Leadership Library
Building Enduring Companies

Good to Great

Jim Collins · 2001

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About

The research classic on why some companies make the leap from good to great — and most don't.

SK's perspective

Level 5 leadership and the Hedgehog Concept are frameworks I use in every strategy session.

Key learnings

  • Level 5 leaders blend humility with fierce will.
  • First who, then what — get the right people on the bus.
  • Confront the brutal facts, keep the faith (Stockdale Paradox).
  • The Hedgehog Concept: passion × best-in-world × economics.
  • Greatness is disciplined action compounding over time (the flywheel).

Make it a ritual

Momentum is a flywheel — protect the few disciplined pushes that turn it.

Professional life

  • Weekly, do one thing that pushes your flywheel and stop one thing that doesn't.
  • In reviews, state the brutal facts first, before the plan.

Personal life

  • Define your personal Hedgehog: what you love, do well and get value from.
  • Audit your 'bus' — the people you spend time with — each quarter.

Buy the book (Amazon) · curated talks on YouTube. — © Jim Collins. Summary is our own.

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