The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company

Unlock Disney CEO's blueprint for creative leadership and storytelling prowess

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Today, I will talk about a business book called, "The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company" by Robert Iger. The man featured on the cover is the CEO of Walt Disney Company. After reading this book, I found myself deeply moved and inspired.

For most of us ordinary folks, opportunities in the intellectual property industry may seem plentiful. As we all know, venturing into real estate or high-tech as an individual could prove quite challenging due to the substantial capital required. On the other hand, approaching a new business from a cultural perspective presents a more accessible path, especially for the younger generation, such as learning to tell a captivating story, create an animated film, or craft a beloved cartoon character.

Crisis

Iger opens his narrative with a gripping account from June 2016, when he was preparing for the grand opening of the Shanghai Disneyland. In stark contrast to most CEOs who typically avoid discussing their companies' crises, Iger courageously tackles the difficult challenges head-on. On June 12th, a devastating mass shooting unfolded at a nightclub in Orlando, merely a mile or two away from Disney World, leaving over 50 people dead. This tragic event left Iger deeply shaken.

Even more alarming, security footage revealed that the gunman had repeatedly visited Disney World in the weeks leading up to the attack, initially planning to carry out the kill there. However, upon recognizing the stringent security measures in place, he ultimately chose the nightclub as his target. The ordeal did not end there. Three days later, Iger received a heart-wrenching call – a two-year-old child had been snatched by an alligator while playing near a lake within the Disney World premises.

Utterly devastated by the child's unfortunate demise, Iger wept uncontrollably. He felt compelled to personally reach out to the grieving family, despite his public relations advisor's objections concerned about potential liability issues. Undeterred, Iger called the father, introducing himself as the CEO of Disney and a fellow parent, expressing his profound sorrow, and offering unwavering support in any way he could. After a prolonged silence, the father broke down in tears, uttering, "I hope my son's death will not be in vain."

That very day, Iger ordered the installation of protective barriers around all the resort's lakes to prevent such tragedies from recurring. When attending the Shanghai Disneyland grand opening, his Chinese partner advised him to maintain a positive demeanor befitting the joyous occasion. However, Iger admitted to struggling through his speech, overcome by the weight of the recent events.

By boldly addressing these crises in the opening chapters of his autobiography, Iger displays remarkable authenticity and vulnerability, offering readers a sobering glimpse into the immense responsibilities and challenges faced by a CEO overseeing tens of thousands of employees and a global entertainment empire.

Starting at the bottom

Despite being raised in a working-class family, where Robert Iger's parents could put food on the table but he had to wear patched pants to school, Iger's humble beginnings instilled a profound appreciation for every opportunity that came his way.

After graduating from Ithaca College and briefly working as a weather reporter, Iger's fortuitous entry into ABC stemmed from his uncle's hospital roommate, who helped secure him a position as a studio supervisor. Though his duties involved menial tasks like set preparation, catering, and lighting setup, which required arriving at 4:30 AM daily, Iger approached each task with unwavering enthusiasm and resilience, even in the face of mistreatment and humiliation that often plague the entertainment industry.