I have done extensive research on Walt Disney to identify some of the key traits that contributed to his success as one of the top 20 "Builders and Titans of the 20th Century" and innovator who changed the way the world works, according to Time Magazine. These traits are summarized in my article, which is a severe condensation of a longer essay "Walt Disney and His Business Philosophy in Action" available here.
Whatever the reason, Walt had an extraordinary mental capacity and collection of traits that allowed him to dream of, and create solutions that others valued. It was not uncommon for those who knew him to describe him as a visionary, a dreamer, a genius.
Taking all of that as a given, the key to his success, without which any of his achievements would have borne fruit, was his commitment to living life ethically through what he would have called a commitment to good ol' American common-sense. Having never completed high school, Walt was a curious, caring and learned man, but not a sophisticated or ostentatious man. While he is probably recognized as the world's most well-known dreamer, he was also very practical, with a deep commitment to an implicit philosophy rooted in reality and reason, and a sense of pro-life values linked to virtues that support man as a heroic being capable of achieving his proper goal: happiness. "Life should be a World's Fair of delights," Walt once said. "I know that life isn't, but I think it should be, I believe it could be, and hope it will be."
It's not surprising that he traversed a road that started with drawing illustrations and simple pencil-sketch cartoons and ended up imagining, designing, and building Disneyland and Walt Disney World. More than 40 years after his death in 1966, at age 65, these immense and complex businesses and tourist destinations are still held up as the pinnacle of service excellence and described by visitors as "the happiest place on earth."
Walt Disney built his empire on the foundation of his personal values. Those values and principles hold the secret to what is known colloquially as 'The Disney Way'. His brother and business partner, Roy Disney, summed up his and Walt's perspective on taking moral values seriously: "When your values are clear to you, making decisions become easier. It is never really easy, but I think when your values are in order, the process is easier." As the Disney Brothers demonstrated, that's a quote you can take to the bank!
Walt dedicated his life to the creation of happiness, joy, and wish-fulfillment. His legacy is a monument to his success.
I extend my sincere thanks to Didier Ghez for his enthusiasm in posting a link to Think Like An Iconoclast on his Disney History blog. Didier is the editor of the excellent and historically important Walt's People series of books. The seven volumes published so far contain hundreds of rare interviews with former Disney artists about their reflections on Walt and the pioneering work that they were involved with. It is fascinating and required reading for all Disney history buffs.
