From Good Enough to Great Fit
Part 1 of 7 | Inspired by Good to Great by Jim Collins | Published by Open to Work Now
Standing on the Edge Between Good and Great
You’re good at what you do.
You’ve built skills, earned experience, maybe even respect.
But deep down, you know you’re capable of more — more impact, more purpose, more alignment.
You’re not stuck. You’re standing on the edge between good and great.
Jim Collins wrote Good to Great to answer one question:
Why do some companies make the leap — and others don’t?
The answer wasn’t luck, timing, or even talent.
It was discipline, focus, and momentum built over time.
And that same truth applies to you.
Because a career isn’t something that happens to you — it’s something you build, one intentional push at a time.
You Are the Organization
Collins studied companies, but the real transformation happens at the personal level.
Every career, just like every business, has three key components:
Vision: where you’re going and why it matters.
People: the mentors, peers, and network that help you grow.
Systems: the daily habits, boundaries, and behaviors that create consistency.
When those three align, you stop drifting — and start leading.
You become the CEO of your career: setting strategy, measuring progress, and steering toward purpose with clarity and confidence.
The Hidden Cost of Staying “Good”
Being good at your job feels safe. It pays the bills. It looks fine on paper.
But staying good has a hidden cost: it keeps you from growing.
You start to settle. You stop asking hard questions.
And slowly, comfort replaces curiosity.
The leap from good to great isn’t about ambition — it’s about awareness.
It’s the moment you realize that doing “enough” isn’t enough for the person you’re becoming.
The Career Flywheel
In Good to Great, Collins introduces the Flywheel Effect — the idea that greatness isn’t achieved in one big move but through a series of small, consistent pushes in the same direction.
Imagine your career as that flywheel.
Each action — sending a thoughtful follow-up, connecting with someone new, learning a skill, reflecting on what worked — adds a little
more speed.
At first, it’s hard to see progress. But then something shifts: your flywheel starts turning on its own.
Momentum takes over. Confidence compounds.
Great careers aren’t built overnight.
They’re built by people who keep pushing — even when no one’s watching.
Job Seekers: Build Momentum, Not Just Activity
When you’re between jobs, it’s easy to confuse activity with progress.
You’re sending applications, updating your résumé, scrolling listings. You’re busy — but are you moving forward?
Momentum comes from focus, not frenzy.
Pick one direction and keep pushing.
Reach out to one person a day.
Reflect once a week.
Review what’s working — and adjust with purpose.
Each small act creates traction.
That’s how your career flywheel begins to turn.
Job Advancers: Redefine What “Great” Looks Like
If you’re already working but want to grow, this is your call to evolve from performer to builder.
“Good” employees deliver results.
“Great” ones shape outcomes, lead quietly, and elevate others.
You don’t need a new title to become great.
You just need a new mindset — one that blends humility, hunger, and relentless curiosity.
Greatness isn’t louder. It’s deeper.
From Companies to Careers: The Principles That Still Apply
Throughout this series, we’ll explore how Collins’ timeless lessons translate from boardrooms to careers:
Level 5 Leadership → Leading yourself with humility and discipline.
First Who, Then What → Building the right network before defining the next move.
Confront the Brutal Facts → Facing career truths with honesty and courage.
The Hedgehog Concept → Finding where your passion, strength, and value intersect.
The Flywheel Effect → Building consistent momentum toward meaningful goals.
Technology as an Accelerator → Using digital tools to amplify your growth, not define it.
Each principle offers a path from job searching to career shaping.
Reflection Prompt
👉 Where in your career are you “good,” but not yet “great”?
Write it down. Then ask: what small, consistent push could help me build momentum this week?
Takeaway
Greatness doesn’t come from one big breakthrough — it comes from a thousand small decisions made with clarity and consistency.
Great companies don’t wait for perfect timing; they build momentum through steady, deliberate action.
The same is true for you.
Your career doesn’t need a revolution — it needs rhythm.
Every small act of clarity, courage, or consistency pushes your flywheel forward — until one day, you realize you’ve become unstoppable.
Next Up (Part 2): Level 5 Leadership — Leading Yourself Before You Lead Others
