Start Small Think Big is an agent for progress, and we communicate with our eyes on the horizon. As we move toward building equity and inclusion in entrepreneurship, we speak with a growth mindset.
Just like our mission, our language is thoughtful, inclusive, and future facing. This is why we have re-imagined our brand; from our voice, the choice of language, our visual design, and the thought behind what we do. Because we continue to grow just as the businesses we serve.
Together we’re Growing Small.
Our manifesto
-
We are reimagining growth in small businesses.
-
We’re nurturing the seed and sowing the story for a new version of success.
-
Because a success story isn’t available to everyone.
-
This conversation about inequity calls for a new language to emerge, and we’re getting fluent in progress.
-
We’re pushing the paradigm shift that supports autonomy, choice, creativity, and spaciousness. Because expansion isn’t about size, but dimension.
-
Competition becomes collaboration. Collaboration becomes community.
-
A sense of opportunity blooms where there was none.
-
We’re making space for multiplying the quality of one’s life.
-
Vulnerability is where we connect.
-
We partner with entrepreneurs to grow small businesses on their terms.
-
We’re growing small.
Evolving the Language We Use
Challenge
Our current language is filled with words whose origin sits in aggressive spaces. These might be terms from war, competition, or other violent situations. These kinds of words are even more present in business language. Competitors, Target Audiences, Users, etc. all reflect aggression and a sense of separation and/or dominance.
Proposed solution
The solution begins with awareness and avoidance of combative words. To evolve, we must find new ways to communicate with words that reflect a growth mindset. There’s only competition if there’s scarcity. They are only a target if we assume we know what they want/need. In abundance, our competitors are our allies and the challenge sits outside of ourselves.
| BEFORE | AFTER |
| Help | Collaborate |
|
Underserved Under resourced Marginalized |
BIPOC people, women, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, veterans, people with disabilities, people living on lower-income, and the formerly incarcerated. |
| Client | SSTB Entrepreneur |
| Consultation | Engagement |
| Project | Venture |
| Bootcamp | Immersion Session |
| Years of Service | Time invested / engaged |