Those who turn good organizations into great organizations are motivated by a deep creative urge and an inner compulsion for sheer unadulterated excellence for its own sake.
James C. CollinsRead
A visionary company doesn't simply balance between idealism and profitability: it seeks to be highly idealistic and highly profitable. A visionary company doesn't simply balance between preserving a tightly held core ideology and stimulating vigorous change and movement; it does both to an extreme.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A successful company harmonizes strong ideals with high profitability while embracing both core values and change.
This quote by James C. Collins emphasizes that a visionary company does not choose between having a strong ideology and being profitable; instead, it strives to excel in both aspects simultaneously. It suggests that true greatness in business lies in the ability to maintain foundational principles while also being adaptable and open to significant changes that drive growth and innovation.
Themes
VisionaryCompanyIdealismProfitabilityCore IdeologyChange
In practice
Example use cases
During a business seminar discussing the duality of ideals and profits.
More from James C. Collins
All quotes →The kind of commitment I find among the best performers across virtually every field is a single-minded passion for what they do, an unwavering desire for excellence in the way they think and the way they work. Genuine confidence is what launches you out of bed in the morning, and through your day with a spring in your step.
James C. CollinsRead
If we allow the celebrity rock-star model of leadership to triumph, we will see the decline of corporations and institutions of all types. The twentieth century was a century of greatness, but we face the very real prospect that the next century will see very few enduring great institutions.
James C. CollinsRead
...the question, Why try for greatness? would seem almost tautological. If you're doing something you care that much about, and you believe in its purpose deeply enough, then it is impossible to imagine not trying to make it great. It's just a given.
James C. CollinsRead
Get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats...
James C. CollinsRead
It may seem odd to talk about something as soft and fuzzy as "passion" as an integral part of a strategic framework. But throughout the good-to-great companies, passion became a key part of the Hedgehog Concept.
James C. CollinsRead
Similar quotes
The sooner you cut off negotiations with someone you shouldn't be dealing with, it gives you the chance to move on to a more profitable deal.
Christopher VossRead
Don't hesitate to seek external help or advice where need be. Sometimes, it takes an external, emotionally unattached individual to detect your business flaws and render unbiased advice.
Richard BransonRead
If you develop a product that gets what the customer is trying to get done, you don't have to advertise; people will just pull it into their lives.
Clayton M. ChristensenRead
Wherever we are seeing something getting used, that to us is an early indicator that there might be something that people want. And then let's figure out how to make that great. And then let's go figure out monetization.
Satya NadellaRead
As long as you keep doing the right thing and have the best product, you can beat the bigger company.
Sam AltmanRead
Customer satisfaction is worthless. Customer loyalty is priceless.
Jeffrey GitomerRead