Trying to figure out Donald Trump? - Here is a book report that may help | Eastern North Carolina Now

Book Review – Good To Great

   If you are like me, you may be trying to figure out what the new POTUS is trying to do. I may be guilty of over analyzing this election, but I have never swam in this particular swamp before and I am trying to watch for the Alligators swimming around me. Beyond his over the top pronouncements there is an underlying principle that may help explain his goals. His belief is that he was elected to upset and change the status quo in Washington DC. It is my hope that he does that with the same reverence for the rule of law that many of the libertarians among us hope he has. I don't know what Donald Trump's reading habits are; nor do I know if he reads summaries of popular business books. I do know that he either has an innate talent (developed through trial and error) or is a very astute student of what works.

    I am not a blind cheerleader for Trump. I have some serious concerns about his management style and huge personality, but one of the lessons I learned in business is that you don't have to like a person to do business with them. I dealt with some professional pricks in my sales career, but I only required two things from them in the final analysis. They must have the ability to cut a purchase order and the ability to pay the bill. I had to rely on my own integrity, the company ethics and the legal requirements to differentiate the right and wrong of the deal. Fortunately most of my customers were industrial manufactures that had the same basic business ethics as my company. One of my first Regional Managers admonished me to run a "Gut Check" on any large project. If it did not pass the "Gut Check" bump it up to the ethics committee for review.


   The President's entire presidential campaign and administration so far is based on the combination of entertainment promotion and definitive action. You do not have to agree with his positions to understand his technique. There is an old private business Axiom that states: "If it is your money, it is a short trip to the bottom line."

   I always added the following BT Axiom: "If it is other people's money (OPM), hire a good lawyer and CPA!!! You will probably need them."

   I think that most of the consternation in Washington on both the Democratic and Republican as well as the press is that Donald Trump is not playing by their rules. He is way beyond the 'Bull in the China Shop' analogy.

   The book Good To Great, by Jim Collins is based on empirical studies of several companies that have made the transaction from being just good companies to truly great companies. It is not a one-time thing but a systematic process that yields "RESULTS." Some of the companies in his study have since fallen by the wayside since the publication of the book, so the there is no perfect way to success.

Here is a summary of the basic concepts in the book:

  • Chapter 1: Good is the Enemy of Great
  • Chapter 2: Level 5 Leadership
  • Chapter 3: First Who, Then What
  • Chapter 4: Confront the Brutal Facts (Yet Never Lose Faith)
  • Chapter 5: The Hedgehog Concept (Simplicity Within the Three Circles)
  • Chapter 6: A Culture of Discipline
  • Chapter 7: Technology Accelerators
  • Chapter 8: The Flywheel and the Doom Loop
  • Chapter 9: From Good to Great to Built to Last

One chapter that I highlight is Chapter 3.



   The next factor that Collins identifies as part of the Good to Great process is the nature of the leadership team. Specifically, Collins advances the concept that the process of securing high-quality, high-talent individuals with Level 5 leadership abilities must be undertaken before an overarching strategy can be developed. With the right people in the right positions, Collins contends that many of the management problems that plague companies and sap valuable resources will automatically dissipate. As such, he argues, firms seeking to make the Good to Great transition may find it worthwhile to expend extra energy and time on personnel searches and decision-making.

   Collins also underscores the importance of maintaining rigorousness in all personnel decisions. He recommends moving potentially failing employees and managers to new positions, but not hesitating to remove personnel who are not actively contributing. He also recommends that hiring should be delayed until an absolutely suitable candidate has been identified. Hewing to both of these guidelines, Collins claims, will likely save time, effort, and resources in the long-term.


   This concept is simplified into a core quote which I think Donald Trump is attempting to do with government.
You are a bus driver. The bus, your company, is at a standstill, and it’s your job to get it going. You have to decide where you’re going, how you’re going to get there, and who’s going with you.
Most people assume that great bus drivers (read: business leaders) immediately start the journey by announcing to the people on the bus where they’re going—by setting a new direction or by articulating a fresh corporate vision.
In fact, leaders of companies that go from good to great start not with “where” but with “who.” They start by getting the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats. And they stick with that discipline—first the people, then the direction—no matter how dire the circumstances.

Here is a video that explains this concept.



   Another chapter covers the Hedgehog concept. Keep your eye on the ball and be focused on the goal. It it is better to do one thing well than a lot of things OKAY.

   I am like most citizens who will be watching and evaluating the direction of the bus. Our's is a self correcting system as has been demonstrated for over 240 plus years. We are resilient enough to survive many executive foot prints. I do not subscribe to the idea that the USA is in the end of times. And I do not subscribe to the idea that Trump is some megalomaniac like the current leaders of North Korea or Iran.

Source material
Good to Great Summary
Getting the Right People on the Bus

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