Those who turn good organizations into great organizations are motivated by a deep creative urge and an inner compulsion for sheer unadulterated excellence for its own sake.
James C. CollinsRead
That good is the enemy of great is not just a business problem. It is a human problem.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Striving for greatness can be hindered by settling for mediocrity.
This quote conveys the idea that individuals and organizations often fall prey to complacency, achieving good results but missing out on the potential for greatness. It suggests that the acceptance of good outcomes can create a barrier to pursuing more ambitious goals, emphasizing that this tendency is deeply rooted in human nature, not just limited to the business context.
Themes
GreatnessComplacencySuccessHuman NatureBusiness
In practice
Example use cases
A motivational speaker might use this quote to inspire an audience to strive for more in their careers.
More from James C. Collins
All quotes βThe kind of commitment I find among the best performers across virtually every field is a single-minded passion for what they do, an unwavering desire for excellence in the way they think and the way they work. Genuine confidence is what launches you out of bed in the morning, and through your day with a spring in your step.
James C. CollinsRead
If we allow the celebrity rock-star model of leadership to triumph, we will see the decline of corporations and institutions of all types. The twentieth century was a century of greatness, but we face the very real prospect that the next century will see very few enduring great institutions.
James C. CollinsRead
...the question, Why try for greatness? would seem almost tautological. If you're doing something you care that much about, and you believe in its purpose deeply enough, then it is impossible to imagine not trying to make it great. It's just a given.
James C. CollinsRead
Get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats...
James C. CollinsRead
It may seem odd to talk about something as soft and fuzzy as "passion" as an integral part of a strategic framework. But throughout the good-to-great companies, passion became a key part of the Hedgehog Concept.
James C. CollinsRead
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