Good to Great

“ We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. ” e.style.display='none');if(typeof getContentsSections==='function')setTimeout(getContentsSections,50)" /> Collins' team spent five years on this. From an initial universe of 1,435 Fortune 500 companies (1965 – 1995), they identified just 11 that leaped from sustained mediocrity to sustained greatness — defined as cumulative stock returns at least three times the general market over fifteen years. The eleven weren't glamorous names: Walgreens, Kroger, Kimberly-Clark, Nucor. Yet a dollar invested across all eleven in 1965

Lesson 1: Most companies never become great because good is comfortable enough

One of the most counterintuitive ideas in Good to Great: knowing when to stop is as important as knowing when to push. Jim Collins argues that the clearest path to failure is an inability to define what 'enough' looks like for you personally.

Lesson 2: The best CEOs are humble plow horses, not celebrity show horses

This principle from Good to Great is backed by Jim Collins's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 3: Fill the bus with the right people before deciding where to drive it

This principle from Good to Great is backed by Jim Collins's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

How to Apply Good to Great's Lessons

The real value of Good to Great lies in its applicability. After reading, the most important step is identifying which of Jim Collins's principles speak most directly to your current situation.

Consider keeping a journal while reading — noting where the ideas challenge your current approach and where they confirm what you already suspected. The friction of your own resistance often points to the most important insights.

Key Quote

"Most companies never become great because good is comfortable enough" — Jim Collins, Good to Great

About the Author

Jim Collins is the author of Good to Great. The book reflects years of research, observation, and synthesis of evidence from multiple disciplines.