Clock building, not time telling?

[hailept]

Can anybody paraphrase "Clock building, not time telling" for me, please?

Clock building, not time telling; try a lot, keep what works

Source: Built to Last Quotes by James C. Collins

 

[AnythingGoes]

The text you quoted doesn't appear on the linked page. I see the following if I click "Load more":

Having a great idea or being a charismatic visionary leader is “time telling”; building a company that can prosper far beyond the presence of any single leader and through multiple product life cycles is “clock building".

James C. Collins, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies

Is this the text you need help with?

 

[hailept]

Yes, thanks a lot.

 

[Myridon]

Having one idea is like telling time "It's 9:38." You know what time it is in that moment, but that moment passes.
Having a company is having a clock. You always know what time it is as long as the clock exists.