Built To Last by Jim Collins #Audiobook

Drawing upon a six-year research project at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, multimillion copy bestselling author, speaker and consultant focused on business management and company sustainability and growth Jim Collins and organizational theorist Jerry Porras took eighteen truly exceptional and long-lasting companies and studied each company in direct comparison to one of its top competitors. They examined the companies from their very beginnings to the present day - as start-ups, as midsize companies and as large corporations. Throughout, the authors asked: 'What makes the truly exceptional companies different from other companies?'

Built to Last is the result of that research: filled with hundreds of specific examples and organized into a coherent framework of practical concepts that can be applied by managers and entrepreneurs at all levels, Built to Last provides a master blueprint for building organizations that will prosper long into the twenty-first century and beyond.

Here are five big ideas from Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras:

• Preserve the Core, Stimulate Progress: Visionary companies balance staying true to their core values while continually innovating and adapting. This dynamic allows them to evolve without losing their foundational identity, ensuring longevity.

• Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals (BHAGs): Successful companies set bold and ambitious goals that inspire and challenge the organization. BHAGs push companies beyond their comfort zones, fostering creativity and sustained growth.

• Cult-like Cultures: Visionary companies cultivate strong, values-driven cultures that attract like-minded employees. These cultures create a shared sense of purpose and identity, aligning teams with the company’s mission.

• Clock Building, Not Time Telling: The focus of visionary companies is on creating systems and structures (building a clock) rather than relying on a single visionary leader (time telling). This ensures the organization can thrive long after its founders are gone.

• Continuous Improvement: These companies embrace a mindset of relentless progress and incremental improvement, often described as the “try lots of stuff and keep what works” philosophy. Experimentation and adaptation are critical components of their strategy.