Good is Still the Enemy of Great

In 2001, American society was introduced to Jim Collin’s work, Good to Great. The first and greatest takeaway from this book is that indeed good is the enemy of great. Good is not good enough.

As we prepare to launch the class of 2017, I am reminded of Collin’s mantra. I encourage the class of 2017 to be more than good. Work to be great. Collins elaborates on 7 principles that take a company from good to great. I believe these principals can take a person from good to great.

Level 5 Leadership: Leaders who are humble, but driven to do what's best for the company. The class of 2017 needs to strive to lead. Leadership is earned. Pay your dues with your work ethic. Embrace starting at the bottom and working to the top.

First Who, Then What: Get the right people on the bus, then figure out where to go. Finding the right people and trying them out in different positions. Surround yourself with successful people. Like minded individuals perform similarly. If you want to be employed, hang around people who work. If you want to be charitable, associate yourself with volunteers. Those who chose to be less than great, associate themselves with others who chose to be less than great.

Confront the Brutal Facts: The Stockdale paradox—Confront the brutal truth of the situation, yet at the same time, never give up hope. Know the hurdles you have in front of you. Also know that desire and commitment can drive you to accomplishment. Your greatness is demonstrated when you achieve. You may never cure cancer. You may never go to the NBA. Those facts do not stop you from achieving greatness. What do you have inside of you that allows you to contribute to society? Share your greatness with society! Make your community better because you are there and part of it.

Hedgehog Concept: Three overlapping circles: What lights your fire ("passion")? What could you be best in the world at ("best at")? What makes you money ("driving resource")? You are about to embark on a 47 year journey (at least) before you can retire. Find your passion. Combine your talents with your interests into a career. You should be employed for the rest of your life, but hopefully you do not have to “work.” When your passion is your employment you have a job for life but it does not feel like work.

Culture of Discipline: Rinsing the cottage cheese. Collins describes the level of commitment Dave Scott, the first six-time Ironman Triathon World Champion, had with every detail of his training. While he burned 5,000 calories a day he STILL was extremely disciplined to the point of rinsing his cottage cheese to get as much fat off of his fuel as possible. Who does that? People who find every small way to be that much better than their competition. The people who don’t see discipline as a hassle or kill-joy, rather an opportunity to be their very best. 

Technology Accelerators: Using technology to accelerate growth, within the three circles of the hedgehog concept. Use technology to your advantage. Use technology responsibly. Good to Great does not allow for social idiocy. Slamming one another, insulting one another through the anonymity of social media degrades humanity.

The Flywheel: The additive effect of many small initiatives; they act on each other like compound interest. Good to Great comes about by a cumulative process. Step by step, action by action, decision by decision, turn by turn of the flywheel adds up to sustained and spectacular results. Often organizations or people who are “overnight successes” have been working at it for years.

Never settle for less than your best. Be a leader. Remember Humorist Robert Benchley once told us, that unless you’re the lead dog, the view never changes. Confront and conquer your obstacle. You can overcome. You do not have to avoid. Be passionate! Be Great! Make the most of your blessings! Arthur Ashe reminds us that success is a journey not a destination. Find ways to be better than the competition. Technology is a tool, not a weapon. May the culminating efforts of cranking your fly wheel result in your overnight success.