One Man's Dream: Eisner's Part in the Story.

[KittyKitty]

Don't you have to have a big ego(self confidence) to run any large company? I sincerely think this is almost a requirement.

(I watch the Donald every week!!)


Susan

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Eisner has done some good for Disney and you are correct about him saving Disney as we know it. I just got done reading "Disney Wars" and I must say it's good book to read and I've learned a lot. Eisner made too many mistakes later in his job as CEO and has done a lot of things that has hurt the company. EuroDisney has been a drain on the Disney Corporation and his hiring and firing of Micheal Ovitz was disaster for the company along with the firing of Jeffery Katzenburg. Eisner is man with way too big of a ego and thinks everything he has done can't be questioned. Read Disney Wars and you will see for yourself.

I completely agree, and I do intend to read the book. I am not Eisner apologist and he has made some serious misteps as of late. This is why the change needed to be made and I and many other Disney shareholders gave Eisner an overwhelming no confidence vote at the annual shareholders meeting 2 years ago. For the record, I have no problem with a CEO and a big ego. I think they come together, part and parcel.
Howver, there are many who would like to say he is evil or has done nothing when that is not the case. Or want to bash Iger before he is given a chance. These are the kind of things that I can't understand!

 

[Got Quattro?]

Don't you have to have a big ego(self confidence) to run any large company? I sincerely think this is almost a requirement.

(I watch the Donald every week!!)


Susan

Yes you do. because for every decision you make, there will be x% of the people who think you made the wrong choice. you have to be firm in your conviction and stick with it. you can't ride the fence. It is yes or no, black or white.

Sort of like the president. He made some tough choices over the last 3 years. Some right, some wrong. (not going into either) But he made a choice and stuck with it, and lived with the bad press that came with it.

You don't become CEO of a big company by rethinking choices because you made x group of supporters upset.

 

[civileng68]

That is not true. Yes, obviously they can't stay in business if they don't make money, but Walt Disney did not start this company trying to make a buck! Eisner could care less what happens to the company as long as the money keeps rolling in. The demise of the Disney Stores is a great example. Those stores were something awesome when they were first started. A way to bring the magic to everyone. Now they are nothing but Disney's version of a KMart.

Amanda

Both posters are right, well all are I think, in their own way.


Yes the purpose of a CEO in a company is to make more money, aka, increase profits for the shareholders. However, the problem I think at times has been that money has been the only thing that mattered, not anything else IN RECENT YEARS. Also, to say that the company doesnt cater to it's park goers, but rather stockholders. I would venture to say that many if not most stockholders take their families to Disney World. Disney is such a phenominon that they do in fact have to cater to park goers as that are in many cases, also their shareholders.

I think Eisner is right for wanting more profits, so you guys were right in that regard. However, you always have to weigh the Marginal Benefits. What do you give up to get something? I think that while Eisner is closing stores because of profit loss, why was he giving himself a $60M BONUS in 2003? My problem lies in that very fact.

I think it's ok to cut things if the company is not making the money that it should be. However, Eisner should never have expanded to areas such as Paris. Now, I know the Paris park is wonderful to some, but it's not helping Disney profits whatsoever.

In fact, the move to Paris was only after Spain was willing to garuantee profit numbers if they moved there, and if not met, they would pay the difference. However, Eisner did his own thing and went to Paris with all risks involved.

The problem with Eisner isnt so much that he's dumb. he's not. He's a smart business man, but he has a board that will not speak up to him to voice their opinion, basically meaning that anything Eisner wants, he gets (our own country doesnt run like that, due to the obvious effects that come with it). He doesnt listen to any advisors unless they agree with him.

 

[bytheblood]

The only thing I have liked in the recent years of Eisner are the Pixar films...and he has even managed to screw that relationship up.


As far as Eisner in One Man's Dream goes..... !!!!! I guarantee you that Eisner would never be in this one man's dream.

 

[civileng68]

Howver, there are many who would like to say he is evil or has done nothing when that is not the case. Or want to bash Iger before he is given a chance. These are the kind of things that I can't understand!

I wont say that Eisner is Evil. I will say that I dont think he is right for Disney, AT ALL. I think his attitude is nearly spiteful to the shareholders that he knows are running him out of town (more or less). Confidence is great, but arrogance is the fall of many prideful people.

I however, will give Iger the chance he deserves. I dont agree with the way in which he was elected to be CEO and think more of the decision should have been left to the shareholders. For this reason I will support Roy Disney's fight to change the board.

However, for Iger, I will give him every opportunity to make me happy as a Disney fan.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

However, for Iger, I will give him every opportunity to make me happy as a Disney fan.

That's what I like to hear...and besides, would a superbabe like CNN"s own, Willow Bay, marry Iger if he were all bad!

Fellas?!?! Are you with me?!?! Hmmm?

 

[WDSearcher]

That is not true. Yes, obviously they can't stay in business if they don't make money, but Walt Disney did not start this company trying to make a buck!

He certainly did! No one starts a company and then says they don't care if they don't make money. Walt needed funds to keep his animation division alive ... to build his big, fancy new cameras ... to put TV shows on the air ... and to fund his theme park. The guy didn't call it "Family Fun Land" -- he named it after himself. You can bet he didn't want it to fail. Just because he's quoted a lot as saying that it's not "all about the money," don't think for a minute that he didn't care if it was making money or not. And if he didn't ... you can bet Roy O. did. Of course Walt Disney started this company trying to make a buck. He wanted to prove that he could do a family venture and make money at it.

 

[agotta]

He certainly did! No one starts a company and then says they don't care if they don't make money. Walt needed funds to keep his animation division alive ... to build his big, fancy new cameras ... to put TV shows on the air ... and to fund his theme park. The guy didn't call it "Family Fun Land" -- he named it after himself. You can bet he didn't want it to fail. Just because he's quoted a lot as saying that it's not "all about the money," don't think for a minute that he didn't care if it was making money or not. And if he didn't ... you can bet Roy O. did. Of course Walt Disney started this company trying to make a buck. He wanted to prove that he could do a family venture and make money at it.

I didn't say Roy wasn't in it for the money. Roy was always looking out for his brothers back. Why do you think Walt spent every dime he had, cashed out life insurance policies and took mortgages out on his home?? He put every dime (or almost) he made back into the business. He wanted to do something that made people happy. And yes a little bit egocentric, naming Disneyland after himself and spending millions on furthering his dream, but in the end it was not for himself or for the money.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Sorry, all!! Willow looked so nice, I had to make her part of my signature!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I didn't say Roy wasn't in it for the money. Roy was always looking out for his brothers back. Why do you think Walt spent every dime he had, cashed out life insurance policies and took mortgages out on his home?? He put every dime (or almost) he made back into the business. He wanted to do something that made people happy. And yes a little bit egocentric, naming Disneyland after himself and spending millions on furthering his dream, but in the end it was not for himself or for the money.

Well...that is an incredibly cheery way to look at the world!
Disney put all of his money back into the business to keep it alive when things were tight and he had to pay the bills! Most new business owners are the last people to get paid. They do it because they believe in a dream that will someday make them successful. Walt and Roy famously declared bankruptcy something like 6-7 times until they got the business off the ground. There is nothing wrong with making money and making people happy! It's the best of both worlds and a dream that we all share, but to say they were not interested in making a buck doesn't make sense.

 

[agotta]

Well...that is an incredibly cheery way to look at the world!
Disney put all of his money back into the business to keep it alive when things were tight and he had to pay the bills! Most new business owners are the last people to get paid. They do it because they believe in a dream that will someday make them successful. Walt and Roy famously declared bankruptcy something like 6-7 times until they got the business off the ground. There is nothing wrong with making money and making people happy! It's the best of both worlds and a dream that we all share, but to say they were not interested in making a buck doesn't make sense.

I didn't say there was anything wrong with make people happy and making money. Believe me, I can completely understand the making money aspect. My original point was that Eisner was only in it for the money and nothing else. Eisner has made a mockery out of the company and has buried it so deep it may never fully recover. They made a huge mistake getting rid of TDS and they will never get those back. One bad decision after another. I hope I am wrong about Iger.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

My original point was that Eisner was only in it for the money and nothing else. Eisner has made a mockery out of the company and has buried it so deep it may never fully recover.

Have you looked at the share price lately? It has practically doubled over the past two years! Although Eisner and the Board received a 40% no confidence vote two years ago, the shareholders gave them an overwhelming stamp of approval this last shareholders meeting in February. Thing's are looking up at Disney, and they have been one of the hot stocks to watch for quite some time now. You should really take a look, I guarentee you'll be surprised!

 

[agotta]

As I will say again, it's not all about money! Don't you take into consideration the publics view on Disney? I am talking about the educated public. Disney has an image to protect and many people think of Disney as a company that sells cheap products and takes every chance they get to drop you in a gift shop! I am very happy to see that the company is doing well. But I guess my standards a little high. Making money off cheap products and cheesy live action movies is not what I consider successful. Let's go back to when the company was about the cast members and the guests. Giving something back to the community and being a source of inspiration.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I had no idea that Disney was so frowned upon around the world. I still believe that Disney's name is more valued than gold and that they provide hugely entertaining, wholesome family fun. Movies that come out with the Disney name still bring in millions of movie goers and the theme parks are doing better than ever. I think that average Joe Sixpack's family doesn't know who's the CEO at Disney and really doesn't care, but the kids still want to see the movies, and go to the parks, and watch the videos over and over and over again. And talk about cheesy live action movies? What about the Apple Dumpling Gang, or Herbie: the Love Bug, or The Parent Trap...I mean the list goes on and on. There are quite a number of people out there who think that Disney's cheap or chessy or lame, whatever, but it's not the overwhelming majority, I can assure you of that!

 

[SoCalKDG]

As I will say again, it's not all about money! Don't you take into consideration the publics view on Disney? I am talking about the educated public. Disney has an image to protect and many people think of Disney as a company that sells cheap products and takes every chance they get to drop you in a gift shop! I am very happy to see that the company is doing well. But I guess my standards a little high. Making money off cheap products and cheesy live action movies is not what I consider successful. Let's go back to when the company was about the cast members and the guests. Giving something back to the community and being a source of inspiration.

Nice opinion. Too bad the facts don't back it up. Look at park attendance throughout the world. Look at merchandise sales. The public votes for their favorite companies and products with their pocketbook, and guess who is number one, strengthening their lead, Disney.

If share prices are going up, it means Disney is doing something right. Keeping a strong amusement and entertainment division means profits means strong stock prices.

Thankfully Walt started Disney, thankfully he doesn't have to deal with shareholders. Eisner may have worn out his welcome, but he advanced Disney to where its at now, and I'm thankful for that.

I consider myself the educated public(both my wife and I are college grads) and we've chosen to become DVC members, we are AP holders for both DLR(long time) & WDW. My daughter loves everything Disney, and I have no problem giving Disney my hard earned dollar. I haven't notice any dropoff, and have actually seen an increase to my benefits the past few years.

As you can see, I have no idea where your view of the public is coming from, nor your view of the disaster that you call Disney.

Oh, to the person that thinks AK is a disaster. I completely disagree and in a few years(after EE and one or two additional rides) this could be one of the top parks in the world. Theme wise this is right up there with Disney Sea.

 

[agotta]

Yes attendance is up, yes those awful cheesy live movies bring in millions, but my "opinion" comes from being a cast member and listening to the guest. I am also a DVC member and both my husband and I were CM. We really do believe in the company and what it could do in the future. I guess I have lost a little faith when it comes to Eisner.