I have just finished what I think may be one of the best books I have ever read. I know, I know, you've heard that before. I am starting through this book again and have already applied some of the principles in my life and in my conversations and consulting work. The book is Good to Great by Jim Collins. One of the remarkable things to come out of the book is the concept that GOOD is the enemy of GREAT. The book looks at various companies which have made the transition from good to great based on clearly defined statistics. Those companies are then examined in the light of other companies equally as good which did not go to great and then principles are pulled from the data. I won't go into the specifics in this post except to say that the concept of GOOD being the enemy of GREAT is almost enough to prompt a reading of the book itself.

Let's face it, "good enough" is as American as apple pie. We are good people who live good lives, work at good jobs and go to good churches. The problem with most of our lives is that they are GOOD. What a statement! Sounds a little like Queen Esther (from the book in the Bible by the name Esther). Our good enough lives and good enough churches/worship have made complacency a religion all of its own - because the anthesis is the one who rocks the boat, invites in chaotic risk and dreams the ridiculous. That sounds almost scary enough to quit rocking and risking and just go with the flow - back to good enough.