Discover the concept of a Brain Trust and how it can revolutionize personal and professional growth. Learn about the importance of assembling a personal board of advisors who genuinely want to see you succeed. Cultivate deep relationships with unbiased individuals who provide invaluable guidance and support.
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Quick takeaways
Pixar's Braintrust system, consisting of a diverse group of individuals, ensures high-quality and consistent output in film production.
Creating a personal Braintrust, comprising individuals with varied perspectives and a vested interest in one's success, can provide invaluable feedback and advice for personal and professional growth.
Deep dives
The Brain Trust concept at Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios has a system in place called the Brain Trust, where a group of individuals, including the movie director and others not directly involved in the film, meet regularly to discuss in-process movies. This system ensures the highest quality and consistency of the products across decades. The Brain Trust functions as a delivery system for unbiased opinions and collective knowledge, pushing for excellence and eliminating mediocrity.
Building Your Personal Brain Trust
Rather than relying on traditional mentorship, which can be formal and limited in utility, individuals can create their own Brain Trust, a personal board of advisors. The Brain Trust should consist of 5-10 individuals with unbiased perspectives, diverse experiences, willingness to provide raw feedback, and a vested interest in the individual's success. The members can fit different archetypes, such as senior executives, leadership experts, contrarian thinkers, connectors, and individuals at a similar stage in life or profession. Building the Brain Trust should prioritize cultivating deep relationships with people genuinely interested in the individual's growth.
Pixar Animation Studios has a 30+ year history of creating award-winning animated films. One of their secrets for consistently excellent output: The Braintrust.
The Braintrust is a group of individuals who meet regularly to pressure test in process films. It is a diverse group not directly involved in the film's production, but with a vested interest in its success via their roles at the company. We can apply a similar concept to striving for excellence in our own personal and professional lives. We all need a Personal Braintrust.
To build your Braintrust, work to assemble a group of individuals who are unbiased, have different perspectives, and want to see you succeed. The group can be dynamic over time, and it doesn't have to be formal.
As you encounter challenges, key decisions, or inflection points in your personal and professional life, you can reliably turn to the members of your Braintrust for grounded perspectives, candor, feedback, and advice.
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