Lessons on Enjoying Life from

12Walt Disney

Walt Disney is one of the greatest people of the 20th Century. He was an ordinary man with an extraordinary dream. His influence on entertainment endures to this day.Why have the values of Walt Disney endured for so long, when so many others simply fade away?It comes down to Walt’s view on life and how he chose to live it.Here are 12 lessons on enjoying life by Walt Disney.

When times get hard, or you suffer a major setback, it is tempting to retreat into a corner. DON’T! Get back up and do something, don’t just think about it for weeks on end, GET UP AND DO IT!

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

Lesson #1: Stop thinking and just do something

Just because you suffer a setback doesn’t mean that is the end. Setbacks are merely a time to rethink and refocus on your business and values. Find what matters and continue to push forward.

“Mickey Mouse popped out of my mind onto a drawing pad 20 years ago on a train ride from Manhattan to Hollywood at a time when business fortunes of my brother Roy and myself were

at lowest ebb and disaster seemed right around the corner.”Learn more about this incredible event at The worst trip of Walt’s Life.

Lesson #2: Never give up!

Just because you suffer a setback doesn’t mean that is the end. Setbacks are merely a time to rethink and refocus on your business and values. Find what matters and continue to push forward.

“You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

Lesson #3: Setbacks can be good!

Work can be extremely rewarding and it is easy to give it top priority. Don’t! Family must always come first. It’s possible to have a healthy balance of both, but you have to choose it. In fact, staying in close contact with your family members is a great way to put into practice the action of caring for others and those who need you. These values will also show up in your business activities and customers will notice.

“A man should never neglect his family for business.”

Lesson #4: Stay Balanced!

Optimism is a must to enjoy life. However, it must always be tempered with a constant assessment of reality. Accept your situation or the facts for what they are, and assess how they affect your current scenario. Then use that information to create a future that matches your dreams and vision.

“I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.”

See Disneyland Opening Day Disaster

Lesson #5: Be realistic!

Competition is a fact of life in business. Competition forces you to step up your game, but it can do even more. Proper assessment of the competition can expose a niche for you and your business to grow within.

“I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn't know how to get along without it.”

Lesson #6: Embrace Competition!

When times get tough, it is easy for worry to occupy your mind. Once this happens, anxiety will set in and it can suck the joy out of life. Don’t let it! Find comfort in knowing that if you have done the best you can, you have done enough. Focus on how you can make today a better day for yourself an those around you.

“Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, worrying won’t make it any better.”

Lesson #7: Putting worry in its place!

Walt Disney began by creating a fun, lovable character called Mickey Mouse. In the following years, Walt then created several cartoons around Mickey Mouse and his adventures. From there, Walt decided to create a full-length feature film called Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Then Walt made Pinocchio, Dumbo and Bambi. Next, Walt built Disneyland. After Disneyland, Walt worked on plans for Disneyworld and EPCOT. Not bad for a guy who had trouble pronouncing the word aluminum. From the idea of one mouse, came an amazing following of innovations that have no equal in the entertainment world. Where can your idea lead?

“I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse.”

Lesson #8: Passion can lead to amazing things.

Find what you enjoy and then go for it. Believe in it 100%! If you build a business strictly with the goal of making money, your outcome will be average. If, however, you build a business around your passion, you will be rewarded many times over and the money will start to come in. It will take longer to get going, but the end result will be vastly superior.

“Disneyland is a work of love. We didn’t go into Disneyland with the idea of

making money.”

Lesson #9: Follow your passion!

For goodness sake, have some fun and don’t take everything so seriously. Rejection is hard, but you need to take a few personal risks and put yourself out there and have fun with others. But I have all these things to do? Yes, we all have a task list a mile long. But let me ask you this. After you graduated high school or college, did you ever wish you had studied harder for a certain test? Absolutely not! Now let me ask, at the end of your life, do you think you will regret not putting in bigger work days? I highly doubt it. Take some time off and enjoy life!!

“I know more adults who have the children’s approach to life… They are not afraid to be delighted with simple pleasure, and they have a degree of contentment with what life has

brought .”

Lesson #10: Have Fun

Even though you may have achieved some level of success, competition is not far away. They are ready to storm your castle. Keep working on making your business, or yourself, better. Never stop improving. Analyze every aspect of your business to see how you can provide more value for your customers.

“Whenever I go on a ride (at Disneyland), I’m always thinking of what’s wrong with the thing and how it can be improved. That is how I generate some of my

best ideas.”

Lesson #11: Keep Improving

A giving heart receives more in the end. Once you create things for the pure joy of making them for others, people notice and ironically potentially pay you a premium for your creations. Sounds crazy, but it works. The key is to develop a giving heart when you are young so you can maintain that giving heart later in life and really make a difference.

“You reach a point where you don’t work for money.”

Lesson #12: Give to Others

I hope you enjoyed the Slide Show

Scott Postma

scott@mamenga.com

www.mamenga.com

SEO and Encouragement for Small Businesses

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