Why Walt Disney is a Leader in His Own Level

There are 7.5 billion people in the world, but only few can take the initiative to be a leader amongst many followers. One leader that I have learned quite a bit about over the last couple years is a man who has made dreams come true. Walt Disney was a one of a kind leader. He was smart with his actions, disciplinary when necessary but also enjoyed having fun and creating a world where everyone can create memories that last a lifetime.

Walt was a strong leader who led by example. He cared about and supported his employees while also pushing them to work as hard as they can so they can work to their full potential. He once said “Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, dreams are forever.” I’ve come across leaders and managers who have let the power of being a leader fill their head. They become so obsessed with being a person of power, that they forget their employees are people who have feelings and need to be supported instead of thrust down.

Walt Disney was someone who had strong ideas and pursued them to the fullest no matter what other people said. His optimism, perseverance, and risk-taking led to his ultimate success. “I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter” . While some leaders would like to take all the credit for themselves, Walt was someone who often recognized the hard work of the other people on his team. At a young age, Walt jumped from job to job. As a manager and leader of the arts and entertainment world, it’s important to have multiple jobs to find what most interests you and speaks to you. Along with his multiple job switches, he also faced many failures with his cartoon work before he finally created Mickey Mouse in the 1920’s. Walt has a quote from around 1940 about his creation of Mickey Mouse that explains how his previous struggles pushed him to finally find success: “Mickey Mouse popped out of my mind onto a drawing pad twenty years ago on a train ride from Manhattan to Hollywood at a time when business fortunes of my brother Roy and myself were at lowest ebb and disaster seemed right around the corner.”

Walt Disney was a good leader because he was someone who combined business with fun and entertainment to create a work environment that was productive but also kept the levels of stress from work to a minimum. As someone who has worked in both positive and negative environments, a leader with a positive attitude who provides an equal balance of professionalism and fun makes the best work environment for an employee. He was someone who inspired people with his imagination and optimism. He once said “All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”

Walt Disney was someone who created entertainment, fun and an overall positive environment for both employees and guests of the park. He led with a sense of confidence and became a person that all his followers came to adore, appreciate, and essentially follow. Without his leadership skills, we would have one less person to look up to as a talented and productive leader.