All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. -Walt Disney
Walt Disney was a brilliant business man.
Beginning as a simple artist, he created a legacy that lives on in film, television, theme-parks, business and memories. He was a man who always had a dream waiting to be brought to reality – and was always willing to what was needed in order to make it happen.
We can learn from him.
If Walt Disney had a blog…
- It would rock.
- I would read it everyday like a crazed fan-addict.
- Technorati would rank it #1.
- It would be the business model and training for every Fortune 500 company.
- He would be real and genuine.
- Mickey would be in the header logo.
- It would make you laugh, smile and enjoy life.
- His goals would be perfectly outlined.
- He would use WordPress.
I feel, simply, that if Walt Disney had a blog it would be very successful. Here’s why.
The Value of Creating Memories Together
Walt Disney understood a simple principle.
Memories are stronger when created with others.
Let me explain just a bit further. First of all – I’d like for you to sit back and think of a few memories. Many things might come to mind. Thanksgiving? A recent birthday? Success in the workplace? Go over in your mind who was there. Anyone? Close friends? Family?
Humans are net-workers by nature. We spend time building communities and building homes that are almost touching. Just look at place like Wyoming. Endless plains for miles, yet I’ve witnessed homes that are nearly sitting one on top of the other.
We’ve found value in doing things together. That’s why we live together. That’s why we play together. That’s why we blog together.
Walt Disney knew that if he could develop a theme park or brand where the family (social units) was together – he would find greater success. When a memory is created alongside another, then the memory is compounded, remembered and deeper ingrained in the annuls of our minds.
Those whom we’ve created the memory with will also remind us of the memory – which ties us down emotionally to that memory in even deeper ways.
How Do We Blog Like Walt Disney?
A man should never neglect his family for business. -Walt Disney
Now, the question begs to be answered: How are we to blog like Walt Disney?
I feel it comes down to a few simple things. Some of which I’ll expound upon. I’d like for you to give me your own gut impressions as well; and how we can better blog like Walt Disney.
- Treat Every Person Life Family – In March my family and I took a trip down to Disneyland. It was a family reunion. On the last day of the trip a few of us were riding the train that circles the park. The park was closed and we were headed towards Main Street. At one of the stops a corporate worker (a woman dressed in a business suit), hopped off the train. She headed over to a little call box, placed her call, spoke for a few minutes, and hung up. Meanwhile, we on the train were taking pictures of one another. She noticed. Within moments she asked if she could take a photo of all of us together. We let her do so, and a memory was created. She knew (I’m sure from Disney training) that families are center to Disneyland, and do everything in your power as an associate to help create them.
- Have A Goal – Disneyland always has a goal and dream. When Walt Disney set out to produce Disneyland he knew in his mind what he wanted to accomplish. That same principle lives on in the Disney mantra, business principles and design.
- Do Everything With Perfection – One time at Disneyland, while waiting for Fantasmic to start, I spoke with one of the attendants. He mentioned how Disneyland knows the exact placement of every trash receptacle, and how many times that number must be multiplied based on the current capacity of the park. How’s that for perfection? When developing your blog, do so with perfection in mind. Buy a domain name. Build a list. Generate good content. Every effort and energy you put into the blog will be rewarded.
- Use Your Creativity & Imagination – Mickey Mouse has always been the iconic character of imagination. His imagination has the power to defeat all and creative beautiful landscapes of happiness. What I love most about the principle is that we ALL have imagination and creativity within. Each, a little different. You have something unique and genuine to share with the world, so get out there and do it.
Although I haven’t dived deep into every way to blog like Walt Disney – I’ve covered a few. Just now I’ve picked up Walt Disney’s biography, The Triumph of the American Imagination, and excited for what more I’ll learn.
Now it’s your turn.
What place does imagination have in blogging? How do you tap into creativity? Would you visit Walt’s blog?
Walt Disney photo by the Orange County Archives
Tweet
Loading ...
"You’re such a smart boy!" were his first accolades heard. So, it’s no wonder that this phrase became the title of his business, Smart Boy Designs.
Read more about Christian 
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: dino_dogan
April 28, 2011 at 1:29 pm
If Walter had a blog it would be a ripp off of old European fairytales and he would pay no attribution because no one owned those stories. Later, he would take to court those who ripped off his ripp offs.
Can we say clusterfudge lol
Twitter: smartboydesigns
April 28, 2011 at 2:57 pm
This made me laugh out loud Dino! I guess it’s the perfect recipe for success – and shrewd business style.
Lol, you do have a point there Dino!!!
However, marketingwise Disney is one of those companies to learn alot from, and Christian really wrote a great article about that!
Haha brilliant!
So I will be ripping off European blogs. I will translate them to English and market the hell out of them.
Move over Walt!
Twitter: smartboydesigns
April 29, 2011 at 10:27 am
You are, Eugene, simply brilliant. What are you going to call it?
Oh, SNAP!!!
Damn right, Dino!
But the guy made something out of nothing coz he saw an opportunity. He branded those European fairytales.
Hey Smart Boy Christian!
This is one of the best that I’ve read this week man. Great job on it!
I love the concept and I too think that Walt’s ways, if incorporated into anything, would be successful. His name still generates millions daily, and he’s been gone for years. And what he set forth, was done so with the best intentions.
He would be THE A-List blogger – everyone else would fall to B and below.
Pure and simple Christian, this was awesome.
PS – headed out to Orlando, FL in a few weeks to take the kids to Disney World…should be fun!
Twitter: smartboydesigns
April 28, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Glad you feel that way too Jk. Walt certainly brought to the table many ideals, strategies and business developments that I feel will forever live on. I’m getting more excited about his biography – just talking about it!
Enjoy your trip to Disney World. I’ve never been there. Only Disneyland. Will you be posting some photos for all of us to see?!
Just got back from my trip last night. Just wanted to say that Walt Disney was a brilliant man. What he created is absolutely amazing. I had this very post on my mind everyday I was out there (8 days).
Jk Allen recently posted..These are the Tales- When the Smoke Clears
Twitter: smartboydesigns
June 1, 2011 at 9:23 pm
Well I’m honored that the post was on your mind!
That’d why Disney World is the happiest place on earth! I believe Disney does corporate training. That would be amazing for companies that hire them.
Walt’s blog would be doing things no one has done yet!!
Twitter: smartboydesigns
April 29, 2011 at 10:28 am
Now we’ve just got to figure out what those “things” are he would be doing with his blog – and do them ourselves.
I’ve heard of their corporate training, and hear it’s wonderful. I’d be interested in looking into that.
Twitter: lance02
April 29, 2011 at 7:56 am
Christian,
Having been to both Disneyworld and Disneyland – I completely agree! Walt Disney created a masterpiece by caring about the human connection and instilling that in everyone who is a part of the Disney team.
And I love this – and how it’s making me think about my own site and how I create in that space!
Twitter: smartboydesigns
April 29, 2011 at 10:30 am
Thanks for stopping by Lance. Great to have you here. I’ve yet been to Disneyworld, but I can imagine how magnificent of an experience it might be.
I too, have been thinking a lot about the DIsneyland experience – and how they use marketing to create “emotional” connections and ties with their visitors. We too, as bloggers, have visitors – and we have to find a way to get people to keep coming back.
Christian,
That’s how it is suppose to be done. This is good stuff man. Walt Disney was a genius and the way he lived his life and conducted his business is exemplary. He had an imagination that was limitless and he had the guts to create a dream world in real life. There is no one like Disney in the world today so if you could imitate his style you would have no choice but to be succesful.
To blog like Disney you would have to have the heart of a child and the imagination of the same. This was a great read. I agree with Jk. This is one of the best posts I read this week.
Twitter: smartboydesigns
April 29, 2011 at 10:32 am
“To blog like Disney you would have to have the heart of a child and the imagination of the same.”
Those are some beautiful words Frank. It’s so true. Children have a perfect imagination, are creative, funny, talented – and their minds are their only limitation. As bloggers, we have to seek to be more like a child. I think that’s where the true power lies. You’re on to something brilliant here.
Thank you for stopping by, and for the great compliment. Glad you enjoyed the post.
If Walt Disney had a blog Christain it would be colurful, fun, a whole different world, happy, inspiring, and one big cartoon world. He wouldn’t take life seriously or ever lose touch with the child inside who sees life as an adventure and one big playground meaning smiles, laughter, and a whole lotta love would be everywhere. Hey, forget a blog, what if Walt Disney was President of the USA what world would he have created? A much brighter caring one says I. And maybe that’s the ethos and message his life delivered that we need to learn and embrace. He certainly wasn’t goofy!
Twitter: smartboydesigns
April 29, 2011 at 12:05 pm
He was centered, I feel. He wasn’t goofy, yet he knew how to have a good time – and create it for others. He knew that the childlike things in life are what bring the greatest happiness.
Really, really appreciate your comments here John. You seem to wrap up and identify exactly what Walt Disney accomplished with his life and works.
I know one thing is for sure: If he were President – we wouldn’t be losing art programs!
Hey Christian,
What I take from Walt isn’t the success. It’s what most don’t see with success.
He came from a dysfunctional family.
At age 22, Walt experienced bankruptcy after the failure of a cartoon series in Kansas City. He then headed to Los Angeles with $40 in cash, and some drawing materials. Feeling that others did animation better, his goal was to be an actor out in Hollywood. It never occurred.
There is much more to his story. This is but a glimpse.
What most don’t see when laughing at a Donald Duck clip, is the resilience of one Walter Elias Disney getting up again and again.
Christian, we must have similar fluffy thoughts because I wrote a piece a while back titled, What I Learned From The Seven Dwarfs.
Live it LOUD!
Twitter: smartboydesigns
April 30, 2011 at 6:50 am
It’s good to see those stresses and difficulties he ran into too. It shows how “real” of a person he was, and what he worked to improve upon throughout his life.
My hat goes off to ALL those who choose to get back up, again and again; all throughout the world.
Twitter: Faryna
April 30, 2011 at 1:28 am
I’m hearing, “It’s a small world after all…” You? [grin]
Stan
My “Mad Max goes to Bollywood novel” starts here: http://wp.me/pbg0R-aP
Twitter: smartboydesigns
April 30, 2011 at 6:45 am
I hear it. It courses through my blood and veins like a crazed disease. And I like it!
Not only would I want to visit it, I’d probably want to replicate parts of it as well!
I’m certain it would be clean, slick, and creative… but it would also appeal to the young and old.
Good stuff, Christian!
dustin recently posted..7 Lies and 3 Truths
Twitter: smartboydesigns
May 2, 2011 at 2:59 pm
That’s a good point. Appealing to a young and old audience is a difficult thing to achieve. Each has their own desires, needs and place in life; and the spectrum to attract is often so diverse. I guess that’s why Disney produces movies in every genre, style and form of art.
I wonder how we’d do this as bloggers…
Hi Christian,
This is indeed is a brilliant post, well crafted and presented in a professional style.
About imagination/creativity in blogging, I think this is one of the ways of making your blog stand out. What many of us today call branding is nothing but using your creativity and imagination to create something outstanding. Apart from that, creativity will also help you re-arrange or present the same info that is available in other blogs in such a way that your readers will be glad to read it.
And about a Walt’s blog? I will definitely visit at least to gain some lessons in entrepreneurship!
Chadrack recently posted..Why Is Everyone NOT Cut Out To Be An Entrepreneur
Twitter: smartboydesigns
May 4, 2011 at 10:24 am
Thank you for visiting Chadrack, and happy you enjoyed the post. Creativity and imagination are so important, and I really enjoyed your thoughts to go along with that. Re”branding” information is an important aspect of any marketing campaign.
Great blogging tips from Walt Disney’s high qualities. I agree that if we are thinking similar to Walt Disney, our blog will be rock.
Dana recently posted..Google Nexus S Receives Update of Android 234 with Video Chat Feature
Awesome article Christian. I love Disneyland and can totally relate to this. Everything Disney does is planned and executed to perfection. All of us can learn a lot from them.
Barry recently posted..Tools to Maximize Your Twitter Experience
Twitter: smartboydesigns
May 16, 2011 at 12:30 pm
We sure can. Everything from trash cans to workers are perfectly identified for a great experience for all. I always love the attention to music also. The music in the park is magical.
I know. I love the music too. I’m hoping I can get to Disneyland either later this year or spring of next year. It’s my favorite place to visit.
Barry recently posted..Tools to Maximize Your Twitter Experience
I went to Disneyland last year and the one thing that stood out for me was the Disneyland Parade. It was amazing, with every character, music, dance and plenty of mischief. It was very well organised and ran on time. Definately on the must-see list!
Hi,
I m new here but am a great Disney fan. That was what drew me here in the first place.
I feel that family and creativity are key above the others for our blogs. We have to treat all those in our blogosphere as family and not potential buyers. If we seek first to give before expecting to receive. Then, I think each of us can contribute uniquely in whatever blogging niche you are in. We just need to bring out that aspects of your strength to the niche. Everyone have something to give.
BTW, here is a request to hop over to my post on Hopes and Dreams Fulfilled to spread dome inspiration onwards. Hope you can participate and spread the message to your readers too.
Cheers
Jimmy/Life Architects recently posted..Hope and Dreams Fulfilled – Two Inspiring Stories that Will Make You Cry
Twitter: smartboydesigns
September 17, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Jimmy. And yes, I’ll surely go check out that post and share.
It’s the whole Disney principle, right? It’s the family that matters. Treat everyone like family, and the rest will fall into place. We should all be living our lives like that!