Animated Life

The Wow Factor

31

Impressing the Boss

You had to work pretty hard if you planned on wowing Walt Disney.

I've often been asked this goofy question: “How would you run an animation studio if you were in charge?” Questions like this come from young people who assume that I have answers. The truth is, I'm not in that position, and I don't expect to be. However, I once ran my own business many years ago, and I learned a few things from that experience.

When you run your own business, you gain the equivalent of a Stanford business degree—and I'm not joking when I say this. Those who have taken this wild ride know what I mean, and those who have never tried it don't. There are a few successes out there, but they are few. More often than not, ...