Hey,
the author loves Mickey Mouse as much as anyone––in fact,
that’s why he wrote the book. Cult
of the Mouse isn’t
about bashing Disney, it’s more a homage to the innate optimism
and creativity of Americans, a statement that producing fresh ideas is
what we do best...and, must continue to do.
More
pro-business than one might expect, Cult of the Mouse is an investigation
by an in-the-trenches creative person into the importance of
advancing new ideas; along with an expose on how easily
innovation can be compromised by insular thinking and excessive greed.
Caroselli argues that with any successful business model, product/service
enhancement through innovation must remain paramount over profit enhancement
on the next quarterly report. Sure, a certain amount of greed is necessary
to advance the human condition––but just like too much
stress, too much greed can easily be counter-productive.
While working
at Disney, Caroselli saw a great American icon of innovation begin to
lose its creative soul.
For
six years the author headed-up a 33 cast-member Creative Division at Disneyland,
during a pivotal time as the internal culture at Disney began to change
from supporting the most vaunted creative organization on the planet to
a business culture becoming enslaved to the profit god and almost
antagonistic to new ideas and fresh thinking. As someone whose accountability
is “to be creative,” Caroselli has enjoyed a long and successful
career inside and outside of corporate America. Prior to Disney, as Senior
VP, Creative Director he worked on global accounts at one of America’s
largest advertising agencies and he currently runs his own entrepreneurial
enterprise. In Cult of the Mouse he combines this rare perspective
while using Disney Enterprises, Inc. as a framework to initiate a discussion
about the pitfalls of putting profit above all else.
The author is one concerned humanoid Americanus worried that
the world the Boomer Generation (his own) is passing on to their kids
isn’t as wonderful as the world their WWII-Generation parents handed
them.
Cult
of the Mouse
discusses what most of us know, but really don’t want to deal with:
our Federal government is broke, our States are broke, our cities are
broke, and even many of our school systems are flat broke. Leaders in
America seem to be shortsightedly grabbing for the proverbial “last
shrimp on the platter.” Corporate America is looking less and less
at five-year plans, instead paying star-CEOs ridiculous amounts to achieve
quarterly profit goals––with apparent disregard for the long-term
impact of such practices. Sadly, a situation exists today very similar
to what was in place before the Great Depression: uneven distribution
of wealth, wild speculation on stocks and real estate, runaway national
debt, a stream of business greed scandals, and an international trade
imbalance (all firmly in place on Black Tuesday, Oct. 29, 1929).
But, what is really
the biggest casualty of all this greed? Sadly, it’s often idea generation
and innovation that suffers.
Through
insightful historical references, Cult of the Mouse illustrates
how America’s greatest product has been ideas. The argument
is made that, of late, ideas have been forced to take a back seat to the
insatiable demands of Wall Street greed, leading to cost cutting (obviously,
including jobs), oxymoroic safe risks, copy-cat initiatives,
and quick-buck schemes. Look to any company today whose growth is limping
along, and you’ll typically find a general lack of innovation caused
by the subjugation of R&D in order to maximize short-term returns.
Even America’s most prolific innovators, “the middling class”
(as Ben Franklin liked to call them), are struggling to advance their
ideas due to the pressures of short-term profiteering.
So what can a person do?
The
author brings attention to the dilemma that as America‘s manufacturing
base erodes, innovative thinking is now more important than ever on the
global stage. He offers expert advice on how to reinvigorate idea generation
in businesses large or small. Cult of the Mouse can help you
negotiate the paradigm shifts brought on by globalization. Caroselli implores
his readers to recognize that each of us has an important role in reawakening
Yankee ingenuity in our businesses and supporting it in our daily lives.
As mentioned, the author loves Disney. He has photos on the wall of his
kids with Mickey...But,
The
central point of Cult of Mouse is that if an esteemed organization
like Disney was willing to compromise its creativity, shouldn’t
that be a wake-up call for all of American business? And, shouldn’t
each of us take the time to consider what we can and must do as
individuals to help jump-start innovation and rekindle Yankee ingenuity?
If we want our future generations to enjoy the amazing prosperity we Americans
smugly feel we’re entitled to, it’s time to wake up and
smell the cappuccino!
|
(highest
possible) 
