In an ironic twist, I now see Good to Great not as a sequel to Built to Last, but more of a prequel. Good to Great is about how to turn a good organization into one that produces sustained great results. Built to Last is about how you take a company with great results and turn it into an enduring great company of iconic stature.

The inner experience of fallure is totally different than failure. Going to fallure means 100% commitment - you leave nothing in reserve, no mental or physical resource untapped, you never give yourself a psychological out. Failure means making a decision to let go, to be less than 100% committed, when confronted by fear, pain and uncertainty.

Genuine confidence is what launches you out of bed in the morning, and through your day with a spring in your step.

The only way to remain great is to keep on applying the fundamental principles that made you great.

The critical question is not whether you'll have luck, but what you do with the luck that you get.

Companies that change best over time know first and foremost what should not change.

Throw leaders into an extreme environment, and it will separate the stark differences between greatness and mediocrity.