|
But, for those of us who DO want to be great - in whatever way - it's a super support to have Collins' book as a guide.Oh, I just read a new book, actually comes out on July 8 but is available on Amazon already, What's Your Body Telling You. Steve is a buddy of mine, in fact I helped in the early stages of this book. I read this book years ago, actually wrote an Executive Summary of it, and I still find it is helpful in my business life.The main concept I want to mention in this review is Collins' comment that you have to let go of what made you good if you want to be great. Listening To Your Body's Signals to Stop Anxiety, Erase Self-Doubt and Achieve True Wellness. It's also very practical and you get to use your body as a research center. Yikes. Most of us have fear around that, especially in this economy.
I've seen so many big companies that at the most can be considered good (although I wouldn't mind calling them mediocre - even though I'm talking of companies that every year makes millions of dollars). But they're not great, not as good they could be. Although I'm just in the first few chapters of this book, I've found it very useful. This Big company generally are satisfied by making good profits and boy are they good. This book is a definitely eye opener, and every CEO and all top management should grab a copy, Mr. Collins and his teams have a very interesting approach to what makes a good and a great company.
Don't misunderstand--the vast majority of the audio is straight from the book, but the author comes across more as if he's SPEAKING to an audience, with the vocal inflections and emphasis that you'd expect from a good speaker, and even repeats key points to make sure you grasp just how important they are.There are multiple audio versions of this title available, and the most recent version, from 2005 (four years after the publication of the original book), provides significant additional value to the listener. Although the audio wasn't recorded today, the years between the book's publication and the audio recording allow Collins to reflect on the book's findings and reasons that some of the book's good-to-great companies may have faltered somewhat in the time since the study's conclusion.
The author's skill in conveying his message through audio are consistent with the quality of the study upon which the book is based and with the author's ability to translate the study's findings into a well-organized, easily understood text. This was of significance because this very question might enter the reader's mind (as it did mine), and his explanations show that the lessons learned by the actions of the good-to-greats during their transition are still 100% valid, and that failures of the great companies come as a result of their failing to stay true to the practices that led them to greatness in the first place.Overall, I found the additional content in the 2005 unabridged audio recording to be well worth the small additional expense.
I could echo the hundreds of examples of positive feedback from other reviewers of the hardcover edition, which I also own, but I'd like to add comments regarding features unique to the 2005 unabridged audio recording, Good to Great CD: Why Some Companies Make the Leap.And Others Don't, which I found made it an exceptional purchase.The author does an excellent job of putting the book into audio format. It was this additional content that I found to be of great value to me.
An excellent work by Jim Collins. Rather than simply read the book verbatim, he adds bits of commentary and changes a few words where necessary because he recognizes that people don't hear the same way we read.
The author makes numerous comments throughout the audio, sometimes at great length, about lessons learned since the original book's publication.
In a couple weeks I will listen again. I was referred to this book by a friend and now I am thanking him. I will be ordering other Collins books soon. I enjoyed the cd read by the author as I found Jim Collins an easy listen. With each chapter I found myself reflecting on my own companies and seeing how I can tranform the company from Good to Great. Since finishing the book (on cd) I find myself everyday thinking about aspects of the knowledge I learned.
It's about leadership; it's about dealing with mediocrity; it's about breaking rules and stepping on feet when necessary.This isn't light reading. Judith Briles, author ofStabotage. I speak all over the country--in almost every presentation, I mention Good to Great. but if you are in management and leadership anywhere, this book should be one of your reads.Dr. How to Deal with the Pit Bulls, Skunks, Snakes, Scorpions & Slugs in the Health Care Workplace Based on a study that took five years to complete; Collins studied 28 companies. He then identified 11 of them that transitioned from good to great.
|
