Message of the Day - Great By Choice

Good Morning,

 

My current read is Jim Collins’ new book, with co-author MortenT. Hansen, called “Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck – Why some thrive despite them all” (http://www.amazon.com/Great-Choice-Uncertainty-Luck--Why-Despite/dp/0062120999/ ). This is his fourth book into the search for what makes an organization great and enduring.

 

This book is similar to Good to Great in the method of research used to determine both the companies researched and the gap analysis between the companies which were successful compared to the lesser successful comparisons. The successful companies are called 10Xers as they performed 10 times as well.

 

The findings in this book are different than that from Good to Great and Built to Last in that the focus included organizations who thrived with uncertainly, chaos and luck opposed to those who just thrived in a normal environment.

 

What the authors found is that there is a formula for success which can be used by anyone to navigate difficult times and in difficult industries.

 

For example, luck.

 

Many business and self help people steer clear from the topic of luck because it is so hard to quantify.

 

What Collins and Hansen discovered about the 10Xers compared to the comparison companies is that the comparison companies actually had more good luck than the 10Xer companies and about the same bad luck.

 

The difference is that the 10Xers got a return on the luck they had, both good and bad. That is, they took advantage of the luck that was handed them. Whereas the comparison companies more often than not let lucky events and serendipity pass by.

 

That is, everyone has luck coming their way, both good and bad luck. It is what people do when that luck arrives that shapes them.

 

There is so much good in this book, I dare not share too much in one email.

 

I highly suggest this book for anyone who has enjoyed Good to Great, Built to Last and How the Mighty Fall.

 

What I find truly interesting is that after this 9 year research on this latest project, the research team took the findings from the three previous books and ran their findings through the findings of the new book and each and everyone stood true. That is, each book covers a different aspect of organizational development and when applying the appropriate findings from one of the four books, they work. For example, for a young company, using Good to Great can help them improve, and when the times get turbulent, they can use both the Good to Great and Great by Choice findings.  If that same organization starts getting overly successful and starts to falter, they can switch and use the findings from How the Mighty Fall to help stop the slide, and then move to back to another book as necessary.

 

These books are invaluable to organizational health and growth.

 

Get out there and read this one!

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
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