Review of "Good to Great" by Jim Collins

I have not lived Jim’s life, so very difficult for me to be in his shoes to know what drove him to his point in life to derive such strong convictions about his work. With that humble sympathies towards Jim, I write this critic.

A film critic friend selected 100 grosser top Hollywood movies and after studying them for 10 years with the help of the most high-tech movie analytical software, interviewing directors, producers and key crew members of films, and comparing them with 100 biggest flops; he came with a book - a 100% guarantee formula for “10 keys on how to make a Hollywood Blockbuster”. If you think that someone can make a Hollywood blockbuster following the 10 keys, then this book is surely for you to read. If not, than you may like to read this review.

Religion, Today's Terrorism and Tomorrow's Leaders

Now a days, it is so hard to read and understand certain things. With the global events unfolding and the way they do – people belonging to some region, caste, community or religion start feeling - somewhat targeted, self-decimating; critical, submissive, violent, so on and so forth.

Different emotions surface in people’s minds - depending on the type of upbringing, contact, circles, education and opportunity within which this people get to express their views. This makes things so complex for the truth to come out.

Let us take the recent case of terrorism, Islam and Muslims in the context of early 21st century.

It is like an eternal truth with which certain religious and political commentators proclaim: “We Muslims are as responsible as Islam’s enemies…”

Now study this statement in context of the beliefs the person who says this carries. First, s/he strongly thinks and believes that – they are Muslims. The subtle truth is just taken for granted – that we are humans first before we are Muslims. If we are humans and we trace logic on the previous statement, it might read: “We humans are as responsible as Islam’s enemies….”

Multi-national, Capitalism and Corporate Social Responsibility

It is automatically assumed when the word "multi-national" is heard - that it refers to Companies operating in many nations. But the term "multi-national" could have wider applications! But for this article we would assume and restrict ourselves to "multi-national companies".



The whole advent of humankind's evolution is based on valuing everything in money terms. It is strange and shrewd that the one who first put forward a significant value (like a piece of paper used and valued as money) different from the actual value of a thing (a piece of paper valued as a piece of paper). This was the first step a capitalist made of cheating someone. It is a well accepted fact from thousands of years now. I think questioning the capitalist motives at this stage is useless. The whole world HAS accepted Capitalist way of life, except a few eastern sages who voluntarily lead a life of spirituality without pursuing the capitalist dream.
I consider the word “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR) very similar to a euphemism people use just because it is right to be seen that way. It is very right to be showing “care and love” for poor people; similar for multinationals it is very right to be having a CSR programme running in their organisation.
Some companies really believe and think they are into CSR and really want to help the communities and the world. That could be true to a certain extend, that before the company was not doing anything, and now they are doing something at least. Something is better than nothing!
Many people may not agree with me but the capitalist motive in itself is exploitation of the nature, world, and every resource available. There is no way one can make, earn and save money without being capitalist. For being capitalist one has to pretend and convince everyone about giving a value to things that are different from what the actual value of things.
Due to short-sightedness of one or two generations, people may think of living and doing a good life or deed; but in actuality any survival on the inappropriate valuation of things is significant to cheating and exploitative. I know people do not feel or think that way.
As the use of spoken words and actions around - love, care, compassion, humbleness etc. are used to as a PR tool for projecting good human beings; surely CSR is used similarly by multinational companies as PR tools to project them being good companies.

Definitions, Jargons and so called Expertise...!

I do not think I belong to any ideology.

Because I think, identifying with anything identifiable “whatever” restricts the enormousness of our being. So when I read the so called intelligent people taking definitions like Left and communist, capitalist and imperialism, for granted – and try to discuss things around them with total belief and conviction - that they know the answers of all; it makes me smile and laugh at the stupidity of their ignorance.



Words -spoken or written - can bring forward that conviction and influence people. People with little orientation and training to question everything, can take things for granted and be taken for a ride by the so called intellectuals - be them spiritual gurus, political experts, or management leaders or today’s media editors.

Recently I have been following the debate around India-US Nuclear Deal, and how everyone – especially the media are jumping to show their sides. Any new topic in front of the commercial frenzy media is like a “bone for a dog” – food for fodder. We can see the excitement among the editors, when they meet to discuss or write their articles on such issues. And they all look like 14 year old boys or girls who have been to a party and are excited to first time see the opposite sexes. That is the energy they give out. I think they are programmed to behave that way or they learn those tips of their media (flesh) trade. Among them there are those so called wise men – who keep a serious face, as if they know all the answers and speak with such moron subnormal intelligence – that they start irritating your nerves.

But sadly, such is the influence of today’s competitive media! And everyone working in it and / or listening to it – is an inescapable victim.

If you know how to speak and how to write – you can utter any drivel – and you will look convincing to others.

While debating, people forget the meaning of words and juggle around with use of vocabulary and jargons (gobbledygook was the new word I read somewhere!) just to show off their new learning!!! People add contexts to the debate that have never been slightly close to the actual issue.

Everyone in this world knows that the only purpose that drives the NEW world of today is MONEY….! So anything that is even slightly hinting to stop that dream of riding the horse of wealth is seen with utter dislike and looked down upon.

How can one kick one’s own belly? Especially when one gets salary, food, living from money and wealth – so anyone speaking a bit against pursue of becoming rich – is seen as an enemy to human kind.

This people try to present logic of using Pro-American, anti-American Marxists, Communist, Capitalist, Imperialist, Stalinist, Socialist phrases in the minds of people who read or listen to them – just to prove a point that – LET ME and EVERYONE ELSE run behind money.
Their views are so short-sighted (just restricted to theirs and their off-spring’s generations).
They live in the culture of I-ME-MYSELF!

What is wrong in that? They ask! My rights!!!! Uff…what to say to those fellows? Who breathe half an ounce of air and spill out tones of CO2 footprints as side-effect of their luxurious living!
Blindly gaping at intellectual garbage is a past time for today’s commercialized world – and as per the American dream, one gets paid millions for pretending and projecting a behavior of yourself – which you are not! And most of them who fit this role are normally not aware of their pretensions and tortured programming that has made them pursue this road. They rationalize it by “It was my right to choose…”

Sometimes, we see the media persons when broad-casting these stories– depending upon their economic, political pressures and interest – shy away from taking sides and restrict themselves with presenting with all dutiful holiness both the sides of the coin.

But when water starts running behind their interests – they jump in the bandwagon of searching and inventing all words and phrases of euphemism bashing of what they dislike.
At times when one hears and reads such discussions – and those – I do not understand or know they are Left or Right (but amazingly they seem to understand and know it!) – Who vehemently speak out; simply look like as if they come from a Devilish land from the Hell of greed, selfishness and army of dominating race.

When will we see a world where things are seen in plain simple terms rather than it being those who are converting them into pre-judged notional definition and newly invented jargons, that tend to justify everything that is not for human or nature?

What the world one has come to live in?