1,000 True Fans
Sustainable growth starts with a core of deeply engaged advocates.
Explanation
Wired magazine founder Kevin Kelly calculated that many creators and businesses only need 1,000 people who are deeply passionate about what they do. These true fans will buy everything you create, refer others, provide feedback, and forgive occasional missteps. This concentrated loyalty is often more valuable than having millions of casual followers who don't really care.
Real-World Example
ConvertKit grew to $29M ARR focusing on 'creators earning a living.' Not millions of bloggers—thousands of professional creators. Superhuman: Ignored millions, focused on power users who'd pay $30/month. Both built true fans first, scaled later.
How to Apply
Define true fan: What would they do that others wouldn't? (Pay more? Refer friends? Give feedback?) Focus features on delighting them, not appealing to everyone. Measure: NPS >70, retention >90%, referral rate >30%. Build community for them. They'll build your business.