--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who build great companies…" description: "\"Those who build great companies understand that the ultimate throttle on growth for any great company is not markets, or technology, or competition, or..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/james-c-collins-2276_ability_those-who-build-great-companies-understa_1384429.png" --- # Those who build great companies understand that the… ![“Those who build great companies understand that the ultimate throttle on growth for any great company is not markets, or technology, or competition, or products. It is one thing above all others: the ability to get and keep enough of the right people.” quote by James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/james-c-collins-2276_ability_those-who-build-great-companies-understa_1384429.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/james-c-collins-2276_ability_those-who-build-great-companies-understa_1384429.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/james-c-collins-2276_ability_those-who-build-great-companies-understa_1384429.png) > “Those who build great companies understand that the ultimate throttle on growth for any great company is not markets, or technology, or competition, or products. It is one thing above all others: the ability to get and keep enough of the right people.” [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growth is limited not by external factors but by the talent and people a company can attract and retain. **In simple terms:** People are the key growth driver. Key Takeaway Focus on hiring and retaining the right talent. Themes leadership growth people talent acquisition Mood determined optimistic Type business leadership When to use this quote - startup scaling - team building - HR strategy - leadership development Key Concepts Human capital organizational culture strategic hiring Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve your hiring process? - What retention strategies work best for your team? A Different Perspective Even with great people, market forces can still hinder growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [In determing "the right people," the good-to-great companies placed greater weight on character attributes than on specific educational background, practical skills, specialized knowledge, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/in-determing-the-right-people-the-good-to-great-companies-placed/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Great companies foster a productive tension between continuity and change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/great-companies-foster-a-productive-tension-between-continuity-and/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Not one of the good-to-great companies focused obsessively on growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/not-one-of-the-good-to-great-companies-focused-obsessively-on-growth/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Good-to-great companies set their goals and strategies based on understanding; comparison companies set their goals and strategies based on bravado.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/good-to-great-companies-set-their-goals-and-strategies-based-on/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“No company can grow revenues consistently faster than its ability to get enough of the right people to implement that growth and still become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/no-company-can-grow-revenues-consistently-faster-than-its-ability-to/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“No sector will ever be so important that merely participating in it will be enough to build a great company.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-masters/no-sector-will-ever-be-so-important-that-merely-participating-in-it/) [Blake Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-masters/) > [To build a great company, which is a CEO's job, sometimes you have to stand up against conventional wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/to-build-a-great-company-which-is-a-ceo-s-job-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [The only way to build a good company is one satisfied customer at a time. However, to build a great company, we must add…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-anderson/the-only-way-to-build-a-good-company-is-one-satisfied-customer-at-a/) [Mac Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-anderson/) > [If you want to build a great company, get the hell out of Silicon Valley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-want-to-build-a-great-company-get-the-hell-out-of-silicon/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The great companies get built by their founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/the-great-companies-get-built-by-their-founders/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [The top 25 at every company really set the tone. Everyone watches them. They need to be present and focused. No slackers at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-silverstein/the-top-25-at-every-company-really-set-the-tone-everyone-watches-them/) [Michael J. Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-silverstein/) > [Truly great companies are built on ideals, not just deals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/truly-great-companies-are-built-on-ideals-not-just-deals/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Most great companies in tech have been built by personal referrals for the first...at least 100 employees and often many more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/most-great-companies-in-tech-have-been-built-by-personal-referrals/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Great companies don't just have one founding moment. They have many founding moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/great-companies-don-t-just-have-one-founding-moment-they-have-many/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [The more entrepreneurs in the world that are getting their ideas financed, the more great companies there are going to be that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-wilson/the-more-entrepreneurs-in-the-world-that-are-getting-their-ideas/) [Fred Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-wilson/) ## More by James C. Collins > [No matter what. Wherever your mind wanders, it seems to turn up at the same Field of Dreams. It's the vision you wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/no-matter-what-wherever-your-mind-wanders-it-seems-to-turn-up-at-the/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“This might not sound very exciting (inventory management is not something that tends to rivet readers), but think of it this way: Imagine walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/this-might-not-sound-very-exciting-inventory-management-is-not/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“Merck • Corporate social responsibility • Unequivocal excellence in all aspects of the company • Science-based innovation • Honesty and integrity • Profit, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/merck-corporate-social-responsibility-unequivocal-excellence-in-all/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Greatest danger is not failure, but be successful and not know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/greatest-danger-is-not-failure-but-be-successful-and-not-know-why/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“If you have the right people on the bus, they will be self-motivated. The real question then becomes: How do you manage in such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/if-you-have-the-right-people-on-the-bus-they-will-be-self-motivated/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“2. Core purpose is an organization’s most fundamental reason for being. It should not be confused with the company’s current product lines or customer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/2-core-purpose-is-an-organization-s-most-fundamental-reason-for-being/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [The drive for progress doesn't wait for the external world to say "It's time to change."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/the-drive-for-progress-doesn-t-wait-for-the-external-world-to-say-it/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [The secret to a successful retirement is to find your retirement sweet spot. The sweet spot is where your passions, what you do best,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/the-secret-to-a-successful-retirement-is-to-find-your-retirement/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Managing your problems can only make you good, whereas building your opportunities is the only way to become great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/managing-your-problems-can-only-make-you-good-whereas-building-your/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Creative leadership impact increases in your 50's. When I turn 50 I want to say, "Nice start!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/creative-leadership-impact-increases-in-your-50-s-when-i-turn-50-i/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“The fact that something is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” is irrelevant, unless it fits within the three circles. A great company will have many once-in-a-lifetime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/the-fact-that-something-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity-is/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Don't take care of your career. Take care of your people. They will take care of your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/don-t-take-care-of-your-career-take-care-of-your-people-they-will/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Indeed, the real question is not, "Why greatness?" but "What work makes you feel compelled to try to create greatness?" if you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/indeed-the-real-question-is-not-why-greatness-but-what-work-makes-you/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Not one of the good-to-great companies focused obsessively on growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/not-one-of-the-good-to-great-companies-focused-obsessively-on-growth/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“Compare Bethlehem Steel to Nucor. Both companies operated in the steel industry and produced hard-to-differentiate products. Both companies faced the competitive challenge of cheap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/compare-bethlehem-steel-to-nucor-both-companies-operated-in-the-steel/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) [Explore all 175 James C. Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those who build great companies understand that the ultimate throttle on growth for any great company is not markets, or technology, or competition, or products. 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