Everywhere I look, I see $1 billion tossed around like candy in a parade. No one uses $1 million for anything anymore; in fact, a million anything is paltry, peanuts, and unimpressive. It’s just so yesterday, right?

Case in point from these headlines and tidbits:

• Twitter IPO seeks $1.4 billion
• Starbucks fined $2.8 billion
• Crocs Market Cap $1.2 billion and seeking price tag of $1.5 billion in leveraged buyout
• Hershey net revenue $1.51 billion
• U.S. Postal Service Delivers loss of $5 billion
• J.P. Morgan and U.S. Reach $13 billion accord
• Iranian gas firm driven to bankruptcy with $4 billion debt
• Western Union moved $79 billion in cash transfers in 2012

Corporations are drowning in money and being fined or losing more. It’s astonishing how much currency is afloat; yet, economies, governments, and small business are struggling big time.

Money Is A Mindset

Hard to think your own company is successful when everyone around you is dealing in billions, right?

Here’s the very good news – those who are dealing with that kind of valuation, market cap, debt, fines, and whatever else are the ones taking the heat, in the spotlight, getting sued, being investigated, and answering to investors.

It’s heartening to know there’s safety in flying under the radar and not having billions of dollars get tossed around like (read what I said in the first sentence).

To answer my own question, I do indeed believe billion is the new million. We smaller fish, however, cannot forget that we’re the drivers of economies, too. We hire people, we buy services, we tick and tock, and generally are accessible to the kids out of school who need a mentor or somewhere to intern.

I’m pretty content knowing that in my book, a million still matters…as long as it’s a black million and not red.

How about you?