Good to Great

A thorough review of a compelling book. "Good to Great" explores what breaks companies out of mediocrity and defines them as great instead of just good. The research conducted by Collins reveals many principles that defy common practice, which are then captured in this Instaread review. The 8 key takeaways cover a variety of ways that great companies are different from good ones, and how they took that leap. My favorite section was about how good companies idolize talent, always trying to get the biggest, best, and most well-known individuals to work for them. But assuaging egos is not what pushes companies to become great, it is the unknowns that make great companies. And this Instaread review discusses principles like that mentioned in the original book.

Some organizations become good, and others become great. Management Consultant Jim Collins, though, believes that there are key ways that organizations, and people, can move beyond being merely good. In his book, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap . . . And Others Don’t, Collins maintains that there are seven key principles that lead to greatness:
- Leadership that focuses on success for the organization rather than personal gain.
- Hiring the right people
- Confronting reality and hard facts, while maintaining a belief in the ability to succeed and go on to greatness
- Work on core competencies
- Create a culture of discipline – and here he means self-discipline and self-motivation
- Use technology to accelerate core competencies
- Maintaining persistent effort
An eighth ‘principle’ that Collins stresses is the realization that greatness does not come overnight, but is the end result of consistent application of the seven principles. In his book, which is easy to read, he dispels many of the myths of greatness, and gives commonsense advice for achieving it.
Instaread’s Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap . . . And Others Don’t by Tom Collins/Key Takeaways, Analysis & Review is, as the Instaread summaries always are, a good introduction to a book that is useful for anyone who seeks to truly excel. It discusses the key takeaways of the book, and gives an analysis of the author’s style and credentials, making it possible to get a good idea if the book is worth the price of admission. These guides are an excellent resource for busy people who want to get a preview of books before purchasing them.

I found this to be a full-bodied read that highlights all of the main points in “Good to Great.” The takeaway points give examples of how good companies are a world apart from great companies. There are always ways to build your business, gain exposure and gain integrity in the business world. This book delivers the general message of its much larger counterpart without all the extra pages.