Thursday, 06 October 2011

Theme Parks: The Link Between Steve Jobs and Walt Disney

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The Link Between Steve Jobs and Walt Disney
Oct 6th 2011, 11:55

The theme park connection may not be immediately apparent, but the passing of Apple founder Steve Jobs got me thinking about the ineffable ways both he and Walt Disney made their marks on the world and the singular, wholly formed visions they brought to their work. In both cases, the men were so closely bound to the companies they created, it seemed impossible to imagine how the organizations could continue without their leadership. Indeed, in the decade after Apple forced Jobs out of the fold in 1986, the company floundered and flirted with bankruptcy. Likewise, after Disney died in 1966, the constant refrain of "What would Walt do?" echoed through the company that bore his name, and it struggled to find its bearings.

The good news is that The Walt Disney Company did eventually flourish. The theme parks, along with its other divisions, have grown and thrived under new leadership, and the company has continued to innovate and be enormously influential. But the legacy and DNA of Walt Disney still seem to be at its core. Among the leaders guiding the company: John Lassiter, who serves as both chief creative officer of the Disney company and principal creative advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering. Lassiter is also the chief guru at Pixar, the wildly successful company that Mr. Jobs bought and presided over. After Disney acquired Pixar, Mr. Jobs was named to Disney's board of directors. So there is a theme park connection.

Just as I felt a sense of personal loss after Walt Disney died, I was shocked and saddened to hear that Mr. Jobs lost his battle with cancer at such a young age. I discovered the news on my iPhone. And I'm composing this blog on my iMac. Both men have had profound effects on my life. I do take comfort, however, in the belief that just as Disney found its way after Walt was gone, Apple will carry on, find new success, and make new, exciting discoveries. But it will always bear the imprint of Steve Jobs.

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