Success Advice
How Walt Disney Can Help You Become Successful
The Secrets To Success: Bootlegging Disney
Before anyone panics, this is not an article about stealing Disney Classics, it’s about duplicating the success of one of the world’s greatest Entrepreneurs. It’s about Walt Elias Disney himself. Have you ever wondered how he managed to create such an overwhelmingly successful enterprise? Of course, we know he was tenacious and hard working but so are many others who don’t achieve the same level of success as Walt Disney. What are some of the thoughts and actions that made Walt, the man, so special and could we duplicate them in today’s business environment with the same upward mobility?
CONTINUING EDUCATION
By continuing education, I simply mean reading. Walt once said,
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.”
There’s little doubt that Walt loved books, the legacy he left behind is like his own treasure map to the things he loved. The level of success beyond college graduation is often in direct correlation to the amount of time spent reading. Read fiction, non-fiction, biographies and ‘how-to’s’ ….just never stop learning. Power comes from knowledge and knowledge comes from books. It always has and always will.
GET MOVING, KEEP TRYING, WORK HARD
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
I have no idea what the circumstances were when Walt said that but it’s a golden nugget of truth. We love to dream and talk about plans. Walt dreamed, talked and planned but he actually got up and worked too.
“Everyone falls down. Getting back up is how you learn.”
In today’s world, we’re often hampered by difficult regulations, costs, bad business partners and/or any number of negative events. Is this truly different than Walt’s day? Probably not as much as we would like to think. The rights to his first cartoon were more or less stolen from him. He didn’t pout in his easy chair for the rest of his life. He got back up and Mickey Mouse was born.
“People often ask me if I know the secret of success and if I could tell others how to make their dreams come true. My answer is, you do it by working.”
This is, or should be, common sense. After all, Walt grew up in an average working class family and saw his dad go to work daily.
- Don’t look for shortcuts.
- Be willing to invest time and effort into a job well done and success will follow.
ASK FOR HELP
“All you’ve got to do is own up to your ignorance honestly, and you’ll find people who are eager to fill your head with information.”
Plain and simple, he means ask for help. You can’t possibly know everything and should stop acting like you do. During Walt’s lifetime, America was changing constantly and becoming an industrial world leader. He lived through two world wars and saw the invention of countless gadgets and machines designed to make life easier. No one person could keep up with it all. Walt knew this and asked for help and advice from experts. I think he must also have been a good listener.
WHAT YOU KNOW
Writers are told to ‘write what you know‘ because it gives authenticity to their writing. The same is true of business. Use your own life experience and personal knowledge to your advantage.
KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES AND STOP WORRYING
All the success in the world won’t be worth anything if your priorities are backwards.
“A man should never neglect his family for business” is one of the best quotes from Walt Disney. He knew what his priorities were and so should you. What good is financial gain if you lose your family in the process?
“Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, worrying won’t make it better.”
This is excellent but difficult advice to follow. However, you’ll save yourself time, energy and possibly an anxiety attack if you do.
DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of quotes are attributed to Walt Disney but one of my favorites is:
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”
I know better than to think ‘all’ my dreams will come true. I have some fantastic dreams. But the gist of the saying is spot on. It takes courage to fail and try again until success occurs. If you have courage, or can cultivate it, you are on your way to your dreams of wealth and success coming true.
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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”
While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.
Why This Gap Exists
Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.
What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.
Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap
Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.
1. Practice Mutual Empathy
Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.
2. Maintain Professional Boundaries
Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.
3. Follow the Golden Rule
Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.
4. Avoid Micromanagement
Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.
5. Empower Employees to Grow
Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.
6. Communicate in All Directions
Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.
7. Overcome Insecurities
Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.
8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship
True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.
9. Eliminate Favoritism
Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.
10. Recognize Efforts Promptly
Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.
11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews
When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.
12. Provide Leadership Development
Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.
13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles
Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.
The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role
Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:
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Build diverse talent pipelines
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Embrace flexible work models
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Design compelling career paths
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Simplify HR processes
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Redefine the value HR brings
The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.
Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff
When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.
Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.
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