Work in Progress: Risking Failure, Surviving Success [Paperback]

Michael D. Eisner (Author), Tony Schwartz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1999

In 1964, NBC clerk Michael Eisner made $65 a week. Though he only took one business course in his life--accounting--he did have a head for business: as CEO of Disney, he earned over half a billion bucks in 1997. Though he had no foundation in finance, he averted the bloody dismemberment of Disney by takeover sharks when he took over in 1984, and by May 1998 he earned over $80 billion for Disney stockholders. Not bad for a guy who, on his first day in Walt's old office, met a manager of the film division BVD (Buena Vista Distribution) and innocently asked whether "Disney made underwear."In his memoir, Eisner doesn't air quite as much dirty laundry as we could hope he'd be dopey enough to do. Still, it is revealing, and since it's unheard-of for Hollywood potentates to spill any beans at all, this book is required reading for anyone interested in America's major export, popular culture.We learn a fair bit of personal stuff: the crucial impact of Eisner's sternly withholding father, who drove Michael to succeed and made him less than effusive himself in praising underlings; his favorite book in youth (The Catcher in the Rye); his encounters with more madcap Hollywood types; his brush with death from heart disease; the day he got the idea for Beverly Hills Cop by getting physically roughed up by a Beverly Hills cop; his plan to add the naughtier cartoon character Mortimer Mouse to Mickey's family.Eisner gives us his negotiating secret (be willing to walk), his view of prerelease audience testing of shows ("it's almost worthless"),his management strategy (incite raucous debate within strict institutional checks and balances, then make gut decisions), the key to success in movies and TV (strong two-man partnerships: Lew Wasserman and Sid Sheinberg at Universal, Bob Daly and Terry Semel at Warner Bros., and preeminently Eisner and Frank Wells at Disney). Eisner gives a provocative analysis ofwhy Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Ovitz proved disastrous partners for him at Disney, and even confesses to a few screwups of his own (losing his temper and helping to blow the Disney America historical park development). --Tim Appelo

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In 1964, NBC clerk Michael Eisner made $65 a week. Though he only took one business course in his life--accounting--he did have a head for business: as CEO of Disney, he earned over half a billion bucks in 1997. Though he had no foundation in finance, he averted the bloody dismemberment of Disney by takeover sharks when he took over in 1984, and by May 1998 he earned over $80 billion for Disney stockholders. Not bad for a guy who, on his first day in Walt's old office, met a manager of the film division BVD (Buena Vista Distribution) and innocently asked whether "Disney made underwear."

In his memoir, Eisner doesn't air quite as much dirty laundry as we could hope he'd be dopey enough to do. Still, it is revealing, and since it's unheard-of for Hollywood potentates to spill any beans at all, this book is required reading for anyone interested in America's major export, popular culture.

We learn a fair bit of personal stuff: the crucial impact of Eisner's sternly withholding father, who drove Michael to succeed and made him less than effusive himself in praising underlings; his favorite book in youth (The Catcher in the Rye); his encounters with more madcap Hollywood types; his brush with death from heart disease; the day he got the idea for Beverly Hills Cop by getting physically roughed up by a Beverly Hills cop; his plan to add the naughtier cartoon character Mortimer Mouse to Mickey's family.

Eisner gives us his negotiating secret (be willing to walk), his view of prerelease audience testing of shows ("it's almost worthless"), his management strategy (incite raucous debate within strict institutional checks and balances, then make gut decisions), the key to success in movies and TV (strong two-man partnerships: Lew Wasserman and Sid Sheinberg at Universal, Bob Daly and Terry Semel at Warner Bros., and preeminently Eisner and Frank Wells at Disney). Eisner gives a provocative analysis of why Jeffrey Katzenberg and Michael Ovitz proved disastrous partners for him at Disney, and even confesses to a few screwups of his own (losing his temper and helping to blow the Disney America historical park development). --Tim Appelo --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Recently scheduled for fall?so recently that the book is not yet titled?this memoir covers Eisner's rise from ABC to Paramount to Disney, where he is now chair.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st pbk. ed edition (September 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786885076
• ISBN-13: 978-0786885077
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #621,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( D ) > Disney, Walt

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eisner reveals much about how Disney management works., July 9, 1999

By 

S. H. Towsley (Fort Wayne, IN & Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Work in Progress (Hardcover)

From about 1985 I was the senior executive assistant to Disney's Vice President of Strategic Planning, Lawrence P. Murphy. I therefore read this book with a special eagerness, and I was not disappointed. It teems with the wonderful people who make up the cast of top management at The Walt Disney Company headquarters in Burbank, California.

Mentioned herein are many, but not all, of the bright and driven executives who comprise Michael's well known "Dream Team", those brilliant businessmen and women who increased the company's market value from $2 billion to $75 billion in a scant 15 years. While many attempts have been made recently to explain the magic of Disney management (wouldn't everyone like to succeed this well), Eisner's book reveals a great chunk of the truth: As strategic planner Peter Murphy phrases it at one point, "We are a compulsive culture".

As important as smiling employees and customer satisfaction are, Disney management tests its own mettle on a daily basis, working incredibly long and hard upon every operations detail, research task, acquisition project and growth enterprise that captures its attention. No one can expect to duplicate Disney's success without emulating this crucial aspect of its management work ethic -- its people work tirelessly, passionately and often single-mindedly, and find immense joy and personal satisfaction in achieving the desired results.

This is a fine book and highly recommended for any executive who wishes deeper practical insights into how a brilliant but prudent Disney management team transformed the company's future.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine effort. Great insight., March 31, 2000

By 

Seano "seanob" (Quincy, Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Work in Progress (Hardcover)

Turning around the Disney organization was no small task for Mike Eisner...and a task he was prepared to accomplish. What this book succeeds in illustrating was the organizational culture of Disney pre-Eisner, the changes necessary to make things move forward, and a somewhat objective assessment of major initiatives since that time.

Certainly Eisner has a point of view. His heart attack changed his life. So there is a thematic construct here...change, change and more change. Change in management, how the organization does business, change in how Disney is viewed by others and itself.

Expecting that the book would be more critical of the organization is unrealistic. I found Eisner to be relatively self-critical and when I finished the book, having learned of his education and values, with a better opinion of this guy.

Readable, informative, balanced, this is a good book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Work in Progress is an easy read about a great American, November 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Work in Progress (Hardcover)

Having read most books about Michael Eisner and Disney, I was most anxious to see what his perspective was of the events and people that have made Eisner one of Americas icons. True to his personality, he does discuss the warts (Disney's America etc) and the personality conflicts with some of his closest associates, as well as the glowing successes that have taken place since he moved to Disney in 1984. The most interesting thing to me is his modesty and his constant reference to his wife and family. It is obvious that he has his priorities in order when he discusses a $19 billion acquisition of ABC in much the same tone as his son's hockey talents. No study of Disney would be complete without reading this book.