Great summer reads: Review of “Creativity, Inc.”
By Jesica Levingston Macleod
One of the masterminds behind Pixar Studios, Edwin Catmull, also happens to be an amazing writer. Last year he, with the help of Amy Wallace, published a book about finding true inspiration and creativity in business called "Creativity Inc". If the Buzz Lightyear character directing an orchestra on the cover of the book doesn’t get your attention then I hope this review will do it. Edwin Catmull started his career working in Special FX for George Lucas (yes, as in Star Wars), followed by the creation of the Pixar Studios. After finding enormous success with the movie "Toy Story" the company faced troubled times and it was acquired by Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Computers). This book is a guide for any entrepreneur, not only for the fantastical story and the outstanding characters, but also for all the knowledge and experiences that Ed wants to share with us. He goes from the starting points for managing a creative culture to great advice about how to manage a start-up. Here are two of my favorites:
1-Give a good idea to a mediocre team, and they will screw it up. Give a mediocre idea to a great team, and they will either fix it or come up with something better. If you get the team right, chances are that they will get the ideas right.
2-Failure isn't a necessary evil. In fact, it isn't evil at all. It is a necessary consequence of doing something new.
