Everyone wants to be good. But is “good” good enough?
In the book “Good To Great”, Jim Collins writes about why “good” is different from great and in my opinion why it’s not enough. Collins has consulted with CEO’s for decades on how to build companies with superior performance that thrive amidst chaos. When I read the below excerpt, it changed the way I navigate life.
“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 so easy just to settle for a good life. The vast majority of companies never become great precisely because the vast majority become quite good.” [1]
There are so many people that are just ok with being average… just being good…while the power to be great continues to lie deep within. Many people will not make the conscious choice to be better because of the investment and sacrifice that is necessary. But in reality, they are choosing… choosing just to be good.
As coaches let’s inspire our players to not be content with just doing enough to beat the other guy. Let’s push our teams to win and win big… to be “all in”, maximizing our potential and being better everyday.
The people, organizations, and teams that make the CHOICE to be great and take the ACTION necessary to move towards greatness will in the end find the success they pursue.
Do not get caught asking “why me” or “why not me”. Ask the questions “what can I do now?” and “how can I create what I want?”. Nothing can stop the human spirit.
“Greatness is not a matter of circumstance. Greatness it turns out is a matter of conscious choice.” [2]
It’s up to you.
Will you commit to being great?
[1] Jim Collins, Good To Great (New York: Harper Collins, 2001).
[2] Jim Collins, Good To Great (New York: Harper Collins, 2001).
