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Time of India
14-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Steve Jobs was brilliant but don't copy this 'one habit' of him; warns Pixar's Pete Docter
Steve Jobs was brilliant but don't copy this 'one habit' of him; warns Pixar's Pete Docter When Steve Jobs bought Pixar from George Lucas in 1986 for $10 million, few could have imagined the impact this would have - both on animation, but ultimately on the future of creative entrepreneurship. Pixar was then a struggling graphics division with limited numbers and grand aspirations. Jobs' decision was widely considered risky, especially since the company had yet to prove itself as a viable business in the entertainment space. But what unfolded over the next two decades transformed not only the fate of Pixar, but also Jobs' legacy beyond Apple . Fast forward to 2025, and Pixar is one of the world's most legendary animation houses, with a catalog of Oscar winners and a reputation for storytelling greatness. A lot of that, Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter says, had to do with Jobs' none-too-hands-on approach to creative choices but rather with his skill at stepping back. Speaking at the Fast Company Most Innovative Companies Summit, Docter drew from Jobs' distinctive style of leadership, offering never-before-heard perspectives that highlight how restraint, emotional intelligence, and prioritisation guided Pixar's path. Why Steve Jobs told Pixar, 'This Is Not My Business' - and meant it Though he was the executive producer and economic lifeline of Pixar, Steve Jobs never attempted to influence the storytelling direction of the studio. Pete Docter, the company's third animator who is now the brains behind movies such as Up and Inside Out, noted that Jobs kept out of his way. "Steve was really good at saying, 'This is not my business,'" Docter recalled. This amount of creative trust is not to be found, particularly from a person who's been stereotyped as a micromanager in his early days at Apple. Yet Jobs at Pixar seemed to know that good storytelling took room. He funded the humans, the technology, and the buildings but he never attempted to "direct the director." Rather, he listened. He provided counsel when required. He entered not as a general, but as a partner. This methodology enabled Pixar's artists to experiment freely. It created the foundation for the studio's unprecedented success, beginning with Toy Story in 1995, the first computer-animated full-length feature film, and followed up with Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, Up, Inside Out, and Soul. Decoding genius: Steve Jobs' ability to distill complexity Jobs wasn't only hands-off, he was laser-sharp when it counted. Jobs, Docter said, had a talent for entering into a complicated conversation and, in a matter of minutes, being able to identify the root of the issue. "He could sit for about five minutes and review what the conversation was actually about," Docter said. "That's not something anyone's born with. It was the result of years of practice. This ability, cutting through noise to locate the signal is what made Jobs such a good strategist, even beyond his comfort zone. Whether it was a meeting regarding server capacity, distribution logistics, or creative tone, Jobs was able to immediately grasp the crux of the problem and challenge his team to crack it. This ability wasn't just intellectual, it was emotional. Jobs was able to read the currents in a room, detect underlying tensions, and gently move individuals toward understanding. In a time when numerous leaders are concerned with establishing dominance, Jobs' strength resided in his ability to see what truly counted and to pose the proper questions rather than provide all the solutions. Steve Jobs called at 3 AM - Pete Docter says that's 'one habit' you shouldn't copy But even visionaries are not perfect and Docter wasn't afraid to call them out. One of Jobs' most infamous tendencies was his lack of respect for boundaries. 'He would call — especially the producers — at any time, day or night, 3 in the morning, you're on vacation, doesn't matter,' Docter revealed. 'He wants to talk to you about it, you're on.' This intensity, while sometimes idealized, also produced burnout and stress. Jobs' all-consuming urgency was galvanizing but draining. Docter conceded that he's tried not to inherit that specific habit, although he occasionally sends late-night emails himself too. 'That's what my wife is trying to get me to stop doing,' he joked. This story is a cautionary tale: even the greatest leaders need to discover where to set limits. Passion is great but boundaries allow for long-term success. Behind the scenes: Pixar's quiet rise to the top While Pixar's meteoric ascendancy is invariably linked with technical ingenuity and storytelling brilliance, its organizational culture also played a pivotal role. Jobs permitted the studio to forge its own identity even when Disney acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion in 2006, rendering him the largest Disney shareholder at the time. Former Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger once said he expected Jobs to be tough. But instead, he found him to be open-minded and reflective. 'Who wouldn't want Steve Jobs to have influence over how a company is run?' Iger told Vanity Fair in an interview. Jobs' commitment to explaining things until they made sense, not mandating decisions by hierarchy, served to maintain Pixar's creative DNA even within the gigantic edifice of Disney. He did not care to win arguments. He craved alignment and that made him an unusual executive in Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Leadership lessons for today's visionaries In the modern world of high-pressure startups, midnight Slack messages, and always-on culture, Docter's reflections offer a timely reminder: the most effective leaders are those who listen more than they talk. Jobs' legacy at Pixar wasn't about control, it was about clarity. His genius wasn't just in innovation, but in emotional strategy. He could read rooms, empower people, and know when to step back. Yet, his occasional lack of boundaries reminds current leaders that brilliance without empathy can cost relationships and morale. Pete Docter takes Pixar's helm with a more measured hand these days, blending Jobs' wisdom with his own sense of how creative individuals work best. As Pixar keeps pushing the boundaries of great storytelling, its core continues to be based on the culture Jobs helped foster - not by dictating it, but by believing in it. Also read | Booking tatkal tickets on IRCTC? Aadhaar and OTP are a must from July 1; know how to book tatkal ticket online on IRCTC through website and app AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Economic Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Steve Jobs was a creative genius, but Pixar's CCO Pete Docter says there's one habit of the legend you shouldn't copy
Steve Jobs' genius, as revealed by Pixar CCO Pete Docter, wasn't in filmmaking but in his rare skill to cut through complex conversations and reach the core issue in minutes. (Images: X/@DovterPete, Agencies) When Steve Jobs bought Pixar from Lucasfilm in 1986 for $10 million, few could have predicted it would grow into one of the world's most beloved animation studios. But according to Pete Docter, the company's Chief Creative Officer and one of its earliest employees, Jobs' genius lay not in creative interference—but in restraint. 'Steve was pretty amazing at saying, 'This is not my business,'' Docter said during the Fast Company Most Innovative Companies Summit. Even though Jobs was Pixar's executive producer and bankroller, he never tried to direct a film or impose his will on the storytellers. He knew where his strengths ended—and trusted the animators, writers, and directors to do what they did best. Jobs' leadership wasn't about knowing everything—it was about knowing how to listen. Docter, who joined Pixar as its third animator and is now a three-time Oscar-winning director, recalled how Jobs could walk into any meeting, even one far outside his domain, and within five minutes distill the entire conversation to its essence. 'He could sit for about five minutes and analyze what the conversation was really about,' Docter said. 'That's not something anyone's born with. It came from years of practice.' It's a skill Docter himself has tried to nurture over decades—understanding that the ability to cut through noise and see the real issue is as powerful as any technical expertise. Jobs wasn't just a tech savant; he was an emotional strategist who knew how to read a room and steer a ship—even if it wasn't his to command. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fast Company (@fastcompany) But even icons have imperfections. Jobs, Docter candidly admitted, had one habit he's made a point never to emulate: the infamous anytime, anywhere phone calls. 'He would call — especially the producers — at any time, day or night, 3 in the morning, you're on vacation, doesn't matter,' said Docter. While Jobs' relentless pursuit of excellence and passion for his work are legendary, his disregard for personal boundaries wasn't always appreciated. 'He wants to talk to you about it, you're on,' Docter said, adding that while he tries to avoid this practice, he still occasionally sends late-night emails—much to his wife's dismay. From Toy Story to Up to Inside Out , Pixar became a storytelling powerhouse under Docter and others, while Jobs remained mostly in the background. Despite being the largest shareholder after Disney acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion in 2006, Jobs rarely disrupted the creative process. He believed in explaining things until people understood them—not forcing outcomes. Former Disney CEO Bob Iger said in an interview with Vanity Fair that he was warned Jobs might be a tyrant, only to find him refreshingly collaborative. 'Who wouldn't want Steve Jobs to have influence over how a company is run?' Iger said. In a world that often glorifies overwork and round-the-clock dedication, Docter's reflections serve as a nuanced reminder: intensity must be balanced with empathy. Jobs' genius lay in vision, clarity, and emotional insight—but his tendency to blur the lines between urgency and intrusion is a cautionary tale for leaders today. Docter, who once mirrored his own social awkwardness in characters like Carl from Up , now leads Pixar with a softer edge—channeling Jobs' brilliance without inheriting his flaws. 'I guess that's what my wife's trying to get me to stop doing,' he said, laughing, about his midnight emails.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Steve Jobs was a creative genius, but Pixar's CCO Pete Docter says there's one habit of the legend you shouldn't copy
Decoding Genius: The Man Who Could See the Core in Minutes The Flaw in the Legend: The 3AM Calls No One Misses Pixar's Unlikely Rise and Jobs' Silent Genius Lessons in Leadership and Boundaries When Steve Jobs bought Pixar from Lucasfilm in 1986 for $10 million, few could have predicted it would grow into one of the world's most beloved animation studios. But according to Pete Docter , the company's Chief Creative Officer and one of its earliest employees, Jobs' genius lay not in creative interference—but in restraint.'Steve was pretty amazing at saying, 'This is not my business,'' Docter said during the Fast Company Most Innovative Companies Summit. Even though Jobs was Pixar's executive producer and bankroller, he never tried to direct a film or impose his will on the storytellers. He knew where his strengths ended—and trusted the animators, writers, and directors to do what they did leadership wasn't about knowing everything—it was about knowing how to listen. Docter, who joined Pixar as its third animator and is now a three-time Oscar-winning director, recalled how Jobs could walk into any meeting, even one far outside his domain, and within five minutes distill the entire conversation to its essence.'He could sit for about five minutes and analyze what the conversation was really about,' Docter said. 'That's not something anyone's born with. It came from years of practice.'It's a skill Docter himself has tried to nurture over decades—understanding that the ability to cut through noise and see the real issue is as powerful as any technical expertise. Jobs wasn't just a tech savant; he was an emotional strategist who knew how to read a room and steer a ship—even if it wasn't his to even icons have imperfections. Jobs, Docter candidly admitted, had one habit he's made a point never to emulate: the infamous anytime, anywhere phone calls. 'He would call — especially the producers — at any time, day or night, 3 in the morning, you're on vacation, doesn't matter,' said Jobs' relentless pursuit of excellence and passion for his work are legendary, his disregard for personal boundaries wasn't always appreciated. 'He wants to talk to you about it, you're on,' Docter said, adding that while he tries to avoid this practice, he still occasionally sends late-night emails—much to his wife's Toy Story to Up to Inside Out, Pixar became a storytelling powerhouse under Docter and others, while Jobs remained mostly in the background. Despite being the largest shareholder after Disney acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion in 2006, Jobs rarely disrupted the creative process. He believed in explaining things until people understood them—not forcing Disney CEO Bob Iger said in an interview with Vanity Fair that he was warned Jobs might be a tyrant, only to find him refreshingly collaborative. 'Who wouldn't want Steve Jobs to have influence over how a company is run?' Iger a world that often glorifies overwork and round-the-clock dedication, Docter's reflections serve as a nuanced reminder: intensity must be balanced with empathy. Jobs' genius lay in vision, clarity, and emotional insight—but his tendency to blur the lines between urgency and intrusion is a cautionary tale for leaders who once mirrored his own social awkwardness in characters like Carl from Up, now leads Pixar with a softer edge—channeling Jobs' brilliance without inheriting his flaws. 'I guess that's what my wife's trying to get me to stop doing,' he said, laughing, about his midnight emails.
