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The Ride of a Lifetime
- Lessons in Creative Leadership from the CEO of the Walt Disney Company
- Narrated by: Robert Iger, Jim Frangione
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Professionals & Academics
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
The CEO of Disney, one of Time’s most influential people of 2019, shares the ideas and values he embraced to reinvent one of the most beloved companies in the world and inspire the people who bring the magic to life.
Robert Iger became CEO of the Walt Disney Company in 2005, during a difficult time. Morale had deteriorated, competition was intense and technology was changing faster than at any time in the company’s history. His vision came down to three clear ideas: Recommit to the concept that quality matters, embrace technology instead of fighting it and think bigger, think global and turn Disney into a stronger brand in international markets.
Fourteen years later, Disney is the largest, most respected media company in the world, counting Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox among its properties. Its value is nearly five times what it was when Iger took over and he is recognised as one of the most innovative and successful CEOs of our era.
In The Ride of a Lifetime, Robert Iger shares the lessons he’s learned while running Disney and leading its 200,000 employees and he explores the principles that are necessary for true leadership, including:
- Optimism. Even in the face of difficulty, an optimistic leader will find the path toward the best possible outcome and focus on that, rather than give in to pessimism and blaming.
- Courage. Leaders have to be willing to take risks and place big bets. Fear of failure destroys creativity.
- Decisiveness. All decisions, no matter how difficult, can be made on a timely basis. Indecisiveness is both wasteful and destructive to morale.
- Fairness. Treat people decently, with empathy and be accessible to them.
This book is about the relentless curiosity that has driven Iger for 45 years, since the day he started as the lowliest studio grunt at ABC. It’s also about thoughtfulness and respect and a decency-over-dollars approach that has become the bedrock of every project and partnership Iger pursues, from a deep friendship with Steve Jobs in his final years to an abiding love of the Star Wars mythology.
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What listeners say about The Ride of a Lifetime
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 21-06-20
Good, but what it is felt a bit missleaded
I really liked the book and the reader. It's an interesting story about his work life.
I did not feel like I got a lot of lessons in creative leadership. There are some tips and he explains how he made choices, but I feel it's more his personal experiences than concrete advise.
3 people found this helpful
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- Lenny McCarthy
- 01-06-20
interesting but far to much self praise. .
It's an interesting story in terms of his journey but i expected more insight into various career roles. He doesn't talk enough about day to day difficulties or challenges and learnings from mistakes. The appendix was of most interest to me - maybe i wasn't the target audience and should have researched the book more before hand.
2 people found this helpful
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- Chez RM
- 17-01-21
Capturing & a Masterclass
A fascinating story which charts a history that feels tangible and in part one I’ve lived.
A masterclass into understanding how the boardroom and shareholder mentality works and how to operate in those space.
Loved this and recommended endless to many friends and family members!
1 person found this helpful
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- Remy
- 02-08-20
One take away- avoid getting in the business of selling trombone oil
There is a lot to take in with some brilliant nuggets of knowledge.
Good leadership isn’t about being indispensable, it’s about willing to let others step into your shoes.... I wish we all saw the world from his eyes.
1 person found this helpful
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- Tarjinder
- 25-09-19
Disney and leadership
I enjoyed this and i found it helpful as a buissness information source the constant quest for continual perfection is one of the things i found useful such as the constant quest for improvement and great political speeches. also im very impressed with the job the bob iger has done for Disney his actions where roseanne bar and john the dirty exec were honourable
1 person found this helpful
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- Suvi Peltomäki
- 04-05-22
Great story, great reader
What a ride! I really enjoyed this audiobook and found it much more interesting than I anticipated.
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- Diana
- 27-03-22
Is a fine memoir
I did enjoy the book, however I had bigger expectations in his reflections. Is a book for good examples in corporate strategies
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- Michelle s.
- 06-03-22
A really interesting story
Bob’s inspirational story, showed that you can come from nowhere to somewhere.
I was standing
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- Anonymous User
- 04-03-22
Just pure revelation
An amazing insight into great strategy for growth, and how to manage subsidiaries - Inspires me very much
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- Razvan Suta
- 09-02-22
what a ride
what a ride, eloquent and insightful Robert brings a new facet on how to manage in corporate America
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- Pooven C.
- 05-07-21
Simply outstanding.....
One of my best ever listens. Robert is simply brilliant and it's a true cannot put down book/listen. It's fantastic that he shared his personal story with us, and inspires me, as a CEO, to focus equally on integrity,honesty and people management to manage a company effectively.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 14-09-20
Authenticity and Humility
Through out the story it is clear that Robert is true to himself, he knows his strengths and weaknesses and shares it wit us. He exuded humility better explained in our country as Ubuntu. Wether it’s with Mr Murdock or his employees. His Values are consistent.
Thank you at 62 and semi retired giving back to our youth, it resonated with me. I learned a lot. I had some of my own leadership style reinforced.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 26-04-20
Amazing book on leadership and life lessons
If I can summarise, the book is like having a mentor that assists you through their own experience of life and business to make sense of the world, leadership together with what it takes to create a successful business. It also gives one a view of what Disney is all about. I had little knowledge to the scope
Of the business and the priority of the organisation but through Robert Iger book. I can see myself as a future investor in this organisation.
1 person found this helpful
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- Bert
- 06-11-19
Awesome Insights
Gives good insight into how Robert ran Disney and made it into the success it is today in an ever more volitile business environment.
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 25-04-22
Best autobiography for a long long time
Simply put, this is one of the best I have listened to. What a champion.
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- J. Cochrane
- 05-03-22
Much more than expected
Some great leadership lessons, and humanity lessons, from a perpetual student of excellence and integrity. Well presented with candor.
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- FLOYD
- 03-02-22
Clear, Direct & Punchy
The writing style is simple, clear and direct to the point. He doesn't waste time in detailed and fluffy descriptions but rather focuses on telling the story succinctly, delivering the punchy lesson and moving on to the next chapter.
Such clarity and focus isn't easy to come by.
All in all, it was a wonderful listen.
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- Anonymous User
- 08-12-21
Simply Inspiring and a joy to read.
A beautiful and inspirational read into Bob Iger’s life. Filled with candour and humility - still re listen every now and then to be inspired
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- pretext
- 28-11-21
Great listen
Entertaining and important read for leaders. The narration makes for easy listening. Sound advice for managing people.
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- Mongezi
- 07-09-21
Too good!
It gives a great account of his inner world, events that led to him becoming CEO, the challenges before and after he was CEO and principles of success. There's lots of insight, raw elements, rare authenticity, private conversations with other leaders of influence and inside the boardroom conversation.