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Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Other's Don't Audiobook
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(3.00) - 31,868 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Built To Last, the defining management study of the nineties, 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.
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"This is the big smash hit from Jim Collins, and you probably don't need me to promote this this book. But you may not know that this is the middle book of a three book series that shares a common methodology and should be read as a group. The first book is "Built to Last", and the final book is "How the Mighty Fall". I actually read them in reverse order due to an odd combination of circumstances, but the three books together tell a very interesting story"
— Kevin (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“This carefully researched and well-written book disproves most of the current management hype—from the cult of the superhuman CEO to the cult of IT to the acquisitions and merger mania. It will not enable mediocrity to become competence. But it should enable competence to become excellence.”
— Peter F. Drucker -
“Peppered with dozens of stories and examples from the great and not so great, the book offers a well-reasoned road map to excellence that any organization would do well to consider. 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 editorial review -
“Like a lot of pop business books, much of this title can be filtered into a few catchphrases and concepts. But there’s another reason this book has burst through as a bestseller, which you can feel in Collins’ narration: he is honestly excited about his research and unconventional findings.”
— AudioFile -
“Anyone who wants to make the right choices for their business will find Good to Great instructive, accessible, and well worth reading. It is sure to be a business book that will be consulted and referred to for years to come.”
— Barnes and Noble editorial review -
Collins’ deeply earnest narration is heightened by his obvious zeal for the material...Highly recommended.”
— Library Journal (audio review)
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A USA Today bestseller
Good to Great Listener Reviews
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8/14/2024
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Dan Lindwe, 11/12/2022
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Mihaly Body, 3/3/2021
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Nathan Beyler, 12/13/2020
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Frank Bantjes, 11/17/2020
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James Reynolds, 6/16/2019
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" The book was awesome. Had clear reading. Understood the reader with no problem. Went at a great pace "
— eileen , 8/5/2018 -
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malik latif, 2/25/2018
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Richard Kuntz, 6/23/2017
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Paul, 9/9/2014
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Keith Minnie, 4/25/2014
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" Thankfully some of the ideas are solid, because the writing is HORRIBLE. I think the same could be generally applied to all business books. "
— anique, 2/9/2014 -
" A bit long and drawn out but nonetheless a must read with great insight. "
— Paul, 2/9/2014 -
" Great to move to the next level of leadership. Wonderful read! "
— Evan, 1/23/2014 -
" To my mind one of the most seminal books on what make great leaders with strong empirical evidence "
— Rob, 1/3/2014 -
" A must read for anyone in business. "
— José, 1/3/2014 -
" Of course this book had to make the list, and for good reason. If you're trying to figure out how to succeed in the long term, this is what the best companies do. Practising strategic thinking doesn't guarantee success, but it sure gives you a better chance. "
— Bernie, 12/19/2013 -
" Ah, as a small business owner you will be forgiven for thinking that this book has no relevance to you. But it does, it does! It's worth ploughing through - just skip lightly the bits that don't apply. The best stuff is the hedgehog concept and BHAG. Could quite change your business! "
— Julia, 12/17/2013 -
" I'm not a business guy. I am doctor in training. Still, a book about how businesses go from good to great has something for all of us. It is a quick read. Jim Collins writes in conversational style that makes it easy reading for us novice business people "
— Chris, 12/11/2013 -
" I started reading this book and couldn't put it down. There are some details that I skip, but I enjoy learning the concepts, and wanted to get it all. Definitely be a book I want to go back to over and over as I try to apply the principles. "
— Wendy, 12/3/2013 -
" A book highly recommended by my big brother. "
— Helen, 11/29/2013 -
" Lots of excellent ideas and principles for Business and personal strategy and management. It also provides a lot of insight about what separates good companies from great companies. "
— David, 10/25/2013 -
" Simple explanations for many successful business practices. I thought it was straightforward and a good reminder for any work type situation... But I got bored with it pretty quickly. ...maybe this just isn't my genre because a lot of his observations seem like common sense. "
— Alicia, 10/20/2013 -
" Hurray for books that can be reduced to less than 10 PowerPoint bullets! "
— Nathan, 8/8/2013 -
" This book gave me a different perception of how I view myself personally as well as in future business "
— Joe, 7/27/2013 -
" Many great insights but too long and a little boring. "
— Kristin, 2/10/2013 -
" Do really see what all the fuss was about? Tre' boring. "
— Erika, 1/5/2013 -
" Very good book in exploring how to be a person that leads from a 80% to a 95%. "
— Benjamin, 11/2/2012 -
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Tim Stenson, 6/28/2012
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" 4 stars for now. Ill let you know in a year of it's 5 stars - based how my business performs in 2013! "
— Anton, 6/24/2012 -
" Excellent book for what it is. "
— James, 1/10/2012 -
" I found this book not only obvious but also annoying with respect to the writing style. "
— Manvi, 1/6/2012 -
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Brainard Morgan, 11/24/2011
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" Best book I've read on business strategy. "
— Michael, 10/13/2011 -
" A wonderful book. The more I read it, the more I was amazed at the great advice it had to offer and also the more frustrated I became with the company I currently work for. Ha. This book does exactly what the title entails. It teaches you how to go from good to great. "
— Samantha, 6/19/2011 -
" Great book for business and leadership "
— Bill, 5/8/2011 -
" Hurray for books that can be reduced to less than 10 PowerPoint bullets! "
— Nathan, 5/8/2011 -
" Classic. Other than "winning", this is easily the most motivating and insightful books on what makes companies great "
— Brad, 3/30/2011 -
" One of the best books I have ever read about business and leadership. "
— doug, 3/20/2011 -
" ok, but buz books can be a little boring, repetitive. "
— Jennifer, 3/19/2011 -
" Great book with outstanding fundamental theories.<br/><br/>And, like most business books, I made it through about 3.5 chapters and it became so repetitive that I didn't want to continue. "
— doug, 3/16/2011
About Jim Collins
Jim Collins, driven by a relentless curiosity, began his research and teaching career on the faculty at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1992. In 1995, he founded a management laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, where he now conducts research and consults with executives from the corporate and social sectors. He holds degrees in business administration and mathematical sciences from Stanford University and honorary doctoral degrees from the University of Colorado and the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. He has served as a teacher to senior executives and CEOs at over a hundred corporations and has also worked with social sector organizations such as Johns Hopkins Medical School, the Girl Scouts of the USA, the Leadership Network of Churches, the American Association of K-12 School Superintendents, and the United States Marine Corps.