Creativity, Inc. is a book for managers who want to lead their employees to new heights, a manual for anyone who strives for originality, and the first-ever, all-access trip into the nerve center of Pixar Animation—into the meetings, postmortems, and “Braintrust” sessions where some of the most successful films in history are made. It is, at heart, a book about how to build a creative culture—but it is also, as Pixar co-founder and president Ed Catmull writes, “an expression of the ideas that I believe make the best in us possible.”
This book is required summer reading for my team, no if's, and's, or but's about it; REQUIRED. This book is an amazing journey into foster self-awareness, setting objectives from a creative standpoint, and a clear approach to research and development! I personally have donated a copy to the fine staff at Meyer Library at CCA.
The post for today is really about the intelligent system that we all are a part of, and trusting divine order. Case in point two years ago I was lucky enough to get through to the NPR Program The Diane Rehm Show and speak to Dr. Ed Catmull about his book Creativity, Inc. I had no prior knowledge that he would be her guest for the day, yet I stumbled upon it as I was getting in my truck headed to a final exam. I calmly puled my truck over to the side of the highway, somewhere in RTP and dialed the 1-800 number. The phone rang for a few moments, and I was greeted by a screener who asked for my name, where I was calling from, and my question. I explained that I had just finished reading Dr. Catmull's book and that I had a question about Chapter 11 and the phrase "the unmade future...". She said that's great and could I hold? I stated yes, but informed her that I was on my way to one of my finals. She said, "I would be first to talk, just hold on, and turn the volume on my radio down when I was cued in."
Think about all that took place, just to lead up to that very moment. Had I not been in the truck, with someplace to be, I'm sure I would have never had the opportunity.
What triggered that memory was a conversation ( a powerful debate) I recently had with my wife Twinkie about the meaning of timing and the effects it has on determining what is considered having a successful life. What I was trying to sum up in the midst of foot traffic near Fisherman's Wharf was how this moment you're in right now is the past and whatever energy/attention level at that time, whatever needs, whatever life situations are, attracts the right people and events to you. As a result, a person goes from being an actor who's influenced by others playing the roles of producer and director, to being the writer, producer, director, and star of this glorious life. Words of truth that I have heard time and time again from Steve Job, Mister Rogers, Chuck Weinraub, and the late Dr. W.W. Dyer.
It's amazing how once you start applying focus onto an area, in this case, my pursuit of my ambition to work as a story artist and getting BFA in Animation at CCA; open up blocks for you. Proof of this mysterious effect of attracting what you want in life, is real. Think about all the people who share the stage with you as you move through life. Enjoy the interview!
