Built To Last

Successful Habits of Visionary Companies

Jim Collins

Book Synopsis

"Built To Last" by Jim Collins is a groundbreaking book that examines the traits of successful, long-lasting companies and identifies the strategies they employ to thrive in a rapidly changing business landscape. Through extensive research and case studies, Collins and his co-author Jerry I. Porras uncover the fundamental principles that enable these exceptional organizations to not only achieve exceptional financial performance but also have a lasting impact on society.

The book challenges the belief that business success requires constant reinvention and emphasizes the importance of establishing a strong foundation built on core values, purpose, and a clear vision. It explores the concept of a "BHAG" (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) as a powerful mechanism for driving long-term success and provides practical advice on how to align an organization around a BHAG.

Using a framework of shared values, Collins and Porras introduce the concept of building a "cult-like" culture that nurtures employee commitment and fosters innovation. They highlight the significance of embracing uncertainty and creating an adaptive, learning organization that can weather any storm. Furthermore, they discuss the importance of effective leadership and how it can influence the long-term success of a company.

Throughout the book, Collins and Porras illustrate their findings with compelling examples from a diverse range of industries, including Hewlett-Packard, Disney, Merck, and Nordstrom. By drawing on these real-world examples, the authors provide readers with actionable insights and practical strategies for building a company that is not only successful, but also enduring.

In essence, "Built To Last" offers a roadmap for creating and sustaining organizations that can stand the test of time. With its thought-provoking ideas and in-depth analysis, this book is a must-read for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone interested in building a company that will leave a lasting legacy.

Explore More Books

See All
How To Avoid a Climate Disaster
The Inimitable Jeeves
The Blank Slate
Fortitude
Blueprint
The Language Instinct
Life on the Edge
What If?
Edison
Tribe of Mentors
Diet for a Small Planet
Linchpin
The Box
Who Am I
Learn or Die
Command
East of Eden
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Am I Being Too Subtle?
Experimental Man
Empire of the Summer Moon
7 Powers
The Success Equation
Information
The Company
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing
The Choice
The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership
Confessions of a Philosopher
All Out War
Swarm Troopers
Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero
Turn the Ship Around!
Don't Shoot the Dog!
Acid Test
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Keeping At It
Continental Reckoning
National Economic Planning
Holistic Management
Lost in Shangri-La
Stuff Matters
Beyond Entrepreneurship
A History of Western Technology
The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World
Cognitive Surplus
Status Anxiety
Old Man and the Sea
The Third Chimpanzee
The Road to Character
Play Anything
Stalingrad
You Can Be a Stock Market Genius
Crash Proof 2.0
Believe In People
The Friction Project
The Venture Mindset
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
The Social Animal
Twilight of the Bombs
Take On The Street
Getting Real
Daughter of the Heartland
Eat a Peach
The Robber Barons
Manias, Panics, and Crashes
Malabar Farm
The Only Game In Town
Elon Musk
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
The E-Myth Revisited
Portfolios of the Poor
The Blazing World
Into The Silence
Built from Scratch
Savage Son
Oscar
The Alchemist
Consolations
The Diversity Myth
Little Fires Everywhere
The Art of Stillness
Ishmael
I Want To Be A Mathematician
1984
Boom
Prof. Arnold Ehret's Mucusless Diet Healing System
Atomic Habits
Connectography
The Power of Relentless
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Faith
The Farming Ladder
The Half-Life of Facts
Paper Lion
Tao Te Ching
Viral Loop
The Alliance
Pebbles of Perception
The Real Crash