December 2025 – How to turn a good company into a great one

Miloš Myšička, COO of Saleskit and Mediaboard, shares his thoughts on the book.

The iconic book by Jim Collins, Good to Great, first published in 2001, reveals a surprising truth – greatness isn’t about dramatic changes, but consistent principles that enable long-term success. Collins and his research team analyzed over 1,435 companies over five years to uncover what the ones that made the leap from mediocrity to greatness and sustained it for at least 15 years had in common.

The result is a practical guide based on hard data, not theories. The book introduces several key concepts relevant to any leader or manager. The first is “Level 5 Leadership” – leaders who combine personal humility with professional ambition, building not a one-man kingdom but a sustainable organization that thrives even without them.

The iconic principle “first who, then what” flips traditional thinking about building companies. Collins shows that when you have the right people on the “bus,” the direction of the journey is secondary – good people can adapt to change, find solutions in uncertainty, and move the company forward. So having the perfect strategy or a clear vision is less important if you don’t have the right people to execute it.

Another crucial concept is the “Hedgehog Concept” – the intersection of three circles: what you can be the best in the world at, what drives your economic engine, and what you are deeply passionate about. Companies that found this intersection and stuck to it achieved extraordinary results.

The book also describes the transformational process companies go through – from stability and predictability, through creating a learning environment, to the ability to make tough decisions. Collins emphasizes that success isn’t about one big leap, but about consistently pushing the “heavy flywheel,” which eventually gains momentum and starts spinning on its own.

Who is Miloš Myšička?

Miloš Myšička is COO of Saleskit and Mediaboard.