NEW BOOK RELEASED ABOUT PIXAR AND THEIR STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS
by Charles Spillar on Jan. 17, 2010, under arts, Tucson Art
Innovate the PIXAR WAY
The authors of the best selling book THE DISNEY WAY have now released a new book, INNOVATE THE PIXAR WAY, designed for us animation junkies (I have seen all their films) and for business minded people wanting to hear about new keys to success.
Pixar is synonymous with creativity, magical stories and unforgettable characters, from Buzz Lightyear and Remy the Rat to Mike Wazonwski, Nemo and Wall-E. Behind the fun, however, is a set of deeply routed core values that champion excellence, tap innovation and encourage collaboration.
In Pixar’s own words, their “objective is to combine proprietary technology and world-class creative talent to develop computer animated feature films with memorable characters and heart warming stories that appeal to audiences of all ages.” Pixar’s winning formula has created 10 Blockbuster hits in a row grossing over $5 Billion and costing a little over $1 Billion dollars to make.
Several years ago while I attended San Francisco State University’s Multi-Media program I was fortunate enough to go inside Pixar, Lucas Arts and many other companies like them. What I noticed was a major change in the way they did business. The old hierarchal system of doing business was giving way to more of a collaborative management style. The meeting tables were round and everyone of the team at the table was as important as any of the others. No one boss talking to the pecking order.
Pixar is a good example of this new management style. While the company places a premium on quality, it also deliberately encourages a playground atmosphere work environment. The energy, joy and humor of each Pixar film can also be found at the company’s headquarters in Emeryville, CA where you will find a tight-knit, collaborative, thoughtful and playful dedicated team. This uniqueness to Pixar’s innovative style, turns the Hollywood and the corporate model on its head.
Their company is a prime example of a business smartly growing innovative talent and ideas across all levels of employees and backgrounds. Its success is the story of its unique approach to excellence and cultivating creativity, bred from the top down.
This book will open a lot of minds and make you realize the importance to “innovate and not imitate.” Also, the reader will see the importance of mutual respect and trust between team players and the need to make work “fun” with amazing results when your business team collaborates bringing together a shared vision.
Tucson’s Opening Minds through the Arts student achievement program (OMA) is a shining example of Pixar-style collaboration in the public school system. OMA classroom teachers work with both arts integration specialists and teaching artists to integrate art forms such as opera into regular lesson plans for teaching the language arts, math and science.
There will be a keynote presentation by Bill Capodagli, best selling author of THE DISNEY WAY, on Wednesday January 20th at the Loft Cinema with very limited seating. Anyone interested should call 520-309-5858. The presentation will be 11-1 PM and hosted by OMA and Cox Communications.
