The quote emphasizes that the goals of successful organizations are often shared among competitors, suggesting that many companies strive for similar success. It points out that simply having a lofty vision is not enough to achieve excellence in a competitive landscape. Instead, organizations must focus on developing effective methods to realize those visions.
The author, David H. Maister, believes that what sets successful companies apart is their approach to execution. It's not about having a unique goal but rather about how well a company can implement strategies and processes that lead to achieving those goals. This underscores the importance of practical execution over theory in driving business success.