Lessons Learned From 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
by Bob Iger
After more than a decade of strong belief that reading books was not for me, I discovered non-fiction. Amazon randomly delivered a book to my place and asked me keep it, donate it, or trash it. Surprisingly, it was about Artificial Intelligence and I decided to give it a read. But I did not expect it to make me an avid reader. And yet, here I am, 3 years later, with a GoodReads account, a Trello board to manage the backlog, and an active library membership. So, from time to time, this space will highlight some of the books that helped me the most.
First up on the list, “The Ride of a Lifetime” – an autobiography of Bob Iger, the CEO of the Walt Disney Company. There is no easy path to becoming a successful CEO, leave alone a great leader at an internationally celebrated media conglomerate. When all the stars align at each step and you happen to get there at some time, it is important to share it with the world so that others can learn from your experiences. With that goal, Iger explains his ascent to the throne (PS-2 influence 😜) and his experiences during his tenure at Disney.
Iger shares an insight into his early career, leadership philosophy, and the lessons learned along the way. The detailed explanation of important events puts us directly in his shoes, just like an intriguing novel. But he also drops memorable, relatable, and actionable wisdom. Here are a couple. I’ll let you read the book for the rest.
“You don’t have to have a title to be a leader.”
Leadership is the ability to inspire and influence others to achieve a common goal. You do not really need a title to exercise this ability. In fact, the more you lead without a title, the more you’ll be recognized as fit for the role.
As much as it is important to be a leader when possible, it is also important to encourage everyone to take initiative when you do have the title. By fostering a culture of leadership within the organization, you can create a more dynamic and effective workplace where everyone is working together towards a shared vision.
“If you want innovation, you have to give permission to fail!”
Innovation requires taking chances and trying new things. But, you cannot expect a bull’s eye on the first shot. Ask your parents how many times you fell down trying to stand up when you were a baby. If they never let you try because you might get hurt, would you have ever learnt? Who knows!? Even the great inventor, Thomas Alva Edison failed 10000 times before getting the light bulb right (or as he likes to put it – he found 10000 ways it would not work).
We have always heard “Failure is the stepping stone to success”, but let’s take it a step further and practice it while we have the time and chance. Be it yourself, your team, or your company, embrace the inevitable part of the innovation process and you will eventually uncover that breakthrough you have always been waiting for.
