Jim Collins Interview in Fortune Magazine
Jim Collins is the author of Good To Great and Build To Last
Jim Collins did an interview in Fortune on June 15th, 2005. Part of it dealt with being “internally driven”. Enclosed is a portion of what he said and my thoughts on how it can effect your business.
Most people start with the outside world and try to figure out, How do we adapt to it? Greatness doesn’t happen that way. It starts with an internal drive. And there’s a really key question with big decisions: What is the truth of this situation? There are three parts to this question. The first is internal: What are our real core values and our real aspirations? I mean, what do we really stand for? What do we really want to get done? What is internally driving us? I believe that it is the internal imprint that drives all the action. Everybody harps about “It’s all about responding to the outside world.” But the great companies are internally driven, externally aware.
So the first questions is, What is really driving us internally? The second question is, What is the truth about the outside world? And in particular, What is the truth about how it operates and how it is changing?
And the third question is, When you intersect our internal drive with external reality, what’s the truth about what we can distinctively contribute potentially better than anyone else in the world?
My thoughts on how this can have a positive effect on your business:
Consider the questions, “Why hire us?” and “Why work for us?” When answered honestly and openly, it positions your company powerfully and sharpens your ability to make a strong impression on new clients or potential employees.
The Challenge
This Socratic way of thinking requires “hard thinking” and process oriented work but if you do it consistently, you can create and build a foundation that supports sustained growth.
John Ruh
Phone: 773-775-6636
email: jmruh@comcast.net