The Power of 1,000 True Fans (And So Many More)

Five years ago, when we made the decision to move beyond research and begin serving customers directly through BiotiQuest Probiotics, I came across an essay called 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly, the founding executive editor of Wired magazine.

The premise was simple. If you could find 1,000 people who truly believed in what you were doing—people who bought your products, shared your work, told others about you, and wanted you to succeed—you had the foundation for a lasting business.

I loved that idea. I wanted 1,000 true fans.

Not simply to build a business, but because I wanted to help as many people as possible.

And then I got busy building BiotiQuest.

Recently, I found myself thinking about Kevin Kelly's essay again. I asked our team to look at how many loyal customers had continued to choose BiotiQuest over the years.

The answer was a lot more than 1000.

I was amazed. And deeply grateful.

We had built something I had dreamed about years ago, and I hadn't even realized it.

Around the same time, I found myself in several conversations about the growing importance of genuine human connection. Not algorithms. Not Facebook, Instagram, Google, or Amazon. Just people talking to other people they know and care about.

I think we're all craving more of that connection.

And I've been thinking about it because it's becoming increasingly difficult for a small, independent company like ours to be heard above the noise of today's crowded online world.

I've been praying for help.

Years ago, my friend Leonard said something I've never forgotten: People pray for divine intervention, and God sends people. The problem is that sometimes we fail to recognize them when they arrive.

I even wrote about this in the opening of my book, Connected.

And suddenly it occurred to me that I had been doing exactly that.

I was asking for help growing BiotiQuest while overlooking the people who were already standing right in front of me.

You.

Thousands of you have chosen our products again and again. You've trusted us, encouraged us, shared your experiences, and helped us build something I believe really matters.

I can't adequately express how much that means to me.

But today, I also want to ask for your help.

If BiotiQuest has made a difference in your life, please tell someone. Not everyone. Just someone you know and care about who might genuinely benefit.

If something we share on social media resonates with you, leave a comment. Share your experience. Pass it along to someone who might need to hear it.

These may seem like small things, but they matter enormously. Your personal recommendation carries a kind of trust that no advertising campaign can buy.

And it allows us to reach people we might never otherwise reach.

One of the most fascinating things microbes have taught me is that remarkable things happen when the right organisms come together in the right environment. They accomplish things collectively that none could accomplish alone.

Perhaps people and businesses aren't so different.

To every one of you who has supported us, trusted us, encouraged us, and chosen us again and again: thank you.

You are the reason BiotiQuest exists today. And I believe that together, we can help far more people than we ever could alone.

And one more thing. We know who our most loyal customers are, and we haven't forgotten you. We have something special coming your way as a small token of our appreciation. Keep an eye out for a little thank-you from us!