In the interest of full disclosure, both major books of top selling business writer Jim Collins (Built to Last and Good to Great) remain unread on my bookshelf as I’ve taken a break from popular business books over the last few years.
From how his thinking, his writing, and his methods are discussed however, he’s obviously someone to keep an eye on. I also happen to like writers who retreat to the cave or the mountain for years, and come back out with the rare but delightfully well-thought-out book.
Reading this interview in Fortune, I was curious about the topic of his research today and what his next book might be about. We was on the ball a few years ago when he started looking at how businesses succeed in turbulent times (something relevant today, right?).
“The one thing you learn is that those who panic, die on the mountain.”
Spoken like the true rock climber he is. He talks about how the period of stability that followed WWII is ending, and will likely not return during our lifetimes. Companies that have core values (interestingly it’s more important having them then what they are) and realize the people you have with you are the most important thing (again, think about getting stuck on a mountain). People that don’t need management, and consider their work as responsibilities rather than just a job.
It seems like common sense, but having a planning horizon that looks at the next 25+ years rather than the next quarter, is a clear differentiator. We can only hope that our government remembers this when it rushes solutions with little planning yet huge long-term economic consequences upon the country. I hope they read his next book.