214 Quotes by James C. Collins

Creativity dies in an indisciplined environment.

Just because a company falls doesn't invalidate what we can learn by studying that company when it was at its historical best.

Get the right people on the bus and in the right seat.

Genius of AND. Embrace both extremes on a number of dimensions at the same time. Instead of choosing a OR B, figure out how to have A AND B-purpose AND profit, continuity AND change, freedom AND responsibility, etc.

The challenge is not just to build a company that can endure; but to build one that is worthy of enduring.

The moment you feel the need to tightly manage someone, you've made a hiring mistake. The best people don't need to be managed. Guided, taught, led-yes. But not tightly managed.

Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.

Not one of the good-to-great companies focused obsessively on growth.

The secret to a successful retirement is to find your retirement sweet spot. The sweet spot is where your passions, what you do best, and what people will pay you to do overlap.