I can’t tell you how inspired I feel to do my best in life whenever I read Good to Great. Jim Collins’ insight and research has really made an impact on me with not only a new perspective on business but my entire life. I appreciate his opening remarks in the beginning of chapter one when he is discussing “good is the enemy of great.” This is such a simple statement but it is so true. In my twenty-three years I can think of multiple people whom I believe are so remarkable in their thought processes, ideas, skills, knowledge and talents but settle for good instead of pushing for greatness. I know twenty-three years is not a long time which is exactly my point. After reflecting on his points, it’s sad to say I’ve observed settling at various points of my life. I would like to think I could have an explanation for why people settle for good however I can only guess on why they choose to stay put; being comfortable, lack of ambition, overly content, fear of the unknown, lack of confidence, resources, time, and desire. In contrast, it makes me wonder if what the world or I see as settling for good, those who settle feel is great. Which would explain why they remain good because they feel as though that is good enough or the best they can give. In the book, Collin’s continues to explore this thought and provides evidence for what makes level 5 leaders so great. A large portion of this evidence, at least in the fist few chapters, are examples who level five levels are and explains the many reasons they do not settle for good. One of my favorite examples is when Collins is describing George Cain, CEO of Abbot Laboratories. He was a member of the company for eighteen years, and a family member of a previous president yet broke the chain of nepotism by redirecting the strategy of the company. One of his many changes was letting go of executives who were not exceptional in their positions, “neither family ties nor length” of time with the company stopped Cain from letting go those people. His belief was if “you didn’t have the capacity to become the best executive in the industry in your specific responsibility, then you would lose your paycheck.” This value was embedded in Cain’s level of “inspired standards” through his hatred of mediocrity. He was “intolerant of anyone who would accept the idea that good is good enough.”

Collins’ provides multiple examples of this ferocity and they continue to awaken my passion for greatness in so many ways. When reflecting on what I’ve read so far I think about the metaphor of an iceberg. That currently I am just at the tip, maybe ten feet above the water, and the vast opportunities of growth, learning, humility, failure, success, and unknown possibilities has yet to emerge above the water. This thought is unsettling in a good, nervous kind of way. And I am hopeful and excited to see what the next ten feet of my iceberg holds for me.