There are days when it’d be nice to listen to an audiobook to help me do my job better. Well, I would listen to business books but I can’t stay awake through an entire chapter. I’m sure some business books are good and all, but as C. S. Lewis would say, they tend to be weak on dragons.
I just listened to an excellent book on leadership and program management that doesn’t know it’s about leadership and program management. It’s called, “As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride” by Cary Elwes. This book tells the fascinating backstory of the movie, but for me, the genius of Rob Reiner’s leadership steals the show. Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
At first, it seems like Mr. Reiner is just a master encourager. For example, to comfort the terrified Wallace Shawn:
Wallace Shawn: But I don’t really have a Sicilian accent.
Rob Reiner: That’s okay, Wally. This Sicilian talks just like you. He talks exactly like you.
Later, when the available food and catering in rural England were sub-par, Rob hosted nightly hibachi parties in his hotel suite. They’d grill burgers, drink beer, and then Christopher Guest, Mandy Patinkin, and Rob Reiner would harmonize classic doo-wop songs and everyone joined in. In other words, Mr. Reiner took a bad thing and flipped it into a great thing.
Finally, Rob Reiner was the only one who didn’t jump in and get excited about the early choreographed duel between the Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin. After months of brutal full-time sword training, it must have been tough to send them back to the drawing board to expand and rethink the fight. But Mr. Reiner’s toughness, creative encouragement, and conviviality brought about amazing results.
This is an inspiring story of what a team can be under a great leader.
PS – The Miracle Max chapter is crazy funny.
The Elements of Simple 