The Museum of Science + Industry in Chicago had recently featured Charlie Brown & the Great Exhibit. The exhibit celebrated the legacy and genius of Peanuts creator, Charles Schulz. While many may think that the exhibit would be geared for children, it offered something for everyone. Just as his comic strip was drawn for adults, there are many business leadership lessons that were learned from the Great Exhibit.
Innovate and Evolve – Charles Schulz had changed how he drew the Peanuts characters numerous times during the nearly fifty years of drawing the comic strip. Every decade he reevaluated and refined until the final evolution of what Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang look today. Each of the Peanuts characters were highlighted in the Great Exhibit from when they were first introduced to the world along with interesting facts of their origin.
Businesses need to innovate and evolve in order to meet consumers’ needs. As leaders, it’s up to us to motivate others to improve processes, create solutions to problems and stay relevant in the ever changing world we live in.
Always be Learning – When Schulz created the A Charlie Brown Christmas TV special there were many things he had to learn about the animated process including drawing the Peanuts characters in 3D. With the Christmas show’s success nearly every holiday was later captured as an animated special. The Great Exhibit displayed Peanuts impact to all the major holidays in life-size Sunday edition comic strips and featured animated cels from the It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!, among other classics.
As leaders, growing and challenging yourself is the key to lifelong learning. Invest in self growth by learning new skills on the job, taking continuing education courses and reading new business topics.
Dream Big – Confucius said “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” All Charles Schulz every wanted to do was to be a cartoonist. He continued to work towards that dream by being passionate and focused on what he wanted to do with his life. Schulz had said that he would have still drawn the comic strips even if he didn’t get paid, that’s living the dream.
Develop career goals with milestones of how you’re going to make your dream job a reality. If you hit any roadblocks along the way, take the time to reassess, re-plan and keep moving forward. You can accomplish anything with the right attitude, positivity, passion and determination.
To experience the creative genius for yourself, visit the Charlie Brown and the Great Exhibit at MSI in Chicago through February 18 or anytime at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA.
What other business leadership lessons have you learned from Peanuts Creator, Charles Schulz?
Cynthia Gedemer is a Digital Marketing Strategist and Business Coach with over 15 years of experience in growing revenue with innovative marketing programs for Financial Services, Insurance, Retail, Telecommunications, and Healthcare industries. Cynthia is also a contemporary artist and enjoys Stand Up Paddle Surfing. Connect with Cynthia on Google+, Facebook and Twitter.