What every business can learn from Disney

Yes we did Disney World!?

During the summer holiday’s my family and I did the Disney thing.?? Macie and Hudson are age 11 and 10 respectively and it seemed the perfect time to have our dream ‘holiday of a lifetime experience’ whilst they’re of an age that they still like us, and they haven’t entered that grumpy teenager phase ??.? God I’m dreading that!?

I last went to Disney World 32 years back when I was age 12.? I must confess, I’m now of an age where my favourite holidays are trekking mountains, experiencing different cultures and tasting different cuisines, so whilst we were hugely excited to be going to Disney for the kids, a part of me was a little apprehensive as to whether I’d have grown out of the whole thing. - I’m relieved to say, this couldn’t have been further from the truth.? Disney was (when I was 12) and still remains The Happiest Place on Earth. ??

So after taking a couple of months away from LinkedIn, why the posting on a business platform about our amazing experience?? “Are you just here just to gloat or show off” I hear you say!

Thankfully it’s neither.? You see, being The Happiest Place on Earth does not happen by accident.? It takes a lot of dedication and hard work, and 华特迪士尼公司 provided me with a number of lessons which i believe EVERY business should aspire to.? Here they are:

1.? It’s how they make you feel

On a personal note, I’m all about added value. Businesses should aim to add value, add value, add value.? However,? going to Disney made me realise adding value isn’t enough.? It needs to go deeper than that.? As an adult, I was worried going back to Disney would be an anticlimax but I couldn’t have been more wrong.? The second your feet pass through the turnstiles of The Magic Kingdom into Main Street, you’re transported into a world of fantasy and happiness.? Immediately, your adult self is left behind and you’re absorbed into a world through a child’s eyes.? The smiles, the sounds the colours are a firework to the senses and you cannot help but feel happy. This is what Disney does.? It understands that your enjoyment of their experience is wholly reliant on making your feel happy.? I’ve learnt, (whilst a virtuous objective) adding value isn’t enough.? The value you’re adding has to create an emotion where people will want to come back again and again.??

2. Use your fears to drive you forward, not hold you back??

If Disney had stood still over the years, they would not have had the impact to the world that Walt Disney dreamed of.? When Walt Disney was once asked what he worried about in his life, his answer was “money”… “These theme parks cost a lot of money.”?? The interesting thing about Walt Disney is he felt acute fears about the cost of his ideas.? It caused regular friction between Walt and his brother, who was in charge of the company finances.? However, he never let his fears hold him back from pushing forward with his dreams.?

Businesses go through cycles and naturally over the years Disney has also had its ups and downs. One thing is true, as learnt from watching the Walt Disney Imagineering documentary ‘The Imagineers’ when Disney has worried about their finances and not ‘how they make people feel’ this is when the corporation has stood still or gone backwards.??

3.? Become an imagineer

“I like the impossible because there’s less competition.” - Walt Disney

So many businesses follow the status quo.? I’m guilty of it also.? This point is clearly linked to my second lesson of not letting your fears hold you back.? One thing Disney has been head and shoulders above almost every other business over the years is using their imagination to create something special.? They have a whole department dedicated to imagining the impossible… and making it happen. Imagination is endless yet many people believe they are not creative and not capable of this super power - this is rubbish. We’re all capable of using our imagination to create a better world.? People limitations come from their lack of dedication and practice in this area.? As a side note, an amazing book on the art of creativity is #ThecreativeAct by Rick Rubin.? It’ll show you all the ways you can tap into your creativity and become an imagineer for your business!

4. Never grow old?

“I’m too old for Disney.? It’s mainly for the kids.“ Oh my god I was so wrong I’m almost embarrassed to have thought this.? Going back to Disney reminded me of how amazing it is to live life through a child’s eyes.? Why the hell do we all grow old and set all these rules and limitations for ourselves?? Yes of course as we get older, naturally we have more responsibilities. But committing yourself to remaining young at heart will lengthen your life, make your longer life happier and more enjoyable, make those around you smile, and create lasting bonds with those close to you.?

For all your grumps out there, don’t take yourself so seriously!? Get a bit of Disney in your heart!