Mickey Mouse Leadership

Everyone knows I’m a huge believer the in Disney Managment Style and recognize that they are the benchmank for quality service. Think about this…

What are the keys of Mickey Mouse Leadership?

Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse in 1928 in the animated short, Steamboat Willie. Walt sketched out what he wanted in the character, and then Ub Iwerks reworked the sketches. But Walt gave Mickey his voice and character — as a Disney employee said, “Ub designed Mickey’s physical appearance, but Walt gave him his soul.” That soul, that spirit would take Walt & Mickey on a journey that would include more Academy Awards than anyone else has ever received, major innovations in film, television, and amusement parks.

What were his key’s to success?

Chase your dream: Or, as Walt Disney might have put it, “wish upon a star.” Walt wanted to entertain whole families. And he did just that better than anyone else has ever done for more than 30 years.

Believe in yourself: Every time Walt succeeded, he used that success as the building block for the next big risk, the next big idea. The fact that no one else had done it was never an obstacle to Walt.

Go Big or Go Home: In Walt’s case, to paraphrase an old Disney ad campaign — Walt went big and then went to Walt Disney World. His wife and brother tried to persuade him to stop Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. He kept going. People thought he was crazy to buy thousands of acres of swamp near Orlando. Most people had never heard of Orlando. They’ve heard of it now.

Don’t lose sight of what you are: Walt Disney said, “I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing — that it was all started by a mouse.”