Built to Last explores what makes companies endure over decades, based on a six-year research project studying 18 visionary firms. Collins and Porras identify key traits shared by long-lasting companies, such as core values, bold missions, and a relentless drive for progress. The book challenges the idea that great leadership or market timing is the key to success, instead emphasizing organizational culture and consistency. Concepts like “clock building” versus “time telling” illustrate how lasting companies focus on systems, not individuals. With timeless lessons and real-world examples, Built to Last is a blueprint for sustainable, principle-driven business success.
About Jim Collins
Jim Collins is a business researcher, author, and speaker renowned for his deep analysis of what makes companies successful over time. Formerly a faculty member at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, he is best known for Built to Last and Good to Great, both of which synthesize extensive data and case studies into accessible, actionable insights. Collins’s research emphasizes disciplined leadership, strategic focus, and organizational culture. He coined influential concepts like Level 5 Leadership and the Flywheel Effect. Collins continues to advise leaders worldwide, helping organizations build lasting impact through rigorously tested principles of performance and endurance.
About Jerry Porras
Jerry Porras is an American organizational theorist, business professor, and co-author of the influential book Built to Last, which he co-wrote with Jim Collins. A longtime faculty member at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Porras has focused his academic work on organizational development, leadership, and corporate vision. His research emphasizes how enduring companies build strong core ideologies while adapting to change. Porras is also known for his work on transformational leadership and strategic planning. Through both scholarship and consulting, he has influenced how organizations articulate purpose, align values, and sustain long-term success in competitive environments.
Other Books by Jim Collins, Jerry Porras
Good to Great
by Jim Collins
In Good to Great, Jim Collins investigates why some companies make the leap from being merely good to truly great—and sustain that performance. Based on extensive data analysis and case studies, Collins identifies key factors behind this transformation, including disciplined people, thought, and action. Central concepts include the Hedgehog Concept, Level 5 Leadership, and the Flywheel Effect. The book argues that greatness comes from building a culture of excellence, facing brutal facts, and staying focused on long-term goals. Insightful and accessible, Good to Great is widely considered essential reading for leaders aiming to build high-performing, resilient organizations.
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