Walt Disney was a showman. According to Time, he “received received more Academy Awards and nominations than any other person in history.” The Disneyland theme parks are truly magical kingdoms, for adults, as well as for children.
Here are some Walt Disney lessons in making your dreams come true, courtesy of the master of imagination, dreaming, and achievement himself.
1. Dream Big.
“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
– Walt Disney
What if money, time, looks, and gender were no object? What would your biggest dream be? Often we short-change ourselves. We listen to others’ put-downs, and internalize them. It’s hard to remember our dreams. Harder still, to imagine that we could achieve a dream. Take Walt Disney’s words to heart. Start dreaming. Then believe that you can achieve your dream.
2. Be Courageous.
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
– Walt Disney
It takes courage to step outside your comfort zone. However, achieving your dreams always means that you’re doing things you’ve never done before. Practice being courageous. Today, do something you haven’t done before. Propose a new project to your boss. Send your crush some flowers. Being courageous doesn’t mean that you’re unafraid. It means acting in spite of your fear.
3. Be Yourself.
“The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.”
– Walt Disney
We all wear masks. We try to be what we think people want us to be. We try to emulate role models. What if you were just yourself? Discovering who you are underneath all the masks is challenging. It’s hard to be authentic if you’re not sure who you are. Just for today, do what pleases you. Say what you mean, rather than saying what you think someone wants to hear. However, be appropriate—being “like yourself” isn’t a license to be outrageous, or to say hurtful things.
4. Stop Talking. Start Doing.
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
– Walt Disney
You’re dreaming big. You’re inspired. You tell everyone about your dream. Stop! Keep it to yourself. Work quietly towards your dream. You don’t need validation from anyone, nor do you need permission. Be authentic, and do something today, which will help you to achieve your dream.
5. Embrace Competition.
“I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.”
– Walt Disney
Competition is essential to help you to achieve your dreams. If there were no competition, you’d have nothing against which to measure yourself. Competition makes you better and stronger than you might otherwise be. In business, competition fosters innovation. If you’re uncomfortable with competition, or envious of competitors, ask yourself why. Then do the best you can.
6. Go and Get What You Want. Don’t Wait.
“Cinderella believed in dreams, all right, but she also believed in doing something about them. When Prince Charming didn’t come along, she went over to the palace and got him.”
– Walt Disney
Forget wishing. No one is handed his dreams for free. You have to fight to achieve a dream. Expect to struggle. Ask yourself what price you’re will to pay—dreams always have a price. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Setting goals, making plans, and working toward your dream is wonderful. Enjoy the journey. When you’ve achieved a long-held dream, you find that while you appreciate the achievement, the memories of the journey are what make you smile.
7. Do Your Best Work. Don’t Worry About Money.
“Do a good job. You don’t have to worry about the money; it will take care of itself. Just do your best work—then try to trump it.”
– Walt Disney
You’re poor. You can’t afford to take time off to get another degree so you can get a better job. The answer is to do the best you can, right where you are, and cling onto your dream. Life will give you what you want, when you least expect it: do your best work, every day. Then better your best. As Walt Disney says, “you don’t have to worry about the money.” Results will come.
8. Don’t Quit.
“The difference in winning and losing is most often… not quitting.”
– Walt Disney
You can’t succeed at anything without failing, and failing a lot. Failure is the way we learn. Here’s what Thomas Edison said: “The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.” Everyone fails his way to success. Look on your failures as speed bumps in your success journey, and keep going. Don’t quit.
9. Be Grateful.
“The more you are in a state of gratitude, the more you will attract things to be grateful for.”
– Walt Disney
What are you grateful for? We all have endless reasons to be grateful. What do you take for granted? Chances are that you’re blasé about your health, your comfortable home, your loving family, and about your job. Even if you have none of those things, you can be grateful for being alive. Studies have shown that gratitude improves your health, your relationships, and makes you happier.
10. Do Your Best.
“Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, worrying won’t make it better.”
– Walt Disney
Worry is anticipation; worry can help you to improve and do your best. However, once something is done, distract yourself from concern about the results. If you’ve gone through three interviews for a job, there’s nothing else you can do. Worrying about whether you get the job is pointless at that stage. Only worry when it serves a useful purpose.
So, there you have ten Walt Disney lessons. Apply them to your life. They’ll help you to make your dreams come true.
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