Books Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (Good to Great, 2) by Jim Collins (Author), Jerry I. Porras (Author)

"Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies" by Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras presents a comprehensive study of what makes some companies endure and thrive across decades, even centuries. The authors identify a set of core principles that distinguish visionary companies from their less successful peers.

Key Concepts

Core Ideology: Visionary companies maintain a strong core ideology, comprising core values and a fundamental purpose beyond merely making money. This ideology remains largely unchanged even as the company evolves.

The Genius of the AND: These companies successfully balance dual objectives that seem contradictory, such as preserving their core while stimulating progress, or being both conservative and innovative.

Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs): Visionary companies set bold, ambitious, and long-term goals that propel them forward and inspire employees.

Enduring Momentum: The focus is on persevering with the company’s mission through continual adaptation of strategies and products without losing sight of their core identity.

Homegrown Management: They often develop leaders internally who deeply understand and embody the company culture.