For nearly twenty years, Pixar has dominated the world of animation, producing such beloved films as the Toy Story quartet, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, and WALL-E, which have gone on to set box-office records and garner thirty Academy Awards. The joyous storytelling, the inventive plots, the emotional authenticity: In some ways, Pixar movies are an object lesson in what creativity really is.
As a young man, Ed Catmull had a dream: to make the first computer-animated movie. He nurtured that dream as a Ph. D. student, and then forged a partnership with George Lucas that led, indirectly, to his founding Pixar with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter. A mere nine years later, Toy Story was released, changing animation forever. The essential ingredient in that movie's success-and in the movies that followed-was the unique environment that Catmull and his colleagues built at Pixar.
Creativity, Inc. has been expanded to illuminate the continuing development of the unique culture at Pixar. Featuring a new introduction, two entirely new chapters, four new chapter postscripts, and new reflections at the end, this updated edition details how Catmull built a culture that doesn't just pay lip service to the importance of things like honesty, communication, and originality, but commits to them. Pursuing excellence isn't a one-off assignment, but an ongoing, day-in, day-out, full-time job. And Creativity, Inc. explores how it is done.
Here are some of the best lessons from Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull:
Create a Safe Environment for Creativity: Foster a culture where people feel safe to take risks, share ideas, and fail without fear of judgment.
Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity: Failure is a key part of the creative process. Learn from mistakes and use them as stepping stones to innovation.
Trust and Empower Your Team: Great ideas come from collaboration. Empower your team to take ownership and encourage diverse voices.
Encourage Honest Feedback: Cultivate a culture of candid, constructive feedback that focuses on improving the work, not protecting egos.
Focus on the Long-Term Vision: Keep an eye on the bigger picture, and align every decision with long-term creative goals, not just short-term results.
Don’t Fall in Love with Your Ideas: Be willing to change or discard ideas that aren’t working, and always be open to rethinking your approach.
Leadership Is About Serving the Team; Great leaders support their teams by removing obstacles, providing guidance, and creating an environment where creativity can thrive.
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