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Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull: Overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration
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Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull: Overcoming the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration

Ideals and techniques that made Pixar so widely admired and profitable

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.

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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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