Reading Good to Great during this time, while I’m staring down a prison sentence, gave me a much-needed shift in perspective. I picked it up expecting another business strategy book, but it turned out to be more like a personal challenge. Jim Collins breaks down what separates companies that are “great” from those that just get by as “good,” but the more profound message is what stuck with me: greatness isn’t handed out, it’s earned through discipline, intentional decisions, and long-term focus.
That line, “Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice and discipline,” has echoed in my head for days. My circumstances right now aren’t ideal, to say the least, yet Collins makes it clear that greatness can still be reached if I stay focused and make the right choices, even in a place like prison. That idea, that I still have control over who I become despite what’s happening, is more potent than anything I’ve heard lately.
One concept that stuck with me is the BHAG, the Big Hairy Audacious Goal. It’s a vision so bold that it scares you a little while pulling you forward. I’ve always set goals in business, but this made me ask: what’s the BHAG now? What’s the target that matters during this sentence? For me, it’s coming out stronger in every way, mentally, spiritually, emotionally. I want to build something worthwhile with the time I have, not just serve it.
The book also covers Level 5 Leadership, which refers to leaders who are humble yet driven by something beyond themselves. That is the energy I want to take into this next chapter. If I stay grounded, keep my pride in check, and work with purpose, this experience might lead somewhere meaningful.
Bottom line, Good to Great isn’t just about building businesses, it’s about building character, and that is the one area I still control.
