Good to Great
by Jim Collins
Mentioned 6 times across 4 shows · first heard Aug 2025 on My First Million.
The general take
Dr. Anthony Randall is a big fan of Good to Great, calling it one of his favorite leadership books. That's the extent of what was actually discussed about it in these podcast clips.
About
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.
Who said what
Dave Ramsey👍 Recommends
…foundational business book about what separates great companies from good ones
“The premier book in the last 30 years probably that most of us love and we love the man too is our friend Jim Collins wrote the book Good to Great. You need to read that book.”
The Ramsey Show — Financial Peace Is Built, Not Borrowedat 22:26
Richard Harpin👍 Recommends
…discussing small bets versus big bets philosophy in business strategy
“Jim Collins, in his book, Good to Great, would call it firing bullets. And then when you hit the target, then fire the cannonball. If you fire the cannonball at the beginning, you run the risk of busting your business.”
Finding Peak w/ Ryan Hanley — The Billionaire Case for Small Betsat 04:06
Dr. Anthony Randall👍 Recommends
…recommending leadership books and favorite reads
“My favorite book, I think for leadership, man, I love good to great by Jim Collins. It's one of my favorites.”
Mick Unplugged — Practice Makes Permanent: Transforming Leaders with Dr. Anthony Randallat 36:26- DJ
Dr. Jay Phipps👍 Recommends
…recommending essential book for leaders overcoming fear
“What's one book that every leader should read as it relates to overcoming fear? Oh, that's a great one. Honestly, there are so many. I think organizationally you need to work on the Jim Collins book. Good to Great is good because really that Good to Great is the same thing about your life is how you conquer that fear and move to the next level.”
Mick Unplugged — Turning Fear into Success with Dr. Jay Phippsat 28:51 - SM
Shannon Miles👍 Recommends
…leadership book that shaped servant leadership philosophy
“When I when we first decided to become business owners, I read good to great and I read about what it looked like to be a level five leader and that humility is the key to that. And that has informed a lot of my leadership over the years.”
Mick Unplugged — Bryan & Shannon Miles: Secrets to Remote Culture and Servant Leadership Successat 36:23 
Hayes Barnard👍 Recommends
…exploring how learning disabilities and life challenges shape successful leaders
“Well, oftentimes with a level five leader, they have a great deal of compassion and empathy for people. They often give up to go up. They have the ability to empower people instead of micromanage people, recruit top talent, and put them in a place that allows those organizations to scale. And so the reason is for this, if you dig a couple layers lower, is oftentimes they have a learning disability. Many times they're on the spectrum. Now when you sit down with people that have achieved extraordinary outcomes, and Jim Collins wrote a book about this called Good to Great. He talked about level five leaders. And I had an opportunity to have lunch with Jim Collins at Stanford.”
My First Million — From $4/Hour to $4 Billion Net Worthat 05:01
Listener reviews
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