I think many people know a lot less about Disney than they think they do. Many only have a vague image of Walt in their minds, and it's understandable since he passed away over five decades ago, in 1966. Walt was an innovator and constantly pushed the boundaries when it came to developing new concepts and business ventures. He's also widely regarded as a creative genius.
There are many lessons that can be learned from his life by any entrepreneur no matter where in the world he or she might be!
1. Don't Stop or give up
Not many people know the story of how Walt Disney didn’t make a profit with his first few companies. He started up a commercial art studio, and that company went bankrupt. He tried to create advertisements for other companies, and they also failed, mainly due to a lack of revenue.
Instead of giving in or giving up, Walt just took this as an opportunity to try something new: animation.
2. The ultimate problem solver
Walt Disney was absolutely obsessed with solving problems - he was very fixated on novelty and wanted to make things as easy as they could possibly be.
For example, he once took his daughter to an amusement park, only to find that the park itself was very dirty and unsafe.
This is inspired Walt's next venture -- Disneyland! He wanted a place where people could go feel safe, have lots of fun, and be graciously treated by staff members who would act in the kind manner one might expect at a five-star hotel.
3. The Unexpected Benefits of Curiosity
Disney was always curious about the world around him. As a child, he loved to draw and create new things. This curiosity led him to become an animator and then a movie producer. He was constantly exploring new ways to entertain people, and his movies continue to be popular decades after they were first released.
Curiosity is what drives us to learn and grow. It's what makes us ask questions and seek out new information. For Walt Disney, it was the driving force behind his success.
One of the famous lines Walt once said:
“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
4. Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
In the 1920s, Walt Disney was an animator working for a small animation studio. He was smart enough to realize that he could build a successful animation studio, so he did. But he didn't stop there.
After his studio became successful, he got into live-action movies, documentaries, and television. And then he started building amusement parks. Today, Walt Disney is known as one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time because he was able to diversify his business and make it thrive in multiple industries.
5. Are you surrounded by enough talent?
When most people think of Walt Disney, they think of the man who created Mickey Mouse. What many people don't know is that Walt didn't actually animate Mickey in the early years. That job went to Ub Iwerks, who was an incredible animator in his own right. But the vision and idea were provided by Walt Disney.
Walt Disney did admit his side was not good at drawing or animation. When he said, "I had a series of crude puppets in 1920," he was referring to his animated cartoons. Disney said his ability to hire the greatest artists in a redaction led to the quality of his creations.
6. Don't Be Afraid to Redefine Yourself
In 1927, Walt Disney created a cartoon character named Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. He was the star of Disney's first major cartoon series. However, in 1928, the contractor who distributed Disney's cartoons fired Walt Disney and took Oswald away from him.
This was a major setback for Walt Disney, but he refused to give up. He reinvented himself and created Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse became one of the most famous cartoon characters in history.
These are all lessons that can be applied to any business, regardless of size or industry. So what lesson did you find the interesting comment below!!!