Image By Jedi94 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Walt Disney was a visionary entrepreneur before such a term had entered our collective consciousness. On a recent trip to Walt Disney World, I was overcome with awe at how this entire 27,000 acre complex was essentially the result of one man’s passion. My interest in Disney as a person drove me to read his biography by Neal Gabler. Many of the stories about his success seem applicable to entrepreneurs.
Focus on the Details
Walt was as concerned with the small details as he was with the large ones. This focused everything he did, from the Disney movies to the miniature train he built in his backyard. Walt was so concerned with details that he would catch minor differences in the animation from one frame to the next. Even though no one else would ever notice, he would still have the animators redraw the scene. As an entrepreneur it can be difficult to stay focused. There are so many distractions and decisions pulling you in different directions that it’s easy to rush decisions that may seem unimportant. Yet, we must remember that even the details most people won’t notice are still important. It’s that commitment to provide the best quality and service that will set you apart from the rest.
It’s All About the Customer
When you travel to Disney World, it’s easy to see the focus on the customer experience. Once you are on property, every step of your experience has been mapped out. Want to travel from your hotel to the park? No need to rent a car or call an Uber, Disney has an extensive bus system to get you anywhere you need to go. Hungry? There are plenty of restaurants, from quick service to upscale dining, to suit your needs. Want some adventure? You could learn to surf at Typhoon Lagoon or go scuba diving at Epcot.
Having so many options and services allows Disney to control the customer experience from the time you land to the time you leave. In order for this process to work as well as it does, Disney had to get in the mind of a customer and view an entire trip from their perspective. When was the last time you thought about your customers? I mean really thought about them? So much time is spent acquiring customers that we often lose track of the customer experience. Try walking through your sales funnel from a customer’s point of view. What are the pain points? Where did you feel the messaging was too confusing? This is where you need to focus your attention.
Follow Your (Big) Dream
Walt Disney was a visionary. He helped invent a lot of new animation and sound techniques with his films. He also was told his ideas weren’t possible time and time again. When he first came up with the idea for Disneyland, many people in his own company thought it was a bad idea. A massive park that was heavily themed around Disney could not be viable, but Walt persisted. He never let anyone stop him from following his dreams.
It can be easy to succumb to both self doubt and doubt from external sources. Anytime we try something new, it’s easy to second guess ourselves or give up when we hit an unexpected roadblock. But if Walt’s life taught me anything, it’s to never give up. Follow your dreams, no matter how big or unrealistic they may seem. If you keep pushing forward, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as an entrepreneur? Let me know in the comments below.
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