Great by Choice

By: Jim Collins, Morten T. Hansen

Narrated by: Jim Collins

Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The new question: Ten years after the worldwide best seller Good to Great, Jim Collins returns to ask: Why do some companies thrive in uncertainty, even chaos, and others do not? In Great by Choice, Collins and his colleague, Morten T. Hansen, enumerate the principles for building a truly great enterprise in unpredictable, tumultuous, and fast-moving times.

The new study: Great by Choice distinguishes itself from Collins’s prior work by its focus on the type of unstable environments faced by leaders today.

The new findings:

• The best leaders were more disciplined, more empirical, and more paranoid.
• Following the belief that leading in a “fast world” always requires “fast decisions” and “fast action” is a good way to get killed.
• The great companies changed less in reaction to a radically changing world than the comparison companies.

This book is classic Collins: contrarian, data-driven, and uplifting. He and Hansen show convincingly that, even in a chaotic and uncertain world, greatness happens by choice, not by chance.

©2011 Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Best business book I have listened to in a long time.

I have always been a fan of Jim Collins' work. The first book I read of his was "built to last". Then I went on to "good to great". "Great by choice" probably has helped me more than any of the other books, although they all are significant to my business operation. The other books by Collins have been very helpful, but this one helped me understand the overall picture of my business better than the other two books. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their business or their personal life or other organization.

Solid research, immediately actionable

Triad of core behaviors: Fanatical discipline, empirical creativity, productive paranoia.
20-mile march: Clear performance markers with self-imposed constraints specific to your industry, lying well within the enterprise's own control, with a "just right" timeline, and achieved with high consistency. Limiting growth the a manageable (although challenging) pace that's repeatable in good times and bad.
Fire bullets, then cannonballs. Bullets are characterized by three tests: low cost, low risk, and low distraction. This is where most retrospective analyses of 10x companies fall short. Specifically, they point out the "Cannonball" (the success) and seldom if ever account for the iterative process of small "bullets" that hit nothing but helped the enterprise zero in on the target.
Leading above the Death Line: Reduce costs, have "extra oxygen" (typically cash) on hand to mitigate downside risk.
Risk mitigation and the speed of decisions: Go slow when you can, and fast when you must. How much time before our risk profile changes? Making deliberate decisions within the timeframe in which the risk profile does not materially change.

Jim don’t read your book!

I’ve seen Jim Collins in person and he is amazing - for 45 minutes. The problem is he brings his enthusiasm for 9 hours and it is way too much. The book and concepts are incredible but read the book instead.

A must read during the pandemic and beyond

I loved how the authors told stories to visualize key parts. Like “fire bullets first and then cannons”

lessons will stand the test of time

fantastic book which I cannot wait to share with my business team to implement methodical traits of the great companies in our Enterprise immediately. especially loved the conclusion of high optimism in that endurance or death it's not about what happens in the world but about what we do. this book lays out a roadmap of what to do to be great and endure.

Loved It!!

Gotta Get this if you need a plan for tough times in whatever enterprise you may be involved in!!

Business minded personally applicable

It takes a second to get into the book and sometimes it is hard to apply it to daily life but so incredible are the example he gives for each principle he teaches. If you are or intend to be a leader this is one book I would suggest, especially if you are in entrepreneurship.

Must Read

This should be a reading requirement for both B.A. and M.B.A. classes. The concepts and strategies are real and played out everyday in any sized company/nonprofit.

Do not kid yourself this by far one of the best!

Where does Great by Choice rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 5 of all books.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Great by Choice?

20 mile march. What it means to be consistent.

Which scene was your favorite?

Made very specific points to the 10x'er. Are you a 10x'er?

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Persistence and value blew me away!

Any additional comments?

If this book does not motivate you, I am super sorry. This is one of the new age motivational and confidence builders of today.

Worthwhile Read

Jim Collins talks about a commitment to discipline and a concept he calls the 20 mile march. Calling for more discipline in business is not a revelation but it well deserves repeating and emphasis. The 20 mile march was the best and most empowering part of the book. Most of us are not, nor do we work for Steve Jobs, Bill Gates or some other visionary business leader. The 20 mile march throws open the doors for the rest of us. It says that most of us can do great things if we work within certain reasonable parameters. Collins attempt to pump up the energy with his spirited narration comes off as a bit over the top on occasion. Don't let that minor flaw dissuade you from benefitting from this fine piece of work.