It is now more than a month since I sat enthralled with thousands of other Australians listening to one of the worlds great business commentators – Jim Collins. Having consumed his books and been influenced by his insights into leadership and greatness, I wondered what would stand out for me as time moves on. His delivery style was authentic, and very grounded – he was happy to share stories about his personal life as well as his work.
It is with reflection that I share my insights from his keynote – if for no other reason than I will be able to refer to it myself in the future. These are the things I want to remember:
- The greatest leaders find a way to have an impact not in some abstract way but in a real flesh and blood way.
- Definition of purpose: how will some people’s lives be better and different because you were here.
- Definition of success: that the person closest to me (The love of my life Stuart) respects me more and more as the years go by
- Definition of luck: you did not cause it, has a significant consequence and there is an element of surprise .
- Hard work can allow luck to show up more often.
- Money is a means it is not the end. If it’s just about the money it can NEVER be truly great.
- If you measure your success in money you always loose. Like breathing is to life…
- A good BHAG is built from your deep sense of purpose not with bravado. It is not a wish or pulled out of the blue because it sounds good.
- Rhythm will give life a sense of control – even if there is none. Routine will set you free. Doing the ’20 mile march’ every day get’s you where you want to be. Everyday. Fanatical discipline delivers greatness.
- Real happiness is about picking a really big goal and organizing your life around it.
- Level five leadership is those who know its not about them and that an organization will thrive without them.
- What could you best in the world at – creates possibility rather than limiting you to what are you the best in the world at.
- Great lesson for all business – it is always about relationships not transactions.
- Never ever ever dwell on past mistakes… Learn from them but move on .. Don’t dwell. The past is simply that – the past.
- How do people relate to the window and the mirror. Those who blame versus take responsibility.
- You can almost always pivot the question from the what to the who. Or not what actions should you do but who could help.
- Compounding effect of playing every hand you’re dealt consistently over and over again will guarantee the outcome.
- It’s not about luck it’s about what you do with luck- including relationship luck.
- Luck favors the persistent.
- A BHAG needs to be possible not probable.
- Never underestimate the power of BIG things to do. A true BHAG owns you. If the goal is big enough you’ll feel inadequate.
- Preserve the core (your deep purpose) and stimulate progress (change, growth opportunities).
- Task is be a clock builder not a time teller If your business cannot be great without the founder then it’s not yet great.
- Grateful and fearful is productive paranoia.
- When success is coupled with arrogance is the first step to decline; arrogance to believe that the past will give us the future.
- True definition of mediocrity is in fact inconsistency.
- Consistent growth out performs fast growth every time.
- Big does not = Great. Nor does Great = Big.
- What makes a great life? Spending time doing things with the people we love.
- Great leaders have humility. Combined with a stoic need to get things done…
- Most people are not born as great leaders they become it to get what must be done, done. Leadership is a learned choice.
- Leadership is about getting people to ‘want’ to do what must be done. Rather than ‘having’ to do it. It’s s form of artistry.
- Leadership is when people have the choice not to follow otherwise it’s just power.
- Most great leaders I’ve known have had a charisma bypass. Greatness is a conscious choice.
- We cannot predict the future but we can create it.
Good is the enemy of great.
Thanks to Verne Harnish and the Growth Faculty for putting together the event.
