GOOD TO GREAT and the SOCIAL SECTORS

I finished GOOD TO GREAT and the SOCIAL SECTORS by Jim Collins on the plane and thought I would share some of his thoughts with you. Let me begin by saying "Thank you Jim for writing this book!" I found it to be incredibly concise and helpful. I highly recommend it to those of you functioning in the non-profit sector of society.

This book is all about building a framework of greatness, articulating timeless principles that explain why some become great and others do not.

• The best leaders of the future - in the social sectors and business - will not be purely executive or legislative; they will have a knack for knowing when to play their executive chips, and when not to.
• True leadership only exists if people follow when they have the freedom not to. If people follow you because they have no choice, then you are not leading.
• It will be more difficult to get the wrong people off the bus, so focus on getting the right people on the bus.
• Business executives can more easily fire people - equally important - they can use money to buy talent.
• Do whatever you can to get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats.
• Money is a commodity; talent is not. Time and talent can often compensate for lack of the right people.
• "Brand" refers to how well your organization can cultivate a deep well of emotional goodwill and mindshare of potential supporters.
• Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, as it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.