The man who added a new milestone to the entertainment world, Walt Disney, needs no introduction.
Walt Disney, a true pioneer of the modern-day animation industry and one of the greatest movie producers in Hollywood, was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, Illinois. His record of winning the most Academy Awards as an individual speaks volumes about his talent and influence in the entertainment world.
His honours also included being presented with two Golden Globe Special Achievement Awards and an Emmy Award. His Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio are among the all-time greats in animation movies.
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Attention to Detail
Disney’s meticulous attention to detail, a hallmark of great leaders, was not just a personal trait but a practical strategy. His focus on detail in the animations of his films and set design was a key factor in his success. In today’s competitive corporate world, this is a strategy that can significantly enhance one’s chances of succeeding.
Consumer Focused
One of Walt Disney’s profound quotes, “You don’t build it for yourself. You know what the people want, and you build it for them,” encapsulates the essence of consumer understanding. This principle is relevant not only to the entertainment business but also to a wide range of industries. Understanding one’s target consumers’ preferences and tailoring products accordingly is a crucial attribute of successful entrepreneurs. This insight can enlighten potential entrepreneurs, guiding them towards a consumer-centric approach.
Disney also believed in direct interaction with consumers to learn their likes and dislikes, and this is also a great lesson for our entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs to learn to know the pulse of their consumers and potential consumers.
Faith in Yourself and Team
Another of Disney’s great leadership traits was his unwavering faith in his cinema and people. He recognised his team members’ strengths and allowed them to do their assigned jobs. He did not give up on his ideas, even if they seemed unconventional.
Similarly, entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow can facilitate their success by giving freedom to their team and having confidence in their ideas and vision. If team members are given freedom, they feel valued and motivated, and they are more likely to go the extra mile.
Overcoming Setbacks
From Walt Disney, entrepreneurs can get inspired to not get bogged down by setbacks and failures but to bounce back with more force. From a blog in www.disneyinstitute.com we can come to know that despite facing many challenges and great adversity throughout his career, Walt couldn’t be swayed from his ideas. He was a pioneer who moved forward, constantly disproving the doubters and critics.
For example, Disney’s bankruptcy of his Laugh-O-Gram studio in 1923 didn’t deter him from venturing into Hollywood and establishing a new history in motion pictures.
Not only in the entertainment business but but in other businesses too, failures and setbacks are common, but that shouldn’t disappoint entrepreneurs from striving towards the fruition of their vision. One of his famous quotes reads, “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realise it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” These words can motivate numerous current and aspiring entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and move ahead.
Spirit of Innovation
One of Walt Disney’s important leadership lessons that entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs should imbibe continually is the spirit of innovation. Walt Disney’s innovative streak is manifested not only in Mickey Mouse, probably the most popular cartoon character in the world, which he co-created in 1928 with Ub-Iwerks, but also in many of his landmark films.
For example, his Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which many in Hollywood wrongly predicted would bankrupt his company, is the first full-length animated feature film. At the time of its making, few believed in his idea of a full-length animated feature film, but Disney innovated and was super successful. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs not only went on to change the face of animation filmmaking but also contributed to the world of cinema. Similarly, few believed in his idea of an amusement park, but the rest they say is history, which is amply reflected through the crowds in Disneyland for ages.
Innovating or thinking out of the box can make a player in the corporate world reach miles ahead or stay miles ahead of her/his competitors.
Teamwork is the Key
Another reason for Disney’s success as a leader in the entertainment business most probably lay in his emphasis on teamwork and his exceptional people management skills.
His emphasis on team work can be reflected in this quote of his, “The whole thing here is the organisation. Whatever we accomplish belongs to our entire group, a tribute to our combined effort.”
A leader who believes in teamwork and believes success is the result of combined effort of the team, has a greater chance of succeeding in today’s corporate world.
