234. 10 Years of Creativity, Inc. with Ed Catmull (Part 2)
Sep 28, 2023
34:43
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Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar and leader of both Pixar and Disney's animation studios, discusses the importance of communication for innovation and breakthroughs. He shares insights into succession planning and navigating challenges at Pixar, the significance of trusted partners and an entrepreneurial mindset, maintaining team confidence, understanding the real story behind Steve Jobs, and expressing gratitude and encouraging engagement.
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Quick takeaways
Efficient communication should focus not only on productivity, but also on fostering creativity, invention, and breakthrough.
Succession planning and investing in new talent are crucial for a company to continue evolving and changing, rather than replicating past success.
Deep dives
Importance of Effective Communication
The podcast discusses the importance of effective communication for achieving breakthroughs and innovation. The guest, Ed Catwell, co-founder of Pixar and former leader of Disney's animation studios, emphasizes that efficient communication should not only focus on productivity, but also on fostering creativity and invention. He highlights the need for conversations that lead to innovation and shares insights on how to have such conversations.
Succession Planning at Pixar
The podcast explores the challenge faced by Pixar in planning for the future when the original group of directors no longer leads the company. Ed Catwell describes the importance of succession planning and investing in new talent. He explains the need for finding passionate individuals who bring fresh perspectives and ensuring support for their growth and development. The goal is to create a company that continues to evolve and change, rather than replicating the success of the past.
Challenges in Movie Production
Ed Catwell reveals some of the challenges faced during movie production at Pixar. He shares examples of movies like Ratatouille and Up, where significant changes had to be made to overcome creative obstacles. These changes involved bringing in new directors or altering the original premise of the movies. The key is to create an environment that supports problem-solving and enables individuals to work through challenges to ultimately produce outstanding films.
Collaboration and Appreciation
The podcast highlights the value of collaboration and appreciation in fostering successful partnerships, as exemplified by Ed Catwell's relationship with Steve Jobs. Their collaboration extended beyond the work itself and involved a deep appreciation for each other's contributions. They valued the creative input and perspective of others, whether within Pixar or Disney. This approach created an environment where innovation thrived and relationships were nurtured.
Have you ever wondered what kind of communication is necessary in order to be able to break through to the next level to have real innovation? What does it take? Well, today's guest is the absolutely perfect person to answer that question. I'm not sure there's anyone who could answer it better who's alive today. This is Ed Catmull. He's the co-founder of Pixar that went on to lead both Pixar and Disney's animation studios in what we could described as the second golden era of animation. You know the names of these movies, Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, Ratatouille, and on and on and on. He not only helped to create new industry, he also created a new standard within animation the world over. By the end of this episode, you will have insights into how to actually have conversations that produce not just efficiency or productivity, but innovation, invention, breakthrough, and creativity.