"From Good to Great"

Originaly done as a study of fortune 500 companies that went from good to great over a 15 year period from the past 45 years. The study took 5 years and yielded amazing results. I hope you take the time to read some of Jim Collins writings. I know I will be reading his book "From good to great". The application of his findings not only to business but also to education (the grade school with the worse literacy in Yuma Arizona adopted the methods and yielded 100% literacy in its first year), police (in Paticluar Dallas Texas PD was mentioned on PBS - Grats to them and thier new Chief of police who broght crime down 20% and homicide down 10% in his 1st year and similiar resluts look good for his second year in service), and government has seen some amazing results.

The amazing thing is the type of people who have achieved great things. In business and society we think of the charismatic person or the person with the gift of Gab as someone who would be a great leader. Yet the police chief in Dallas is somewhat more of a shy reserved person. The mayor described meeting him the first time and he loooked down at his shoes. Yet this humble man suceeded where others had failed. What is the recipe that makes this so achievable. I will Let Mr. Jim Collins explain that..... since I am still learning more about his findings, lectures, and writings.

Are you a Hedgehog or a Fox?

Read excerpts

Text excerpts from...
Good to Great and the Social Sectors
Why Business Thinking Is Not the Answer
by Jim Collins

The following are short excerpts from the monograph Good to Great and the Social Sectors: Why Business Thinking Is Not the Answer, published in 2005 by Jim Collins. The full monograph can be obtained from many local bookstores and major online booksellers. In addition, you might like to visit the Lecture Hall section of his Web site, where you can find audio excerpts from the monograph.

Author’s Note

During my first year on the Stanford faculty in 1988, I sought out professor John Gardner for guidance on how I might become a better teacher. Gardner, former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, founder of Common Cause, and author of the classic text Self-Renewal, stung me with a comment that changed my life.

“It occurs to me, Jim, that you spend too much time trying to be interesting,” he said. “Why don’t you invest more time being interested.”

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