Motley Fool Money
“The Ride of a Lifetime” Book Club
Mon Jul 24 2023Description
The episode is a memoir by Bob Iger, the former CEO of Disney. It is divided into two sections: learning and leading. In the learning section, Iger shares his early career and path to becoming CEO of Disney. In the leading section, he discusses Disney's history and his leadership during various acquisitions. Iger emphasizes the importance of balance between fairness and motivation as a leader. He also talks about not being petty and focusing on solving bigger problems at a company. Creativity is a key focus for Iger, but there are contradictions in how he prioritizes creatives in more recent times.
Insights
Insight 1
Bob Iger's behavior and decision-making at Disney were shaped by his experiences with Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Marvel acquisitions.
Insight 2
Iger is a skilled deal maker who understands what people want and focuses on problem-solving.
Insight 3
Animation has been the heartbeat of Disney's business, but Marvel characters have also become significant.
Insight 4
Iger's approach to acquisitions emphasized preserving the unique qualities of the acquired companies.
Insight 5
The book provides insights into the behind-the-scenes negotiations and casual conversations that lead to deals.
Insight 6
Deal making in the creative industry involves personal connections and charisma.
Insight 7
Iger pays attention to details and uses them to gain insights into people's personalities.
Insight 8
One quibble with the book is that it can be gossipy and focused on airing grievances.
Insight 9
The book raises questions about the politics of running a company after airing dirty laundry.
Insight 10
Iger wants to be seen as a leader like Steve Jobs, but their personalities and leadership styles are different.
Chapters
- Learning and Leading
- Acquisitions and Deal Making
- Running a Company and Leadership
- Leadership and Future Focus
- Disney's Growth and Transformation
Learning and Leading
00:01 - 06:49
- The book is a memoir by Bob Iger, the former CEO of Disney.
- It is divided into two sections: learning and leading.
- In the learning section, Iger shares his early career and path to becoming CEO of Disney.
- In the leading section, he discusses Disney's history and his leadership during various acquisitions.
- Iger emphasizes the importance of balance between fairness and motivation as a leader.
- He also talks about not being petty and focusing on solving bigger problems at a company.
- Creativity is a key focus for Iger, but there are contradictions in how he prioritizes creatives in more recent times.
Acquisitions and Deal Making
06:26 - 13:29
- Bob Iger's behavior and decision-making at Disney were shaped by his experiences with Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Marvel acquisitions.
- Iger is a skilled deal maker who understands what people want and focuses on problem-solving.
- Animation has been the heartbeat of Disney's business, but Marvel characters have also become significant.
- Iger's approach to acquisitions emphasized preserving the unique qualities of the acquired companies.
- The book provides insights into the behind-the-scenes negotiations and casual conversations that lead to deals.
- Deal making in the creative industry involves personal connections and charisma.
- Iger pays attention to details and uses them to gain insights into people's personalities.
- One quibble with the book is that it can be gossipy and focused on airing grievances.
Running a Company and Leadership
12:59 - 20:05
- Iger's book raises questions about the politics of running a company after airing dirty laundry
- The book lacks vulnerability and introspection, with Iger learning from others' mistakes
- How Iger became CEO is unclear, as it seems he was chosen by default
- The acquisition of Lucasfilm is discussed, but lacks detail on decision-making
- Iger admits to past mistakes, but they are mostly from decades ago
- Missed opportunity to share early career experiences and how visibility was gained
- Incentives may be mixed when it comes to dissenting opinions and stock grants
- The book includes petty remarks about movies like 'Finding Nemo'
- Iger's intentions for writing the book are unclear, possibly positioning himself for his next phase
- He emphasizes the success of Shanghai Disneyland throughout the book
- A questionable lesson is derived from a story about a dedicated executive producer on his deathbed
- Iger's relationship with authority is interesting, often deferring but remembering when he did not defer
Leadership and Future Focus
19:42 - 26:21
- Bob Iger's connection between licensing media on the video iPod and Disney Plus is tenuous.
- Iger wants to be seen as a leader like Steve Jobs, but their personalities and leadership styles are different.
- Iger is a deal maker, not an inventor or visionary like Jobs.
- Finding niche audiences can be beneficial in the entertainment business.
- Iger advises against holding onto power for too long and emphasizes focusing on the future rather than the past.
- The book provides interesting insights into deal making, boards, and succession plans at Disney.
- The historical aspects of the book make it worth reading for Disney shareholders and those interested in media stories.
Disney's Growth and Transformation
26:03 - 27:05
- The book provides a close-up look at how Disney operates and how the entertainment landscape has changed over the years.
- It offers insights into Bob Iger's role in shaping Disney's growth and transformation.
- While it has some important tidbits, it may not be recommended as a leadership book.
- It is more suitable for those interested in learning about Disney's history and evolution.