Good to Great

Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't

By: Jim Collins

Narrated by: Jim Collins

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Built to Last, the defining management study of the '90s, showed how great companies triumph over time and how long-term sustained performance can be engineered into the DNA of an enterprise from the very beginning.

But what about companies that are not born with great DNA? How can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? Are there those that convert long-term mediocrity or worse into long-term superiority? If so, what are the distinguishing characteristics that cause a company to go from good to great?

Over five years, Jim Collins and his research team have analyzed the histories of 28 companies, discovering why some companies make the leap and others don't. The findings include:

• Level 5 Leadership: A surprising style, required for greatness
• The Hedgehog Concept: Finding your three circles, to transcend the curse of competence
• A Culture of Discipline: The alchemy of great results
• Technology Accelerators: How good-to-great companies think differently about technology
• The Flywheel and the Doom Loop: Why those who do frequent restructuring fail to make the leap

©2001 Jim Collins (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Like Built to Last, Good to Great is one of those books that managers and CEOs will be reading and rereading for years to come." (Amazon.com review)

"If you believe that a visionary leader with a strong ego is an essential component of sustained business success, then Jim Collins has a few thousand words for you. His carefully researched audiobook explains that the success of companies that outperform the market for 15 years in a row comes from selfless leadership, rigorous focus, and a culture of discipline....[T]here's another reason this book has burst through as a bestseller, which you can feel in Collins's narration: He is honestly excited about his research and unconventional findings. ( AudioFile)

should be required reading

I love this book particularly the part about Admiral Stockbridge. unending optimism against overwhelming negativity. without the Rose Colored Glasses.

Great Book

Great to have Jim Collins read it. really made it fun to listen, he had great passion for his work.

I have built million dollars company from this boo

using this book over the years I have built two companies that are great to

Profound insight

There are many concepts that will endure with my continued development. It's a must read for those striving for professional and personal advancement.

Great Studies but a bit dry

If you could sum up Good to Great in three words, what would they be?

Good but dry

What was one of the most memorable moments of Good to Great?

Probably that the discovery that compensation had no correlation between how great or not so great a company was.

What aspect of Jim Collins’s performance would you have changed?

A little bit more personality/excitement

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

This was a book recommended to me so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I had just gotten done listening to the 10x Rule by Grant Cardone and was probably still on that adrenaline rush. I will have to listen to it again sometime.

Great for startup businesses

Very enjoyable book with great advice. Def a book you want to go through before or while starting a business.

Great Content, Passionate Reading

What made the experience of listening to Good to Great the most enjoyable?

The author's (and narrator's) passion for the content helped make evident what the important and relevant topics were. Good to Great has a wonderfully simple set of guidelines that explain the process of transition for evolving, great companies.

Begin with the end in mind

incredible insights for anyone with a business or organization to lead. I think I would almost start with chapter 10 or maybe the second half of chapter 9 and hear a couple of the stories and frequently asked questions then back up and actually listen to the book. if you start at the beginning of the book as most people do, you might get the impression that the book was only designed for C title leaders at large companies and potentially lose interest before you realize how it could be applied to your small business or nonprofit organization. but if you'll read or listen to the information in the very back then you get the framework that will help you gain insight from the whole book

great to great

Would you consider the audio edition of Good to Great to be better than the print version?

I have not read the printed version of good to great, but the audiobook version is pretty clear

What did you like best about this story?

i liked the fact that it is based on research and it is focused on a specific group of companies, the good ones and their transition to greatness

Great content, missed on narration

Great information through his research useful for any business and for self development and leadership. Jim did an outstanding work, but he missed in the narration. it could have been better delivered