market by providing a product of higher perceived value
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
3.  Our products and/or services are streamlining the market by leveraging supply chain advantages to offer lower prices with good enough quality
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
4.  The higher-order benefits (emotional or financial) are the primary reasons that customers buy from this company
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
5.  The value proposition provides unique higher order benefits across each product, location, and experience
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
6.  We clearly articulate to ourselves, our board, and our customers our target market, customer profile, and value provided
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
7.  The creation and delivery of new products or services dominate this company's product line (or services) offering
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
Additional comments:

Essential #2 Exploit a High-Growth Market
8.  We can clearly identify the (demographic and needs) characteristics of the market segment being served
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
9.  The market segment targeted by our products and services is growing at annual compounding rates
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
10.  There is an achievable opportunity to grow at least one billion-dollar company in this company's market segment
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
11.  As far as can be determined, our company's revenue growth rate is higher(meaning greater) than our industry's peers
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
12.  There is market opportunity to grow our overall business at least 10 times its current size
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
13.  Our industry has a demonstrated track record for customers buying from small, next generation high-growth companies
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
14.  There is a low number of competitors we truly compete with because our product or service is so distinctive
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
Additional comments:

Essential #3 Marquee Customers Shape the Revenue Powerhouse
15.  Our best customers partner with our company to define the value of our offering in terms associated with customer benefits' not capabilities
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
16.  Our most important customers are providing feedback on product requirements through field trials, surveys and/or advisor councils
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
17.  Our best customers proactively share the value created from buying and deploying our products and services with other customers
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
18.  A small percentage of our customers account for a disproportionate level of sales
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
19.  Sales to our best customers are growing at compound growth rates and exceed the growth rate of our company's revenue growth rate
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
20.  The company uses customer testimonials in most public relations initiatives and/or utilizes customer testimonials at tradeshows
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
21.  Our most important customers proactively sell for us by recommending or introducing us to peers
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
Additional comments:

Essential #4 Leverage Big Brother Alliances
22.  We have an explicit strategy to leverage complimentary alliances with bigger companies
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
23.  We have an impactful alliance with a bigger company and we are actively cultivating that alliance
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
24.  We realize significant business benefits from alliances (lower costs, supply, revenues, etc.)
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
25.  The executive champions in this company and in its alliance partners are involved in the alliance relationship: communicate regularly about aligned incentives/goals, programs being executed and future plans
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
26.  Our Big Brother alliance partner does not have similar alliances with competitors to our company
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
27.  Alliances account for a measurable impact on our business (i.e. revenue growth or profitability)
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
28.  There is a clearly articulated and agreed on set of win-win interests with our Big Brother alliance partner(s. These interests are regularly checked on and, if necessary, updated
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
Additional comments:

Essential #5 Become the Masters of Exponential Returns
29.  The management is transparent about its financial picture to shareholders and employees; this information is easily accessible
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
30.  This company consistently exceeds management's stated quarterly goals as well as analysts' expectations; when quarterly goals are not met, management quickly takes corrective action as an integrated team
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
31.  Return on investment greatly exceeds the cost of capital
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
32.  The management team balances investment decisions in R&D and SG&A with achievement of earnings. This balance comes from honest discussion and clearly stated long-term goals
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
33.  We are generating positive free cash flow
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
34.  Free cash flow growth is compounding at a rate equal to or greater than revenue growth
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
35.  If this company over-delivers on earnings within the year, it reinvests to accelerate revenue growth or new product development
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
Additional comments:

Essential #6 The Management Team: Inside-Outside Leadership
36.  The leadership of this company has a dynamic duo pair of 'C' (i.e. CEO, COO) level leaders: one is clearly outside facing and the other is inside facing (though both acknowledge that these lines sometimes can and should blur)
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
37.  Our leadership demonstrates actions based on a consistent set of company values, particularly during times of crisis
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
38.  Our culture is based on exploration and innovation in a way that is distinctive and that is conveyed to our employees
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
39.  Leadership takes an active role in problem solving as well as decision making
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
40.  Our leadership speaks a common language of innovation and avoids mindset traps that will limit growth
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
41.  The management team is quick to self-correct and tries to do so effectively and with teamwork
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
42.  We execute cross-functional initiatives well
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
Additional comments:

Essential #7 The Board of Directors: Comprised of Essentials Experts
43.  The board of this company is not dominated by investors and management team members but instead includes CEOs of other billion-dollar companies and customers
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
44.  There is a CEO on the board who had grown an exponentially growing business that has achieved $1B revenue
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
45.  There is a board member who understands and represents customer requirements
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
46.  A Big Brother alliance partner is an active member of the Board of Directors
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
47.  A well-respected community member is a member of the Board of Directors
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
48.  The board focuses more on the long-term growth of the business than achieving "short-term" returns for investors
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
49.  The management team is well prepared for board meetings and "the best it can be" when engaging with board members
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
Additional comments:

Invest in Infrastructure
50.  Our computing infrastructure allows us to analyze the market landscape so we can better target goods and services to the appropriate audience
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
51.  Information technology enables us to make decisions faster and quickly capitalize on new market opportunities
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
52.  We are able to leverage our computer systems to effectively collaborate across teams and manage our product portfolio as we bring new products and services to market
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
53.  Our computer systems enable us to efficiently deliver our goods and services
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
54.  Our current systems make it easier for us to engage in and do business with our most important partners and customers
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
55.  We have access and expeditious delivery of information necessary to stay compliant with financial, environmental, and trade regulations
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
56.  We have the visibility, data and analytic tools to effectively make decisions across operations and manage the entire business
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
57.  Our software partner delivers industry experience and technology innovations that consistently assist us with our strategic growth objectives
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
58.  Core company processes and the supporting IT infrastructure have the capability to scale with our expected company growth
1 2 3 4 5 N/A
 
Additional comments and reflections:


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