Walt Disney Leadership Lessons

The most decorated dreamer in modern history, found that his greatest ideas were birthed out of his greatest struggles. He once hailed, “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

Walt drove the company by embracing risk and his brother, Roy, lost his hair by trying to balance Walt’s enthusiasm. It seemed to everyone, including Roy, that just when things were going smoothly, Walt would find a way to court disaster yet again. Adversity became a way of life for Disney Studios. If he wasn’t struggling, Walt wasn’t happy.

In 1937, following the huge success of Snow White, overwhelming employee expectations were created that left Walt feeling powerless to fulfill. In 1941 Disney Studio animators went on strike. Walt was shattered. He would never again feel the same passion for cartoons and movies. Thus began his wilderness period, which lasted a decade. Out of that period came Walt’s inspiration for Disneyland, and he threw himself relentlessly into the theme park idea.

For Walt, his greatest ADVERSITY always brought about his greatest IDEAS. Opposition for him always pushed him to greater levels of imagination and resolve. Perhaps that’s why he was able to say with such grace, “I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.”

What opposition or adversity are you facing today; perhaps your greatest idea and greatest inspiration will come out of this chapter in your life.

Let your imagination run wild! Dreams are the language of the Holy Spirit.