I think you&#x27;re misreading this.<p>It&#x27;s more along the lines of &#x27;you don&#x27;t have to run a $1bn+ business to be successful&#x27; – that is, by chasing after the very unlikely dream of becoming one of the vanishingly small number of $1bn+ companies, you are ignoring the possibility of becoming a thoroughly successful $n-million sized company, and focusing on the wrong metrics.<p>There&#x27;s no shame in building what would by any means be a large, successful company just because it doesn&#x27;t break the $1bn barrier – but making that the goal is a weird choice. Like the article says:<p><i>&#x27;The better goal? Keep your head down, make a great product, and build a successful business.&#x27;</i><p>If you have an idea and execution that is worth $1bn+ then great! Hopefully it will pay off. But it shouldn&#x27;t be the goal; develop a good product and sell it well. Take the opportunities you can to build a market. Maybe you&#x27;ll make it to $1bn+! But maybe you won&#x27;t – and that&#x27;s ok.