Moving from Good to Great

In the challenging times we find ourselves in, what is it that differentiates a great leader from a good leader, or a great company from a good company.  What is it that differentiates the number one golfer in the world from number 2, or the world cup champion from the runner up?

Tiger Woods completed an improbable, and arguably the greatest comeback in sports history after four back surgeries and personal scandals that forced him to rock bottom.  This comeback did not happen overnight.  His last major title was 11 years prior.  It was Tiger’s persistence, after rebuilding his body, courtesy of a fusion surgery on his back, then rebuilding his swing and finally rebuilding his confidence, that the improbable become reality.

To remain significant in today’s challenging environment, leaders need to be constantly and persistently differentiating themselves and their businesses from the competition.  But this is easier said than done.  So, what is it that differentiates great from good?


Is a great leader necessarily smarter than a good leader?  Is the world champion blessed with significantly more talent than the runner up?  Likely not!  Some people call this differentiator the Slight Edge. 

The good-to-great transformation does not happen overnight.  It takes time and persistence.  Stay away from big change programs and events, but rather put your proverbial “shoulder to the wheel” and work at it.  Turning dreams into reality, or goals into accomplishments, is a step-by-step process and requires discipline, dedication, and persistence.

Jim Collins, the renowned leadership author, says that great leaders in business put “who” before “what”.  Great sports teams do the same.  In other words, put the right people in place first, and then invest in these people.  The underdog 2019 NBA basketball champions, the Toronto Raptors, did exactly that and it made all the difference as they had come so close in past championships, to lift the 2019 trophy. So, what is the Slight Edge?

The Slight Edge

• Set goals that will achieve the results you want to see.
• We learn best through repetition, small daily steps, or learnings.
• Show up consistently with a positive outlook.
• Cultivate a burning desire backed by faith and a belief in your purpose.
• Embrace the brutal reality of the facts as they are.
• Focus on the right things – the ones that drive real value and move you towards your ambitions.
• Be prepared for and committed to the long haul.
• Be willing to pay the price.
• Do the things you have committed to doing — even when no one else is watching.
• Practice, practice, practice.