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

by Robert Iger

being the living embodiment of the Japanese word shokunin, which is “the endless pursuit of perfection for some greater good.”

Excellence and fairness don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

crucially, he knew what he didn’t know. This is a rare trait in a boss.

dreaming about the job they want doesn’t distract them from the job they have.

good leadership isn’t about being indispensable; it’s about helping others be prepared to possibly step into your shoes—giving them access to your own decision making, identifying the skills they need to develop and helping them improve,

made a difference. He understood that “great” is often a collection of very small things,

win this as an incumbent,” he said. “You cannot win on the defensive. It’s only about the future. It’s not about the past.”

you have to convey your priorities clearly and repeatedly. In my experience, it’s what separates great managers from the rest.

the personal component of each of these deals was going to make or break them, and authenticity was crucial. Steve had to believe my promise that we would respect the essence of Pixar. Ike needed to know that the Marvel team would be valued and given the chance to thrive in their new company. And George had to trust that his legacy,