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Thursday, December 5, 2019

Basketball: Iger Tenets for Success and Triple Lagniappe

"I've tried to be generous with the lessons I've learned." - Bob Iger, Disney CEO, MasterClass

I am a huge MasterClass fan. I start every day with MasterClass, have taken over thirty classes, and gifted a subscription to a family member. The lessons from great teachers translate to sport and basketball and are seldom domain-specific



MasterClass categories


MasterClass Culinary Arts professors and  classes

I had the opportunity to preview and comment on the Iger class and the Disney CEO didn't disappoint. Here are excerpts: 

"When you're not curious, you never innovate."

"It's easy to encourage people to be curious." (It's hard to make them be curious.)

"It's a form of energy consumption to be curious." 

"Honest, straightforward, genuine real...never saying anything...that isn't rooted in the truth." (Iger on authenticity)

Be honest and candid about what you need to learn. (When he took over at ABC, he needed to learn a lot about the business...)

"It's vital that anyone in business operates with integrity." Stick to high standards. (An unaddressed lack of integrity in standards was the root of the Global Financial Crisis.) 

"The relentless pursuit of perfection means...never accepting mediocrity." (That may mean spending more time and money to overcome friction." 



"Treat people fairly...give people second chances for honest mistakes." But be aware that some unredeemable mistakes (he discusses the Roseanne Barr tweets and ABC). 

"Make decisions on a timely basis...be decisive." Indecisiveness costs time, money, energy, and motivation. Second-guessing doesn't accomplish anything. Leaders need instinct about "what decisions need to be made and when." 



Good news seldom requires meaningful action or change. 

"People don't want to follow pessimists...pessimism...does not create energy."

"Optimism can inspire people." 

"There is no place for humor in the Walt Disney Company (background laughter)."



Lagniappe: So much to teach and learn, so little time.



  • No strips, no blocks, no deflections. 
  • "Shooter has to stay shot ready."
Lagniappe 2: Last night at practice, players struggled in the pressure section. "If they're high, go low." Young players need to play at different speeds and different altitudes. Get the shoulders low and pass under the trap and teammates remember "the ball is a camera." If it can't see you, it can't find you. 

Lagniappe 3: Horns Backdoor Iso



We have a 13 year-old girl, highly skilled 5'11" "5" (a future college 3) that can play outside or inside and has a high basketball IQ. This action is ideal for her. She can read the pass or the attack...but the cutter must clear to open the side.