Toying With Success the Todd Mcfarlane Companies

¶ … personality traits do leaders like Todd McFarlane possess that distinguish them from other individuals?

The most obvious characteristic which distinguishes Todd McFarlane from other individuals is his tremendous artistic talent. McFarlane created the famous comic book series Spawn, and has generated a corporate empire based on his cartoon designs and toys. However, there are many talented artists in the world. McFarlane is unique in his ability to design art that taps into his reader's needs and desires without seeming overly commercial. He is also innovative enough to generate three-dimensional toys that are equally striking as his cartoons, and savvy enough to manufacture them to make a profit.

McFarlane merges two distinct personas within his character: artist and entrepreneur. He is able to capitalize upon his talent financially while still remaining true to his craft and not seeming to 'sell out' in the eyes of famously fickle comic book readers who can often be extremely possessive of their favorite creations. Multifaceted and multitalented would be two of the first adjectives that one would use to describe McFarlane. To be truly creative is a rare gift in a leader.

McFarlane is also highly adaptable. He was able to extend his brand from cartoons to toys to films, retaining his core vision as an artist while still embracing the needs of the new mediums. His willingness to stretch himself indicates his strong work ethic and delight in his craft. As for many great artists and entrepreneurs alike, McFarlane considers his 'work' to be 'play' and his 'play' in front of a designing board 'work.'

Q2. How have global competition and technology advances changed business conditions and leadership challenges?

The creation of a truly new global economy has opened up many opportunities for organizations large and small. Larger organizations have vast, untapped markets in which they can sell their products. For example, corporations such as GE and Wal-Mart have been able to revitalize their fortunes by selling to the developing world. The European Union nations have created a zone in which there is a free flow of labor and goods across national borders. A small entrepreneur that creates a great product in his or her basement can sell it online all over the world.