Chapter
1
INTRODUCING DISNEY’S NEWEST CHARACTER:
THE EIGHTH DWARF, CALLED “GREEDY”
A
general analysis of how the focus on “maximization of shareholder
equity” has changed, for the worse, the creative dynamic inside
The Walt Disney Company. And, if the vaunted Disney organization has
compromised its quest for innovation in order to look good to Wall Street
on the next quarterly report, shouldn’t that be a wake-up call
for all of America?
Chapter 2
“MOMMY, WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM?”
An
insightful, behind-the-scenes look into how people search out ideas—looking
at some of the distinctly different (albeit each quite circuitous) paths
taken to reach revolutionary, paradigm-shifting events; some which have
contributed mightily to the amazing prosperity we enjoy in America today.
Chapter 3
OLD HOLLYWOOD ADAGE:
“IF IT ISN’T A NEW IDEA, IT HAD BETTER BE A DAMN GOOD ONE.”
In
a culture full of copies, retreads, and sequels, the author looks into
how NEW does a new idea have to be, and how attempting to “get
lightning to strike twice in the same spot” will typically produce
only mush and mediocrity. The chapter discusses the differences between
the deal (opportunity) and the real-deal idea (innovation). It culminates
in an outline discussing the different levels of ideas and innovation.
Chapter 4
HOW WE’RE LOSING OUR WAY IN THE SEARCH FOR THE REAL-DEAL IDEA
A
discussion about what’s going on in America today that is getting
in the way of fresh thinking, in particular the myopic greed of businesspeople
(and cozy politicians) . . . and how the insidious greed of the average
consumer drives the market, only encouraging more greedy business practices.
Chapter 5
DISNOIDS EXPOSED! DISNEY’S CLANDESTINE CULT ANNIHILATES
INNOVATION!
Has
the Disney business culture become cult-like and antagonistic
to fresh ideas by accepting only inside-the-box thinking? Has
the all-important “calculated risk” mutated into the oxymoronic
“safe risk” in much of American business today?
Chapter 6
LOOK FOR THE CREATIVE SPARKS—LOOK OUT FOR THE IDEA KILLERS
How
to establish a foundation (in business and in life) for real-deal ideas
to flourish—honoring child-like thinking and neutralizing
the idea killers. Includes some pitfalls to watch out for, for both
manager-types and creative-types.
Chapter 7
SO, IS THE (GREAT AMERICAN) PARTY OVER?
Looks
at how globalization has and will continue to impact American life.
And, what each of us needs to do to help get good ol’ Yankee
ingenuity healthy again, in order to reassert America’s role
in the global economy.
Chapter 8
HOW THE “I GENERATION” CAN REFOCUS ON “IDEA GENERATION”
How
to reaffirm the context for producing more innovative thinking; in particular,
managing the organic anarchy of the creative process—including
how to revitalize one’s innate curiosity, essential in the search
for the real-deal idea.
