In one of my management classes during my MBA program, we were required to pick a book to read and present on from a required list. Not being a big reader to begin with, I made my way through the list trying to find anything that looked interesting to me. I ran across a book with a silhouette of of Buzz Lightyear on the cover and immediately claimed it! Little did I know that this book would become one of my favorites.

For those of you who don’t know, Ed Catmull is the President of both Pixar Animation and Disney Animation. This book gives an inside look into how Pixar came to be and its journey to where it is today!

As a boy, Ed Catmull had the dream of becoming a Disney Animator and to one day bring computers and art together.  Throughout his time in college at the University of Utah, pursuing a double degree in Physics and Computer Science, Catmull continued to work toward this dream.  By the age of twenty-six, Catmull had a clear idea of his goal: to develop a way to make the first computer animated movie.  

After graduating with his Ph.D, Catmull began searching for companies or universities to help him achieve his innovative goal.  On his journey to creating Pixar, he was employed by the New York Institute of Technology, Lucas Film, and eventually Steve Jobs.  All of these employers helped to pave Catmull’s way that would eventually lead him to the birth of Pixar.  Pixar’s name was eventually formed from the words Pixer and Radar, and Pixar was born.  

In Thanksgiving of 1995, the world’s first full-length computer animated film hit theaters.  Toy Story broke records in the box office and changed the film industry forever.  Pixar was a force to be reckoned with, and they weren’t going anywhere.

Creativity Inc.  is Ed Catmull’s take on management and succeeding in business.  As president of both Pixar Animation and Disney Animation, Catmull has a lot of experience in creative leadership.  This book is written with managers and creatives in mind. While most of the examples in the book refer to events at Pixar, Catmull adds additional scenarios from other points of view to help managers outside of a creative company implement the skills in their own lives.  This is a well-told tale, full of detail about an interesting, intricate business. Here are my key takeaways from reading Creativity Inc.

Seven Key Takeaways From Creativity Inc. For Creatives + Managers

“There is no growth or success without change.”

When it comes to starting a new venture in life, we are often scared of change. As humans we prefer to stick to what we know! Catmull reminds us that if we want to reach our goals and dreams, we may have to make some changes. This takeaway can apply to companies as well because in any organization there is bound to be change.  It is important for managers to not only accept change, but to assure their employees that change is a positive thing for the company.  If you are confident and open to changes, your employees will follow your lead.  

“What’s easy is not the goal; quality and excellence is the goal.”

In life we should always strive for excellence. Once we take the time and energy to create something of quality, the success will follow. This statement from Creativity Inc. also rings true for any company today.  When a company sets out to be a success at what they do, they should never be focusing on the easiest way to get the work done.  Quality and excellence will trump that product every time.  If a manager keeps the mindset of “How can we make our company better?” then the company will continue to grow and succeed against competitors.  

“To be truly creative, you must start something that might fail.”

In Creativity Inc, Ed Catmull references his Pixar colleague who believes in “failing fast” to get the failure over with and move forward.  It is completely normal for a company or person to fear the possibility of failure.  In order to create something truly outstanding, sometimes failure can be unavoidable.  I often fear failure, but learning how other’s failures have fuel their future successes is inspiring! 

“Always continue to learn and grow.”

At Pixar Animation there is a program called Pixar University.  Pixar University has an array of courses that allow the company’s employees to learn new skills that will challenge what they know and keep them in a “beginner’s” mindset.  Whether it is a belly dancing class for an animator or a computer graphics course for an accountant, Pixar believes that if its employees keep a beginner’s mindset then they will continue to spark creativity and challenge themselves. As creatives or managers, we should never get too comfortable. We must keep researching and pushing to reach new heights!

“Don’t wait for things to be perfect before you share them with others.”

While most believe in waiting until a product is complete to share it with everyone, this method is not how Pixar does things.  Pixar Animation has periodic meetings where they view the progress of their current project to make sure that everything is moving in the right direction and at its full potential.  If a company waits until right before its deadline for their project to be reviewed by the employees, there is a possibility that potential changes will keep them from meeting it.  

“Do not discount ideas from unexpected sources.”

I love this concept because I find it rings true in most of my life experiences. When it comes to a new post or in the past a school project, I loved getting opinions from family and friends who may not know about the matter. They often gave the best insight because they were new to the information! If there are employees in an organization that feel they are not free to suggest an idea, the company will miss out on insight that might be beneficial for the product.  Catmull stresses the importance of everyone giving their input and being heard because if employees aren’t honest, their work will suffer.  Inspiration can come from anyone.

“Engaging with exceptionally hard problems forces us to think differently.”

Deadlines and other stresses help us to push through problems that we may not have previously been able to solve! Taking the easy way out in a situation is not the best way to solve a problem.  Sometimes it is important for managers to allow their employees to be creative and come up with an idea on their own to fix a problem or meet a deadline.  While calling in for reinforcements is sometimes necessary, Pixar tries not to result to this method.  By keeping the problem solving within the company and production team, the team will feel empowered when they finally find the solution to the problem.  Making employees solve their own problems causes them not only think differently, but also realize what they are truly capable of.  

Whether you’re a Disney + Pixar lover or just a manager or creative looking to get inspired, Creativity Inc may be the right read for you! As a Pixar enthusiast, I personally enjoyed learning more about Ed Catmull, how Pixar got started, and how they got to where they are today. If you’re looking to get your hands on this book, grab your copy of Creativity Inc here for only $17.49! This investment of less than $20 could lead your to achieve more than you ever thought you could. Fellow Pixar lovers may also want to splurge on another one of my favorites, The Art of Pixar for a more in-depth look at the concept art behind their films!

Which key takeaway from this book was your favorite?