In 'Good to Great,' Jim Collins and his research team investigate why some companies achieve long-term greatness while others do not. The book identifies key concepts such as Level 5 Leadership, the Hedgehog Concept, a Culture of Discipline, and the Flywheel Effect. These principles are derived from a comprehensive study comparing companies that made the leap to greatness with those that did not. The research highlights that greatness is not primarily a function of circumstance but rather a result of conscious choice and discipline. The book provides practical insights and case studies to help businesses and leaders understand and apply these principles to achieve sustained greatness.
In 'The Checklist Manifesto', Atul Gawande explores the power of checklists in overcoming the complexities of modern professional work. He argues that despite advanced training and technology, professionals often fail due to the sheer volume and complexity of knowledge. Gawande illustrates how checklists, first introduced by the U.S. Air Force, have been successfully adopted in various fields, including medicine, to reduce errors and improve outcomes. He provides compelling examples, such as the reduction of fatalities in surgical procedures and the elimination of hospital infections, to demonstrate the effectiveness of checklists. The book emphasizes the importance of balancing autonomy and control, empowering frontline workers, and continuously improving checklists based on feedback and experience[1][3][5].
In *Ego Is the Enemy*, Ryan Holiday delves into the concept of ego and its detrimental effects on personal and professional success. The book is divided into three sections: Aspiration, Success, and Failure, each offering valuable lessons and perspectives. Holiday draws on a vast array of stories and examples from literature, philosophy, and history, featuring figures such as George Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and Eleanor Roosevelt. These individuals achieved great success by conquering their own egos, and their strategies and tactics are presented as models for readers. The book emphasizes the importance of staying grounded, continually learning, and embracing a mindset of growth rather than letting ego hinder development.
In 'Legacy', James Kerr delves into the culture and ethos of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team, one of the most successful sports teams in the world. The book reveals 15 practical lessons derived from the team's unique culture, which are applicable to leadership and business. These lessons include principles such as 'Sweep the Sheds' (promoting humility and collective responsibility), 'Whakapapa' and 'Tikanga' (underlining the importance of knowing one's roots and adhering to ethical behavior), and 'Black Box Thinking' (assuming responsibility and learning from failure). Kerr also emphasizes the importance of camaraderie, continuous improvement, and authentic leadership. The book provides a roadmap to potential greatness by embracing one's roots, striving for leadership, and growing within a team[2][3][5].
In this episode of The Entrepreneur Experiment, Gary Fox sits down with John Purdy, co-founder of Ergo and a seasoned leader who has helped shape the Irish tech landscape over the past three decades. From launching Ergo in 1993 with just a handful of people to scaling it into one of Ireland’s top IT services companies, John shares the highs, the hard decisions, and the philosophies that guided him through it all. John shares a rare behind-the-scenes look at how he scaled Ergo without external investment and spun out an eventual unicorn, Fenergo, along the way. He opens up about the emotional and strategic decision to step away as CEO after 28 years, and what he’s doing now to give back—both to founders and to causes close to his heart. If you're building a business or figuring out what comes after success, this is the playbook. Show Notes: In this episode, we cover: 🚀 Growing Ergo from a printer repair business to €200M+ in revenue 📊 How John bootstrapped and resisted outside investment for decades 🏗️ Spinning out Fenergo—now valued at €1.2 billion 🔁 Why he stepped down as CEO and how he let go without meddling 🧠 What he looks for before joining a startup board or investing 🔥 The brutal honesty of what it takes to scale and survive the “messy middle” 🤝 How personal values define great founders 💬 "The team that got me the last trophy won’t get me the next one." — John Purdy quoting Sir Alex Ferguson on leadership and succession Links & Resources Ergo Technology Group: https://ergotechnologygroup.com/ Connect with John Purdy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpurdy Book mentioned: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Recommended Podcast: The Tim Ferriss Show Visit my partners Enterprise Ireland: https://bit.ly/EIreland Azure Communications: https://bit.ly/azureEE Nostra: https://bit.ly/nostraee
The Entrepreneur Experiment 
