Former SaveDisney Junkie Says Give Iger a Chance!

[MaxPower]

PlutoParking and the Expidition Everest thread has inspired me to say what I think a lot of other people are thinking, but are afraid to voice. I, a former SaveDisney Junkie, want to give Iger a chance.

I know that some of you are dissapointed that I'm nobody famous, and the rest of you are thinking that this belongs on the corporate discussion board, but a hardcore disney nut like me coming out in favor of Iger IS news!

Like many of you I was thrilled when the Save Disney movement started. I was never involved beyond reading the counless articles revelling in the latest about how Disney was screwed up, and subsequently posting about how Disney needed to change. But now I'm ready to move on, and even admit that it went too far.

As much as I disagree with some of the things Eisner has done, and as much as I have the uncontrolable urge to vomit every time I see a picture of George Mitchell, and as much as I'd hate to lose something so good and pure as is Pixar, I've come to the conclusion that the constant beat down that we're giving Disney every day has got to stop.

I mean if it's so horrible, why are all of us still spending so much money on it? Did any of you spend your hard earned money because of the promise of it being great again?--Give me a break! You spent that money because it's still better than anything else out there.

So I'll cut to the chase. Give Bob Iger a chance. He's got some really sharp people like Matt Ouimet and DickCook who truely embody the spirit of what we all think is great about Disney. And he's telling everyone that will listen that his management style is to let those people do their thing (ineloquent paraphrasing).

It's not that I think Save Disney was a waste of time. I really do think that Roy Disney is right about a lot of things. But I think that the only thing left in the Roy and Stanley arsenal is an all out corporate takeover -- and it's a long shot that they could pull in that kind of cash. Anything else is just going to be taking pot shots. And I'm tired of the bashing of something that I enjoy so much.

So lets just sit back and enjoy the show. Either Iger will do great and we'll all be happy (especially me, who'll be gloating like Homer Simpson having just beaten Ned Flanders in a game of Bible trivia), or I'll become the definition of a new word in the annals of Disney geek lexicon -- the "Iger Tool".

 

[DarkMeasures]

Iger does deserve in a way to become CEO because he was so close with ABC but I still don't feel that way and I have a hard feeling he will be all but a puppet.

I mean Disney's board did not even shop for outsider candidates, that is what I am mad about. I am also mad at Steve Jobs not deciding or trying to become CEO because I want him to be CEO.

I should E-mail him a letter begging him to start a campaign to be Disney's next CEO...

 

[clarkstallings]

Steve Jobs Should Never Be Disney's CEO

I'm so perplexed as to why so many folks think that Steve Jobs would be a great CEO for Disney. Sure he's a very wealthy man but Apple, has really been a lackluster performer. He was booted in the late 80's from Apple, sure, they begged his return in the late '90s and he came out with iMac. That brought Apple alot of money, but in the gap after iMac and before iPod, Apple found itself once again in a precarious situation. That type of management style is reckless and quite frankly I would hate being an investor with the company and would be nervous about banking on so called savior products. The company shouldn't nearly code every few years only to be brought back to life by a lucky product. A company should be able to perform decently even when they don't have anything stellar in production. It is a shame that we didn't get Meg to be our CEO.

 

[clarkstallings]

One Other Thing

I've had extensive dealings with Apple and have found them to be the most dificult company to deal with customer service wise. This problem takes root somewhere and with Disney being known for customer service, we can' have the Disney Way become the Apple Way. Anyway, it's a moot point now.

 

[CTXRover]

I too, a savedisney junkie at the beginning (not much anymore since it turned into a self-fulfilling Eisner bashing site), want to give Iger a chance. It might all just be rhetoric at this point, but I'm excited to see, from interviews he has done, that he understands and respects the Pixar relationship, he is eager to go away from the micromanaging style of Eisner and give the individual departments their individuality with a greater team approach than a single leader approach and his recognition that in order to attract and keep talented executives you need to give them their own room and not boss them around. I was also was happy to hear him say he thinks the theme parks are the best example of the Disney spirit and that (gasp) new attractions are the best way to keep people coming.

 

[MaxPower]

he is eager to go away from the micromanaging style of Eisner and give the individual departments their individuality with a greater team approach than a single leader approach and his recognition that in order to attract and keep talented executives you need to give them their own room and not boss them around. QUOTE]

Add to that the fact that he's got the guts to say all of this while he still has to share the building with Eisner. I thought that was impressive.

 

[mickey04]

I think we all owe Bob Iger a chance. I'm not sure I've heard anyone denying that we need to give him a chance, because well, he is the new CEO and things will change. After reading DisneyWar I am a little worried, but the fact is that until he's been there for a while, and is out of Eisner's shadow, we just won't know.

But in defense of all the SaveDisney and D-Troops people, let me say this: It's not that they claim to hate the Disney of today. They love it, and they realize it is still the best there is. But that doesn't change the fact that there are serious problems going on, and it is because they care so much for the company that they want to help bring attention to and hopefully fix these problems. I know that's how I feel.

 

[SpectroMan]

I agree with most of you. I did not like the way they went about finding a new CEO, but we still need to give him a chance. He will be better than Eisner is now even if it is just a little better.

 

[Master Yoda]

I agree. Let’s give the man a chance. Chances are with all of the people saying that he is going to be another Eisner he will be the exact opposite of Eisner just to prove everyone wrong.

 

[wannabeBelle]

I too, a savedisney junkie at the beginning (not much anymore since it turned into a self-fulfilling Eisner bashing site), want to give Iger a chance. It might all just be rhetoric at this point, but I'm excited to see, from interviews he has done, that he understands and respects the Pixar relationship, he is eager to go away from the micromanaging style of Eisner and give the individual departments their individuality with a greater team approach than a single leader approach and his recognition that in order to attract and keep talented executives you need to give them their own room and not boss them around. I was also was happy to hear him say he thinks the theme parks are the best example of the Disney spirit and that (gasp) new attractions are the best way to keep people coming.

Nice quotes!!!! Let's see what he does with the chance!!! Belle

 

[CTXRover]

Major change number 1 under Iger: Dismantling Eisner's "Strategic Planning Dept." that made the major budget decisions for every major division of the company with a director that seemed to be a "yes man" for Eisner. In its place, Iger is giving each division of the company back some power to make such business decisions for themselves. In other words, the theme park division will start making budgetary decisions just for the theme parks while ABC will make decisions that just deal with ABC,etc. rather than one major strategic planning division that made all those decisions out of one office. Great move!

 

[Mr. Eggz]

The dismantaling of Stratigic Planning has been one of SaveDisney's tentpole directives from day one. The fact that Iger has chosen to do this does send a powerful message. You will not find a bigger SaveDisney supporter than me, but I have to say this is a VERY positive step that Iger has taken, and I look forward to seeing what he does next. If he choses a stong number 2 (DickCook?) and mends fences with Pixar, Disney may actually be on the road to recovery.

But don't foget, SaveDisney has done great things. They managed the highest ever no-confidence vote for the CEO in history. Eisner is stepping down as a direct result of that vote. In a wierd sort of way Iger has Roy and Stanley to thank for his getting the job. Even though Roy and Stanley didn't support him for the job, the job would still belong to Eisner if it wasn't for their efforts. SaveDisney voiced the concerns of the small shareholders that wanted Pixar to stay with Disney (Iger is now talking to Pixar) and SaveDisney demanded the dismantaling of Stratigic Planning. I think it is time to end the DisneyWar, but we all owe a huge debt a gratitude to SaveDisney for the change they helped bring about.

 

[Woody13]

It's obviously a religion with some of you folks. :kiss:

 

[KevinPage]

Like many of you I was thrilled when the Save Disney movement started. I was never involved beyond reading the counless articles revelling in the latest about how Disney was screwed up, and subsequently posting about how Disney needed to change. But now I'm ready to move on, and even admit that it went too far.

I don't think it went "too far". I think with any campaign you can't do half measures. You have to go all the way. If SaveDisney came out and said "it's not that bad, we just need a few minor changes", no one is going to listen to them. When you face a strong opponent so hell bent against you, you have to take the other complete side of it, so eventually both sides meet in the middle

I mean if it's so horrible, why are all of us still spending so much money on it? Did any of you spend your hard earned money because of the promise of it being great again?--Give me a break! You spent that money because it's still better than anything else out there.

I equate our moaning & groaning to your favorite music band selling out or putting out a bad record. Yeah you still love them and it's better than most of all the other bands, but you are so upset that something soooo good or perfect had such a fall from grace it upsets and annoys you more, since it was something you loved.

Why do people have such anger/bitterness against a former lover? Because you cared so deeply about them. It you didn't care you wouldn't lash out

So I'll cut to the chase. Give Bob Iger a chance. He's got some really sharp people like Matt Ouimet and DickCook who truely embody the spirit of what we all think is great about Disney. And he's telling everyone that will listen that his management style is to let those people do their thing (ineloquent paraphrasing).

Excellent point. I'm eagerly optomistic that people who have had their creative ideas squashed over the years, and are still left, will now have a vigor and excitement to continue, assuming this move is all what it appears to be.

It's not that I think Save Disney was a waste of time. I really do think that Roy Disney is right about a lot of things. But I think that the only thing left in the Roy and Stanley arsenal is an all out corporate takeover -- and it's a long shot that they could pull in that kind of cash. Anything else is just going to be taking pot shots. And I'm tired of the bashing of something that I enjoy so much.).

Let's make no bones about it, Eisner stepped down due to the efforts of SaveDisney, plain and simple. Yeah we all wanted him to be kicked out immediately, tarred and feathered, but a big portion of that goal was accomplished.

Sometimes small events, that may not appear to have much consequences at the time, turn out to be MAJOR events in history or companies.