Good to Great

[Dogface]

WOW to put it simply.
Just finished reading, and listening on CD,
the book "Good to Great" by Jim Collins and his research team.
Anyone desiring to do anything of any value
whatsoever
should read, study and apply the principles
this research has exposed.
He starts off the book saying
that the reason there aren't many
Great schools
is because there are so many just good ones.
At that he had me hooked.
I'm convinced, and the author also points out,
that these principles will apply to every
project we work on
and will/can put an end to the
revolving door policy most 6man schools subscribe to.
But,
only check it out if you want to be great.

 

[Dogface]

So, I'm just wondering
if anyone has checked out that book?

It really is good.

 

[techster2000]

Dogface, where did you find this book?

 

[Ted Striker]

When does the movie come out. I'll watch it on while I'm opening the wait room. Don't like that reading stuff, hurts the ol brain. Just kidding not really that bad. But the movies always have goood lookin babes in em.

 

[Dogface]

You can find it where good books are sold,
jimcollins.com is a web site,
amazon has a Kindle version for 2.99
some libraries have it for check out.

For Striker (and myself)
I found it on CD at my public library.
Prolly listened to it exclusively for 4 weeks.
Took notes while driving down the highway.
That'll make any book more exciting!
Sorry no video yet.

Oh, about where I got mine?
It was assigned reading by the Supe. last year
so all of the directors and admin. got a copy.
I saw it sitting on my boss' shelf and asked if I could read it.
I could tell from the book and
how she did things
she hadn't read it.
DOH!

 

[Ted Striker]

August to August

We will be grate

 

[alan]

GOOD SUGGESTION - BUT - REALITY CHECK - GOOD to GREAT is basically a book about the business principles that reveal a path to making a great company, not just a good one. We have used that book to help guide my small company - Architerra (architerra.com) - and focus our growth on meaningful growth rather than growth for the sake of growth. We also use the books - Small Giants, The Great Game of Business and The Four Agreements.

It could be quite powerful to apply some of the standards and concepts in the book to coaching. I believe there are things in the book that would apply to education AND coaching, which, I believe are really the same animal. I also believe the rules of the game in the business world are, by definition and necessity, very different than those in education. So I would caution you to be selective in what you try to apply to education and coaching.

Another interesting aside, you might want to look at the 10 companies studied in Good to Great - at least one of them failed even though they met the standards for greatness set forth in the book. It failed because the growth was based on a principle of capitalism that ignored a realistic principle of sound economic theory (if you cannot afford it you cannot buy it crybaby!!). Not sure what happened to all the other companies. Maybe someone will research them and report, could be interesting!

Frankly, if I could use only ONE BOOK to apply to business, life and education, it would be The Four Agreements. Powerful, to the point (there are only four of them) and clearly applicable to all of our efforts to live on this planet.

Would love to see some schools and coaches run with this ball.

 

[Dogface]

I looked at the 4 agreements and while they are cute
they hardly give the specifics required for greatness.
They are also merely one man's opinion
where Good to Great is based on factual cases
of transitioning from good to great.
As an educator first and foremost
I can prove every key concept from G2G
can be applied at school.

The 4 agreements are subjective.
G2G gives the brutal facts.

Actually there were 11 companies that made the cut
out of 1400+.
The only ones that slipped from greatness were
the one's that quit using the principles that got them there.
Reality check? Seriously?

 

[Ted Striker]

Man I'm glad to see there is some smart football people on here, I've got to tell everyone about this. All we ever hear is how "not so smart" us football types be.

 

[Dogface]

Striker,
I can tell I'm prolly gonna like you already.

 

[Dogface]

Upon suggesting that several school Supe's
consider reading G2G
so that they may be better poised to lead their school,
I never heard from them again.
Hmmm.

 

[Dogface]

I'm listening to this audio book again.
I want you guys to notice that the yahoo's
who had all the smartie remarks to say back then
are all gone.

What ever happened to that guy
who wrote real big and said
Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
a lot?
Was he a flash in the pan too?

 

[Dogface]

Upon suggesting that several school Supe's
consider reading G2G
so that they may be better poised to lead their school,
I never heard from them again.
Hmmm.

If more Supe's read this book
there'd be fewer school closures.

 

[CowboyP]

I still haven't read it, but it's on my list.

 

[Dogface]

Check around in different libraries
for an audio version
then just listen while you drive up and down the Aquilla drag.

 

[dawgfan23]

So Cowboy, how big is Aquilla?

 

[CowboyP]

So Cowboy, how big is Aquilla?

The town limits sign says 136 people, but I think they counted cats & dogs too.
Cotton gin, post office, county precinct barn, VFD, & post office are the only remaining "businesses".
The town, & surrounding area, revolves around the school kids.

 

[dawgfan23]

Sounds about like the size of my town. We do have a couple of good eating spots though.

 

[CoachGLenn]

I would recommend the book “The Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle. It changed the way I approach coaching, teaching, and learning for all skill.

“Greatness isn’t born it’s grown, here’s how.”

-CoachGlenn

 

[Dogface]

Actually,
I almost ordered the audio version for myself
because of it's sport specificity.
But after reading many reviews,
I will wait to see if the library has a free one for check out.
I had 2 Professors at college
who had done their research in
Myelination and developmental appropriateness.
For that reason they hated the idea of
ALL Pee-Wee sports.

Good to Great did not get any bad reviews
due to conflicting info in the book.