Summary of Built to Last An important caveat the authors express is the fact that through their research, they can claim a correlation, not a causal link between their findings and the success of companies. Visionary companies are able to attain their phenomenal success by staying true to their core ideologies while still relentlessly pursuing progress. A company's core ideology comprises its core values but also its purpose, meaning the reason it exists beyond profits or shareholder value. To supplement their core ideology, visionary companies also stimulate constant progress by setting bold goals and by instituting grassroots mechanisms to realize their policies. Visionary companies are like machines that constantly produce great products and leaders. Visionary companies are driven more by a core ideology than profits, but they still prosper. Visionary companies preserve their core ideology while relentlessly stimulating progress and improvement. Visionary companies use big hairy audacious goals to stimulate progress. Visionary organizations are almost cult-like – new recruits either thrive or leave. Visionary companies produce a continual stream of high-caliber leaders. Visionary companies stimulate evolutionary progress by encouraging experimentation. Visionary companies don't just talk – they take concrete actions to implement their values.