Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don’t have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don’t have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.
Good to Great is a groundbreaking management book based on a five-year research project analyzing why some companies make the leap from being merely good to truly great—and sustain that greatness over time. Jim Collins and his team identified key principles that great companies follow:
Level 5 Leadership: Humble yet determined leaders who put the company first.
First Who, Then What: Getting the right people on the bus before deciding where to go.
Confront the Brutal Facts: Creating a culture where the truth is heard.
The Hedgehog Concept: Focusing on what you’re deeply passionate about, what you can be the best at, and what drives your economic engine.
Culture of Discipline: A disciplined people culture enables consistent performance.
Technology Accelerators: Using tech to enhance, not define, a company’s path to greatness.
The Flywheel Effect: Success comes from consistent, cumulative effort over time—not dramatic transformations.
The book debunks many business myths and provides clear, research-backed insights that can be applied by leaders at any level.