By: Matt @ HomeAndPocket.com
April 22, 2025
In this latest book review, I will examine one of my all time favorite self-help authors – Jim Collins. I once had the privilege of attending a lecture by Jim Collins at the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College.
He is a unique person.
His public speaking ability is energetic.
And his impact was profound.
In Good to Great, Jim Collins explores a powerful idea that challenges the comfort of mediocrity:
“Good is the enemy of great.”
This truth is simple yet profound. It lies at the heart of his extensive research. His research explores what separates truly great companies from those that simply get by.
Here’s a list of Jim Collins’ major books along with their release years:
- “Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies” – 1994
(Co-authored with Jerry I. Porras)
Focus: What makes companies endure over the long term. - “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t” – 2001
Focus: How companies transition from good to truly great performance. - “Good to Great and the Social Sectors” – 2005
(Monograph)
Focus: Applying “Good to Great” principles to nonprofits and public sector organizations.
- “How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In” – 2009
Focus: The stages of decline in once-great companies and how they can recover. - “Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck — Why Some Thrive Despite Them All” – 2011
(Co-authored with Morten T. Hansen)
Focus: Why some companies thrive in uncertain environments. - “Turning the Flywheel: A Monograph to Accompany Good to Great” – 2019
Focus: Deep dive into the “flywheel effect” from Good to Great and how to apply it practically.
The book is built on five years of meticulous study, during which Collins and his research team analyzed the performance of hundreds of companies.
They ultimately identified a select group that made the leap from being merely good to consistently outperforming the market—and, more importantly, staying great over time.
At its core, Good to Great is not just a business strategy book. It’s a blueprint for transformation.
Collins introduces timeless concepts like the Hedgehog Concept (the intersection of what you’re deeply passionate about, what you can be the best at, and what drives your economic engine), Level 5 Leadership (humble yet determined leaders), and the importance of getting the right people on the bus before deciding where to drive it.
The Hedgehog concept: The best part of his speech was spent explaining this concept.
One of the most compelling takeaways is how discipline, not dramatic change, drives greatness. These companies didn’t leap because of revolutionary new products or radical rebranding.
They did so by relentlessly focusing on what mattered, making tough decisions, and refusing to settle for “good enough.”
That said, Good to Great isn’t without its critiques. Some argue that the case studies may not all hold up under today’s business landscape, particularly as some of the featured companies have since struggled.
But the underlying principles remain solid and broadly applicable—not only in business but in personal development and leadership.
For entrepreneurs, executives, and anyone looking to raise the bar in their work or life, Good to Great is a must-read.
It reminds us that greatness isn’t a one-time achievement—it’s a consistent choice. And if we’re not careful, the comfort of “good” might just stop us from getting there.
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