Posts from September 2020

One of my favorite books, "Good to  Great" by Jim Collins, cites an essay written by Isiah Berlin about a hedgehog and a fox. The fox wants to eat the hedgehog, the hedgehog wants to stay alive. The fox is cunning, smart and swift, while the hedgehog has only one tool of defense: curling up in a ball, with quills  out so the fox can't eat him.

Collins says that the difference between good and great companies is this: Good companies are led by foxes; great companies are led by hedgehogs. These hedgehogs focus on one concept or action, believing that when that one thing is in place, all desired results will follow. One great manufacturing company focuses on zero workplace accidents. One great retailer focuses on increasing the average dollar amount each customer spends per visit.