The Carousel of Procrastination: Progress Over Perfection
Jeffrey A. Barnes
?? Disney Expert | ??? Speaker & Author | ?? Empowering Leaders to Level Up with Walt Disney’s Wisdom | ?? Helping Organizations Build a Culture of Creativity & Success
Last Wednesday, January 15, wasn’t just a day for Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom to celebrate—it was a day to reflect on the power of progress. Not only did Space Mountain turn fifty, but so did the Carousel of Progress, Walt Disney’s all-time favorite attraction. Together, these milestones remind us of a lesson that’s just as relevant today as it was in Walt’s time: Progress is more important than perfection.
This week, let’s step into the Carousel’s rich history and discover how it inspires us to overcome procrastination, embrace imperfection, and keep moving forward toward our dreams.
A History of Progress
The Carousel of Progress was born out of Walt Disney’s relentless belief in optimism. When it premiered at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair as “Progressland,” it wasn’t just a showcase of General Electric’s technological innovations—it was a celebration of the spirit of invention and humanity’s ability to create a brighter future. Walt believed in this attraction so deeply that he would hum its Sherman Brothers’ theme song, “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,”to himself during work meetings.
After captivating millions at the fair, the attraction moved to Disneyland in 1967 before finding its permanent home at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in 1975. Across decades and three locations, it has stood as a living testament to the idea that progress isn’t a final destination—it’s a journey, one step and one innovation at a time.
The Courage to Begin
The story of the Carousel of Progress didn’t unfold perfectly. Its earliest iteration was envisioned as a walk-through attraction in an area called Edison Square off Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. Walt’s team even included it on maps of the park in the late 1950s. But budget constraints and technical limitations forced the idea to be shelved.
Did Walt give up? No. He returned to the concept, refining it and finding ways to make it even better. By the time “Progressland” debuted at the World’s Fair, it wasn’t flawless, but it was groundbreaking. It didn’t need to be perfect to make an impression—it just needed to exist. That lesson stayed with the attraction as it evolved, moving to Disneyland and later the Magic Kingdom, with updates that reflected new eras of technology and culture.
Perfection Is the Enemy of Progress
Walt Disney understood that perfection often paralyzes us. The fear of making mistakes or not meeting impossibly high standards keeps us stuck at the starting line. But progress—imperfect, messy, and real—is what drives innovation, creativity, and ultimately, success.
The Carousel of Progress reflects this truth. It’s not about presenting a flawless vision of the future; it’s about embracing the process of getting there. Just as the attraction has grown and changed over the years, so can we—if we have the courage to take the first step.
Beating Procrastination: Lessons from the Carousel of Progress
Procrastination is the voice in your head that says, “Not yet.” It’s the hesitation that comes from fearing imperfection. But the Carousel of Progress teaches us that getting started is what matters most. Here’s how you can channel its lessons into your own life:
A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow
The Carousel of Progress reminds us of a powerful truth: The future isn’t built in a single moment, or single season. It’s crafted over time, through incremental steps, adjustments, and a willingness to move forward despite imperfections.
As its theme song soars, “There’s a great, big, beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day.” That beautiful tomorrow isn’t waiting for perfection. It’s waiting for you to take that first step.
If you’ve been putting off your goals, waiting for the “perfect” time to start, take inspiration from the Carousel of Progress. Start now. Move forward. Build momentum. And trust that you can refine and improve as you go. After all, “Now is the time. Now is the best time!”
Need help getting started, or getting over your “lumbago”? I’d love to support you on your journey. Whether you need encouragement, guidance, or just a nudge, let’s work together to create your own Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.
Travel Agent at InteleTravel.com
1 个月My favorite ride at Magic Kingdom
| Procrastination Coach | Empowering You to Build Momentum and Achieve Progress | Author | Motivational Speaker | Thinker |
1 个月Jeffrey A. Barnes - Thank you for putting this out there! As a procrastination coach, I obviously feel like this doesn't get as much attention as it should. However, you only covered the "Perfectionist" station - we need to hold space for the other stations of procrastination - there's the worrier - dreamer - crisis maker and defier to take into consideration. It's not always about perfectionism or fear of judgement, fear of not "being good enough", that covers the perfectionist and worrier - sometimes it's about being uninterested in the steps to create your vision (part of the dreamer) - sometimes it's not urgent until it's due RIGHT NOW (part of the crisis maker) - sometimes it's just.. We don't like being told what to do (part of the defier) - Once we know which station we are in and the WHY behind it, we can take those brilliant steps and really kick procrastination to the curb!
Innovation Catalyst | Idea Session Facilitator | Workshop Leader | Disney Keynote Speaker | 32-Year Disney Veteran | Magical Dude
1 个月Great article, as usual, Jeff, and great message. So many of us wait until everything is perfect before "going live" when we should have just launched at 60-80% perfect! ;-) PS when I babysat my infant grandson, I would always rock him to sleep singing a mashup version of both Carousel songs (Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow and Now is the Time) and every now and then add "Make Way For Tomorrow Today" from Iron Man 2! ??
VFX Producer
1 个月I modeled for the little girl
Director of Sales, LLC | RCFE Administrator
1 个月Jeff, great reminder. Perfectionism creates paralysis from moving forward. As you said, movement, no matter how incremental or how many times you feel that you have failed, is growth!