INNOVATE THE PIXAR WAY BOOK REVIEW

Whimsical analysis of Pixar's "fun is work" corporate philosophy, July 26, 2010
By
Rolf Dobelli (Switzerland)

Despite a blue-sky tone, this book offers a fascinating window into the singular culture of Pixar, the world's foremost animation studio. Management consultants Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson balance their accounts of technological advances, cutthroat corporate politics and astonishing profits with descriptions of Pixar's arcane approach to strategy and human resources.

The tale of how Pixar's leaders exercise their determination to run the shop their own way - while standing up to interference from Disney, their corporate parent - injects narrative drama into this straightforward presentation of Pixar's in-house philosophy. Its leaders' willingness to accept failure, and their faith in their own judgment about products and people, prove inspiring.

The lessons offered at the end of each chapter err toward the simplistic and don't usually demonstrate how conventional businesses might apply Pixar's methods. Instead, the authors mostly leave extrapolation of Pixar's business teachings to the reader.

A lengthy index citing other companies that thrive under a "fun" matrix helps make up for that shortcoming. getAbstract finds that those examples, plus revealing quotes from Pixar executives, will enable readers to emulate Pixar's strategy as they enjoy this inside-the-theatre corporate profile.

Great Ideas Can Come from Anyone and Anywhere!

There’s a great example in the news today of one of our 10 ideas to encourage risk taking from Innovate the Pixar Way…
#5. Don’t cry poor. Many innovative breakthroughs haven’t come from the formal “fat cats” in the R&D departments but from field operations scrounging around trying something new, learning and trying again. Not having the budget is an excuse, not a barrier!

I’m sure you have all been following the horrific BP tragedy where gallons of oil have been gushing into the Gulf of Mexico.

For three months, and with billions of dollars of resources, the government and corporate engineers and scientists were unable to find a solution to the problem. It took the creative genius of a retired plumber with NO resources to suggest a solution that, as of today, appears to be working.

So, again, let’s not claim we can’t attract the people and resources we need to be creative! Everyone – from the front line to the boardroom – can and probably does have unique and innovative ideas that can help propel your organization to greatness!

BILL CAPODAGLI ON CONTACT TALK RADIO WITH SUSAN AXISA

JULY 16, 2010….TO BE AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE ARCHIVES SOON!

In my work as a teamwork consultant for companies wanting to improve their teams' abilities to work together well, I've noticed a dramatic rise in the need for real innovators: people whose creativity helps break through old, stifling paradigms for how things ought to be. My work as a self-esteem coach tells me that increasing numbers of clients have vast resources of untapped creativity, so why can't we, as a society, tap into it more. My guest today, Bill Capodagli, talks about just that – how to bring more creativity into the way we work. We will be talking about his latest book, Innovate the Pixar Way, which he co-authored (along with The Disney Way) with Lynn Jackson.

As our thirst for true innovation grows, and if my own experience is anything to go by, it is not surprising that Bill is much in demand as a keynote speaker on both these innovative cultures, but what makes them so innovative?

Join us as we discuss the Pixar culture and why the authors think it has become nothing short of an animation hit factory, full of films that enhance our lives by touching our innocence and our can-do spirit!

BILL CAPODAGLI AND INNOVATE THE PIXAR WAY FEATURED IN IDEA CONNECTION

Check out Vern Burkhardt's interview with Bill Capodagli at
www.ideaconnection.com/books/225-Innovate-the-Pixar-Way

Innovation in the Disney Stores!

Last week, Disney relaunched its Disney Store concept with the grand opening of their Montebello, California store, located near LA. What a makeover it is…some might say it's more of a “theme park” than a store. This high-tech attraction-focused “dream” store is the prototype for more than 20 newly designed Disney Store locations in the US and Europe that will open this year. The Montebello store has the first-ever Disney-Pixar CARS-branded RIDEMAKERZ experience in which kids of all ages can build toy cars, the initial line-up being Lighting McQueen, Mater and Sally! The Disney-Pixar CARS-branded RIDEMAKERZ attraction is a one-of-a-kind immersive car building and customizing experience.

The 4,800-plus square foot store's floor-to-ceiling remodel now features multimedia technology, interactive storytelling and Disney Store exclusive merchandise that bring Disney's most beloved characters to life for families in the local community. Naturally, the latest and greatest technology is integrated throughout the new store to create magical moments for guests.

And, there’s a "Pixie Dust Trail" that leads guests through the store and to major interactive elements as they enjoy a Disney-themed skyline and surrounding magical trees which are programmable with changing colors, images, and music set to an array of Disney themes. The new store is organized by franchise neighborhoods anchored by “hero fixtures” so it easy to seek out your favorite character or theme of interest.

The new store concept features an interactive kiosk with touch screen that leads the guests into an animated experience in shopping, viewing video clips, perusing articles and checking out in-store events. This technology also allows Disney to share news with customers via email, Facebook and Twitter.

And….how cool is it to have a theatre in a Disney Store? Guests can pick from a selection of pre-loaded content that will be updated regularly and can view a variety of Disney entertainment, sneak-peek previews, music videos and more. The theater will also be used for exciting in-store events including reading time and scavenger hunts.

As you may remember from reading The Disney Way, one of Disney’s great success stories (once upon a time!) was the launch of the Disney Stores. What began as theme-park shops where customers could buy Mickey Mouse shirts and other Disney memorabilia developed into a place where not only a wide array of merchandise was available, but also tickets to Disneyland and Walt Disney World could be purchased. In the mid 80s, former Disney employee Steve Burke (now COO of Comcast Cable Communications) convinced the management to open a mall-based chain of stores. For over a decade, Disney Stores maintained strong sales, but then the mounting cost of sales and operation and the loss of key executives who had driven the Disney Stores to success lead The Walt Disney Company to convert Disney Stores into a licensed operation.

But since Bob Iger assumed the leadership of Disney in 2005, many good things have happened such as taking buying back the Disney Stores. Bob has said that the Disney Stores goes beyond offering Disney merchandise...it’s all about reinforcing the company’s core businesses. Recently, Bob told the New York Times, “Our brand is so powerful because of our heritage. But you’ve got to innovate, and not just in terms of what is new today but what will be new far into the future.”

Legacy is one thing, but Innovation is the key to Disney and Pixar’s continued success!

Give Pixar a Break!

This week, the LA Times reported: “On Friday, Pixar debuts the highly-anticipated third chapter of its popular "Toy Story" saga, to be followed in the next two years by new installments of "Cars" and "Monsters, Inc." Pixar won't have another original movie until 2012.” The articles goes on to paint Pixar as selling into Disney’s pressure to produce “franchise” movies that will gross as much, if not more, in consumer products. This may sell newspapers, but let’s examine the facts:

Toy Story 2 was the result of a Disney directive to Pixar. Originally, Disney had positioned the film as a low cost, low quality, direct-to-video release. Pixar convinced Disney to make Toy Story 2 as a theatrical release and it did what many critics said was the impossible…improve on a near perfect original.

This article leads readers to believe that Disney CEO Bob Iger forces Pixar to “franchise” movies. In April of 2009 Doug Creutz, vice-president of Cowen and Company Investment Bankers said, “The worries keep coming, despite Pixar’s track record, because each film it delivers seems to be less commercial.” Iger’s response, “We seek to make great films first. If the film gives birth to a franchise, we are the first to leverage such success. A check the boxes approach to creativity is likely to result in blandness and failure.”

So why not give Pixar a break? Their first sequel in 11 years…let’s wait and see if it has the same magic as Toy Story and Toy Story 2. My money is on Iger, Catmull and John Lasseter.

They all get it…make a great product and the bottom line will follow.

Innovate the Pixar Way Book Review

"I have recently finished your book, Innovate the Pixar Way, and I will have to say, it was excellent. It was an approach to business success, unlike anything I have ever read before. Yet, it was so much more than that. It's not just about short-term fixes, but long-term, truly sustainable goals I think everyone can and should learn.

To be honest, I do not really read many business books. I have worked in small business for much of my adult life, mostly restaurants, so I have had plenty of exposure to how a business is run. I picked up your book at first because of my interest in Pixar. I have been a fan of the studio since I first saw Toy Story in theaters as an 11 year-old girl, and have followed it closely ever since. I can say now that I have learned more about Pixar, not only why I am so attracted to the studio in the first place, but also what makes them succeed.

I agree fully with the principals or re-awakening that inner child. Not the immature parts, but that sense of wonder, exploration, and discovery that we are all too often told to put aside once we grow up. I also enjoyed the long-term planning and risk taking, as opposed to the short-term gain and thinking I have seen all too often. If more companies had followed these principals in the first place, I dare say that we would not be in the mess we are in now. And that goes for everybody. As you put it so well, "Childhood is not an age, but rather a state of mind."

As I write this, I cannot help but to think back to when Toy Story first came out. Plenty of people told me that it was a neat thing, but that it would never last. Traditional animation was still king, and most people just assumed it would always be that way. Once again, short-term thinking. People kept telling me things, like, "Oh, this isn't going to last...it's too expensive...the technology's just not there right now." I did not believe a word of it. I already knew that technology would only get faster and cheaper. I knew that something had happened, something big, and it was not going to go away.

I understood only two things. That this was just the beginning, we were going to see more CGI films, some good and some bad, and that I wanted to be part of it. Toy Story is one of three key influences in my life that encouraged me to become a storyteller.

I have already recommended the book to my boss, the owner and manager of the Puyallup Alfy's, an Everett-based company (I wrote the history of the Puyallup location on the company's web site). I would strongly recommend your book to every manager, supervisor and employee in any business, all over the world. If there is one thing, that I have read recently, that will help us get out of this recession for good, it is your work. At a time when most private companies are cutting back, Pixar is expanding. I think we can all take a lesson from that.

Thanks for the continued inspiration and keep up the good work."

Tiffany from Seattle