How did Jim Collins bet on himself?

Jim Collins made a significant bet on himself by choosing to follow a unique professional path. He questioned the necessity of being in a traditional academic setting to conduct impactful research and educate others. With his partner Joanne's support, he decided to endow his own chair and grant himself tenure as a self-employed professor. They invested everything in the research for his book Built to Last. Despite the financial risks—they were down to less than $10,000—they pursued this path because Collins wanted to explore substantial questions without the constraints typical of academic settings. This move was a significant risk but it was driven by his desire to have a lasting impact through his work 1.