We learned that a former prisoner of war had more to teach us about what it takes to find a path to… — James C. Collins Book Copy Share Image
It took Einstein ten years of groping through the fog to get the theory of special relativity, and he was a bright… — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
Throw leaders into an extreme environment, and it will separate the stark differences between greatness and mediocrity. — James C. Collins Differences Copy Share Image
Focusing solely on what you can potentially do better than any other organization is the only path to greatness. — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
It is more important to know who you are than where you are going, for where you are going will change as… — James C. Collins Change Copy Share Image
“You can’t manufacture passion or “motivate” people to feel passionate. You can only discover what ignites your passion and the passions of… — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
Start a 'Stop Doing' list. I'll leave it as an existential dilemma on whether to put that task on your To Do… — James C. Collins Dilemma Copy Share Image
The critical question is not whether you'll have luck, but what you do with the luck that you get. — James C. Collins Choices Copy Share Image
I see the Baldrige process as a powerful set of mechanisms for disciplined people engaged in disciplined thought and taking disciplined action… — James C. Collins Action Copy Share Image
The main point is first get the right people on the bus (and wrong people off the bus) before you figure out… — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
I've never found an important decision made by a great organization that was made at a point of unanimity. Significant decisions carry… — James C. Collins Decision Copy Share Image
“A vitória aguarda aquele que tem tudo em ordem – ou sorte, como as pessoas costumam dizer. A derrota é certa para… — James C. Collins Amor Copy Share Image
"Growth!" is not a Hedgehog Concept. Rather, if you have the right Hedgehog Concept and make decisions relentlessly consistent with it, you… — James C. Collins Business Copy Share Image
“Core ideology provides the glue that holds an organization together as it grows, decentralizes, diversifies, expands globally, and develops workplace diversity. Think… — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
“You get the best people, you build them into the best managers in the industry, and you accept the fact that some… — James C. Collins Best man Copy Share Image
In determing "the right people," the good-to-great companies placed greater weight on character attributes than on specific educational background, practical skills, specialized… — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
“It is simply a manifestation of the “first who” principle: It’s not how you compensate your executives, it’s which executives you have… — James C. Collins Executives Copy Share Image
Good-to-great companies set their goals and strategies based on understanding; comparison companies set their goals and strategies based on bravado. — James C. Collins Bravado Copy Share Image
Creative leadership impact increases in your 50's. When I turn 50 I want to say, "Nice start!" — James C. Collins Creative Copy Share Image
Just because a company falls doesn't invalidate what we can learn by studying that company when it was at its historical best. — James C. Collins Business Copy Share Image
“If we get the right people on the bus, the right people in the right seats, and the wrong people off the… — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
“Level 5 leaders: ambition first and foremost for the company and concern for its success rather than for one’s own riches and… — James C. Collins Ambition Copy Share Image
“Recognize that getting a Hedgehog Concept is an inherently iterative process, not an event.” — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
Some managers are uncomfotable with expressing emotion about their dreams, but it's the passion and emotion that will attract and motivate others. — James C. Collins Dream Copy Share Image
Whether you prevail or fail depends more on what you do to yourself than on what the world does to you. — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
The only way to deliver to the people who are achieving is to not burden them with the people who are not… — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
If your company disappeared, would it leave a gaping hole that could not easily be filled by any other enterprise on the… — James C. Collins Business Copy Share Image
Don't take care of your career. Take care of your people. They will take care of your career. — James C. Collins Care Copy Share Image
The challenge is not just to build a company that can endure; but to build one that is worthy of enduring. — James C. Collins Business Copy Share Image
“When you combine a culture of discipline with an ethic of entrepreneurship, you get the magical alchemy of great performance.” — James C. Collins Discipline Copy Share Image
“In a good-to-great transformation, people are not your most important asset. The right people are.” — James C. Collins Change Copy Share Image
Good is the enemy of great. And that's one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. — James C. Collins Enemy Copy Share Image
“they cannot learn the essential character traits that make them right for your organization.” — James C. Collins Character Copy Share Image
Get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats... — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
Not all time in life is equal. How many opportunities do you get to talk about what your life is going to… — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
“to create great results requires a nearly fanatical dedication to the idea of consistency within the Hedgehog Concept.” — James C. Collins Consistency Copy Share Image
Profit is like oxygen, food, water, and blood for the body; they are not the point of life, but without them, there… — James C. Collins Copy Share Image
“Nordstrom • Service to the customer above all else • Hard work and individual productivity • Never being satisfied • Excellence in… — James C. Collins Customer Copy Share Image
“So, the question of Why greatness? is almost a nonsense question. If you’re engaged in work that you love and care about,… — James C. Collins Greatness Copy Share Image
Level 5 leaders channel their ego needs away from themselves and into the larger goal of building a great company. It's not… — James C. Collins Ambition Copy Share Image
