No More Big Ideas
April 1, 2007
Six years ago, Phil Vischer revolutionized Christian family entertainment by selling 30 million Veggie Tales videos. He was running the largest animation studio between the coasts, and had dreams that his empire, known as Big Idea Productions, would become the next Disney.
But by 2003 his dream was over. After a heartbreaking court decision, later overturned on appeal, Big Idea declared bankruptcy, and Vischer sold the company's assets, including his computer animated characters Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber. His new book, Me, Myself, and Bob (Nelson, 2007) tells the story of Big Idea's rise and fall. We sat down with Vischer to talk about what he's learned.
What did you do after losing Big Idea?
About six months of rolling around and moaning, which is what you do when you wipe out. I also did a lot of reading and praying, asking God to sort through the wreckage and show me what I needed to learn.
Looking back, when did Big Idea get off course? Was there a turning point?
Big Idea was growing, but I didn't know how to manage it. It felt out of control. So, I turned to a popular business book, Built to Last by Jim Collins. I read through it like I had found Scripture. The book suggests a "big, hairy, audacious goal." I didn't think God had given me one, but the book said I should have one. So I made one up—one I thought God would like.
What was the BHAG?
I thought God would be pleased if Big Idea became one of the top four family media companies in the world. The goal came from my evangelical upbringing that said more impact is better. Better to impact millions at once than one at a time. Big Idea's aggressive growth, which came from the big, hairy, audacious goal, was ultimately its undoing.
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