Customer Reviews

Innovate the Pixar Way: Business Lessons from the World's Most Creative Corporate Playground

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Those who are interested in this book probably include those whose primary objective is to understand how to (a) establish an innovative culture within their workplace, (b) think more innovatively, and/or (c) understand the how the studio could produce classic animated films such as Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), Finding Nemo (2003), Ratatouille (2007), WALL-E (2008), Up (2009) and Toy Story 3 (2010). I am among those who read this book for all three reasons and congratulate Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson on the wealth of information and insights that they provide.

Others have their reasons for admiring the book. Here are three of mine. First, Capodaglia and Jackson skillfully "set the stage" by creating a context for the establishment of Pixar in 1979 as the Graphics Group, part of the Computer Division of Lucasfilm before it was acquired by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in 1986. The Walt Disney Company bought Pixar in 2006. From the beginning, co-founders Ed Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith and their associates have shared the same credo: "dream like a child." They are also perfectionists in every aspect of film production who believe that "art is a team sport." These are recurrent themes throughout the book because they are core values throughout the entire Pixar organization.

I also appreciate the attention that Capodaglia and Jackson devote to lessons that can be learned as well as policies and procedures that can be adopted and then implemented by leaders of almost any organization (regardless of its size or nature) in which there is a need for more and more effective innovation. For example, developing a mindset that places greatest emphasis on bold and compelling visions, collaborative teamwork based on mutual trust and respect, being willing to take risks that defy what Jim O'Toole characterizes as "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny if custom," and being determined to see the world, again, as a child. Here's the Pixar mindset:

Dream like a child.
Believe in your playmates.
Dare to jump in the water and make waves.
Do unleash your childlike potential.

Robert Fulghum could not have expressed it better. Yes, those at Pixar have created film art of the highest quality but it should also be noted that each of their eleven films (thus far) has also achieved exceptional commercial as well as critical success that includes but is by no means limited to ticket sales.

Finally, I am grateful for the provision of mini-profiles in Appendix X of "other corporate playgrounds" that include Google, Griffin Hospital (Derby, CT), Men's Wearhouse, Nike, Target, and Zappos. However different these organizations are in most other respects, all of them share with Pixar core values such as those Nike CEO Mark Parker cites in his company's Corporate Responsibility Report. "And for all the athletic and cultural and financial successes of the company, I believe our work in sustainable business and innovation has equal potential to shape our legacy. For that to happen, we have to focus on the lessons we've learned:

o Transparency is an asset, not a risk.
o Collaboration enables systemic change.
o Every challenge and risk is an opportunity.
o Design allows you to prototype the future, rather than retrofit the past.
o To make real change, you have to be a catalyst."

It is worth noting that those involved in all of these "other corporate playgrounds" continue to outperform their competition in terms of sales, profits, and cap value. It is also worth noting that all seven Pixar films released since the inauguration of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2001 have been nominated for that award, beginning with Monsters, Inc. Five of the seven have won the award: Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Up. Up is also the first Pixar film and the second animated film in history (the other is Beauty and the Beast) to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

To those who share my high regard Capodaglia and Jackson's book, I also recommend two others: David A, Pryce's The Pixar Touch and Karen Paik's To Infinity and Beyond. Also, visit the Pixar website that provides a wealth of information, including "How We Do It" (http://www.pixar.com/howwedoit/index.html).

Since 1995 with the release of Toy Story, Pixar has created blockbuster animated films that the whole family loves. How do they KEEP doing it? To be creative and innovative once, twice, even three times is a major feat, but 10 in a row! Pixar replaced Disney as the family animation movie specialist and then was purchased by Disney for $7.4 billion in 2006.

The authors of The Disney Way researched and interviewed to find answers to Pixar's sustainable culture of innovation. The results are not surprising:
* Dream like a child
* Believe in your playmates
* Dare to jump in the water and make waves
* Do unleash your childlike potential

The book is loaded with lists of ideas based on Pixar's culture. For example, 10 ideas to encourage risk taking, 7 ways to create an inspirational environment, 41 ways to improve innovation, and 16 ways to get started.

At times, the book reads like a sequel to The Disney Way with the authors liberally quoting and drawing leadership points from their previous book. In many ways, Pixar is a sequel to Disney. The founders of Pixar has Walt Disney and Disney animation as their models. And Pixar recaptured what many saw was lacking in Disney's productions through the 1980s and 1990s.

As a short and inspiring book, The Pixar Way, left me with a number of ideas and a child-like zeal to innovate through fun.

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.

Why you should buy "Innovate The Pixar Way"!

It becomes easy to run a business on autopilot in a comfortable, but boring rut! Bill & Lynn help us open our mind and think outside the Box. Innovate and become more creative.
Every business has a story. What is your story? Do your employee's and your customer's know your story? Does your story need some refining?
Learn how to measure outstanding customer service? Learn how to add value & increase employee morale. Are your employee's engaged in your business. Have some fun. There is something here for even the most seasoned business owner. Bill & Lynn will help you re-energize your business & your life. I read the book on a cold, snowy afternoon. It is a fund book to read. You wouldn't want to put it down.

I enjoyed learning what happens in the minds of the executives and creative talent at some of the most creative and successful organizations ever. The book is an interesting short biography of the founders of Pixar and a synopsis of the reasons for the animation giant's continued success. Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson do an amazing job of identifying creative ideas any organization can apply. The authors remind the reader of the importance of focusing on quality, customer service, teamwork and innovation.

We all have creative potential inside of us. This book gives me new found energy and passion to bring my dreams alive! It has helped me think outside of my normal box! To go that step further. Everyone should read this book! Challenge yourself to do more and bring amazing ideas to the table...all, while having fun!

I just finished reading Innovate the Pixar Way, and I'm going to do something I rarely do. I'm going to write a review.

I read a lot of business books. I'll bet you do, too, if you're thinking of buying this one. Here's why I highly recommend this book.

1. It's loaded with thought-provoking ideas. For example, the chapter titled Forty-One Neat Things to Unleash Your Imagination isn't 10 neat things followed by 31 not so neat things. It's 41 neat things!
2. It's engaging and informative all the way through. I hate it when all the good stuff is in the first third of a book followed by two-thirds of fluff.
3. The Pixar story can stand on its own as a fascinating read. Even if you're not looking for ways to energize your business, you'll enjoy this book.
4. Don't skip the appendices. They are filled with fun, surprising facts.

Read this book. You'll be glad you did!

I highly recommend this book! It was informative and written so well that it was a natural page turner. I couldn't wait to read what the authors had to say next. No matter where you are on the climbing wall of business or self growth you will gain invaluable insight and examples of all that your business can be. That is, if you dream to or dare to!

The authors, Bill Capodagli & Lynn Jackson, know that whether you are part of corporate management, a school system, an employee, or an individual looking to grow and innovate, reading, Innovate the Pixar Way, is a must. These authors will inspire and release the creativity, so natural to a child, lying deep within us. Why not permit the child within ourselves to Dare to Dream and uncover the potential we all have! Today, Pixar is a success because they realized that creativity is alive but needs to be released through play in their corporate playground using collaboration, team spirit and recess. Every one of us can benefit by reading this wonderful book and believing in the creativity that lies beneath all of us. Read, Innovate The Pixar Way, and you too will be inspired. I know I am!

Excellent read of new ideas that are always needed. Great new ways on how to cause creativity to flow from the experienced and established teams that may not know they still have it in them! Using any of the multitude of ideas to cause new and creative thoughts to come forward can only excite the participants to work even harder while having more fun rediscovering themselves and their creativity. And a great way for "newbies" in an organizatin to get involved and productive. I further enjoyed the fresh and practical writing methods that I could easily relate to.