I had dinner with the cofounder of @Pixar.
Those 2 hours taught me more than 10 years of reading business books.
THREAD: 28 business lessons from @edcatmull:
Those 2 hours taught me more than 10 years of reading business books.
THREAD: 28 business lessons from @edcatmull:
1. Be opinionated
This does not mean to be egotistical. Simply have opinions and be willing to share them and make tough decisions.
This does not mean to be egotistical. Simply have opinions and be willing to share them and make tough decisions.
2. Sequels are hard to make
But they are easy to market. Whenever you think you should add on to something, think through it deeply. The chances of adding true value on top of a masterpiece are slim.
But they are easy to market. Whenever you think you should add on to something, think through it deeply. The chances of adding true value on top of a masterpiece are slim.
3. Data isn't everything
At Pixar, movies aren't made based on a data-first approach. They allow passionate directors to present stories. The most passionate stories win. Then data helps fill in the gaps.
At Pixar, movies aren't made based on a data-first approach. They allow passionate directors to present stories. The most passionate stories win. Then data helps fill in the gaps.
4. Gut first decision-making
Listen to your gut first, data second. This doesn't mean making critical decisions without much thought, but it does mean that trusting your gut feelings usually helps you minimize regret.
Listen to your gut first, data second. This doesn't mean making critical decisions without much thought, but it does mean that trusting your gut feelings usually helps you minimize regret.
5. Allow in external forces to shake it up
Sometimes you need a third party to come in and be cricitical. Sometimes you need them to wreck everything. Embrace external forces as a way to see what you can't see alone.
Sometimes you need a third party to come in and be cricitical. Sometimes you need them to wreck everything. Embrace external forces as a way to see what you can't see alone.
6. Know your points of potential bias
Be aware of your biases before a situation even arrives. This allows you to see more clearly in the moment, and not take offense in retrospect.
Be aware of your biases before a situation even arrives. This allows you to see more clearly in the moment, and not take offense in retrospect.
7. Don't ask for feedback without the intention to act
If you don't intend to completely adhere to advice, don't even ask for it. It wastes the time of everyone involved.
If you don't intend to completely adhere to advice, don't even ask for it. It wastes the time of everyone involved.
8. Build a brain trust
Identify a group of 4-6 people that are capable, but different than you. Counsel with them on major decisions and offer fair critique to one another. The gut feelings of 6 will outweigh just 1.
Identify a group of 4-6 people that are capable, but different than you. Counsel with them on major decisions and offer fair critique to one another. The gut feelings of 6 will outweigh just 1.
9. Good leaders evolve in empathy
Steve Jobs was hard to work with for most of his career. However, as time passed he became increasingly more empathetic. At the end of his life, he had an army of loyal friends by his side.
Steve Jobs was hard to work with for most of his career. However, as time passed he became increasingly more empathetic. At the end of his life, he had an army of loyal friends by his side.
10. Bad leaders evolve in narcissism
Make sure you're in it for love of the process, not for love of fame. Bad leaders care more about their image than the safety of their workers and success of their company.
Make sure you're in it for love of the process, not for love of fame. Bad leaders care more about their image than the safety of their workers and success of their company.
11. Accept that decisions are non-binary
Decisions are almost never strictly "good" or "bad". There is nuance in every choice, pros and cons for every endeavor. It is more important to make a decision than to stew over the "perfect" one.
Decisions are almost never strictly "good" or "bad". There is nuance in every choice, pros and cons for every endeavor. It is more important to make a decision than to stew over the "perfect" one.
12. "Qualified" doesn't mean "Good"
Plenty of qualified workers are not a fit for your organization. Roles should not be filled solely on capability. Hire for culture fit, tenacity, creativity, and coachability.
Plenty of qualified workers are not a fit for your organization. Roles should not be filled solely on capability. Hire for culture fit, tenacity, creativity, and coachability.
13. Expect people to not follow through
The average person will not follow up on what you discussed. They will not do what they said they would. To be extraordinary, you have to do this for yourself, and compensate for this lack from others.
The average person will not follow up on what you discussed. They will not do what they said they would. To be extraordinary, you have to do this for yourself, and compensate for this lack from others.
14. Avoid quick reactions
Ed would take days and even weeks to respond to Steve Jobs' requests. There is true power in being thoughtful about your reactions and decisions. Taking 24 hours before responding can make all the difference.
Ed would take days and even weeks to respond to Steve Jobs' requests. There is true power in being thoughtful about your reactions and decisions. Taking 24 hours before responding can make all the difference.
15. Emotional persuasion beats logic every time
Pixar stories are not born from data. They are powerful because they tap into relatable emotions. Marketers would do well to focus on emotional benefits and relatable stories.
Pixar stories are not born from data. They are powerful because they tap into relatable emotions. Marketers would do well to focus on emotional benefits and relatable stories.
16. Ask for forgiveness, not permission
When Coco was released, Pixar was sure that China would not allow it in the country (due to strong religious overtones.) They didn't revise the movie. They didn't change a thing. China let the movie in anyway.
When Coco was released, Pixar was sure that China would not allow it in the country (due to strong religious overtones.) They didn't revise the movie. They didn't change a thing. China let the movie in anyway.
17. Call out your weaknesses
You won't get fired for being imperfect 99% of the time. You will get fired if you fail to recognize weaknesses and never improve 100% of the time. Be open about current gaps in your knowledge, write them down, and make a plan to learn.
You won't get fired for being imperfect 99% of the time. You will get fired if you fail to recognize weaknesses and never improve 100% of the time. Be open about current gaps in your knowledge, write them down, and make a plan to learn.
18. Ask "why did I miss this?" about failures
Tying success and failure back to process is more impactful than tying it strictly to results. Ask "why did I miss this or that?" often and avoid repeating those mistakes.
Tying success and failure back to process is more impactful than tying it strictly to results. Ask "why did I miss this or that?" often and avoid repeating those mistakes.
19. Magic happens when ego leaves the room
Boredom is not the enemy to creativity. Ego is. Once selfishness is cast aside, the room opens up and everyone can contribute. This is especially true for leaders.
Boredom is not the enemy to creativity. Ego is. Once selfishness is cast aside, the room opens up and everyone can contribute. This is especially true for leaders.
20. Handle conflict head-on
There is no award for being too polite to speak the truth. You should not actively seek confrontation, but you should not actively avoid it either. Talk about your thoughts, opinions, and ideas.
There is no award for being too polite to speak the truth. You should not actively seek confrontation, but you should not actively avoid it either. Talk about your thoughts, opinions, and ideas.
21. Be patient enough to wait, and excited enough to be impatient
The technology wasn't good enough to create great movies when Pixar first opened its doors. They had to wait for it to exist. In the meantime, they did short films and commercials to develop a skill set and brand.
The technology wasn't good enough to create great movies when Pixar first opened its doors. They had to wait for it to exist. In the meantime, they did short films and commercials to develop a skill set and brand.
22. Leaders should shut up
One of Ed's business beliefs is that brain trust groups are highly effective. As part of these meetings, Pixar leadership had to stay silent for the first 15 mins. This allowed others to contribute without leader bias.
One of Ed's business beliefs is that brain trust groups are highly effective. As part of these meetings, Pixar leadership had to stay silent for the first 15 mins. This allowed others to contribute without leader bias.
23. Listen to hear, not to speak
When someone is talking to you, they are not inviting you to start thinking about your next sentence. They are inviting you to listen. Use your ears first. Pause. Then open your mouth.
When someone is talking to you, they are not inviting you to start thinking about your next sentence. They are inviting you to listen. Use your ears first. Pause. Then open your mouth.
24. Be generous with your knowledge
Give away 99.9% of everything you know for free. The benefits to society are massive, and the personal benefits are incalculable.
Give away 99.9% of everything you know for free. The benefits to society are massive, and the personal benefits are incalculable.
25. Finish what you start
Pixar has started 22 feature film projects. They finished all but 1. Completion is the core metric of Pixar movies because they believe their process will win in the end. All they have to do is finish what they start.
Pixar has started 22 feature film projects. They finished all but 1. Completion is the core metric of Pixar movies because they believe their process will win in the end. All they have to do is finish what they start.
26. Reset if you're on a bad path
Toy Story 2 was deleted halfway through creation. Other Pixar films were scrapped midway and completely re-done. Don't be afraid to start over if standards aren't being met.
Toy Story 2 was deleted halfway through creation. Other Pixar films were scrapped midway and completely re-done. Don't be afraid to start over if standards aren't being met.
27. Follow your passion idea
Directors with the most passionate ideas are the ones who get movies at Pixar. If you care enough about something to go all in, you will not lose over time.
Directors with the most passionate ideas are the ones who get movies at Pixar. If you care enough about something to go all in, you will not lose over time.
28. Leadership requires cultural signals
Speak openly to show coworkers that it is safe to do so. Prank and make appropriate jokes to show coworkers this is a fun environment. Whatever your core values are, look for ways to signal them as a leader.
Speak openly to show coworkers that it is safe to do so. Prank and make appropriate jokes to show coworkers this is a fun environment. Whatever your core values are, look for ways to signal them as a leader.
Hope you liked the thread!
Before you go...
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All you have to do is:
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Winner announced after 24 hours!
Before you go...
I'm giving away 60 minutes of consulting time to talk Twitter, startups, and marketing.
All you have to do is:
1. Retweet the first tweet
2. Tag a friend in the replies
Winner announced after 24 hours!
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