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[(How to be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life)] [by: Pat Williams]
An inspiring biography of one of the most influential and beloved figures of the 21st century, based on more than a thousand interviews. "I've read every book that has ever been written about Walt Disney, going back to some that were published in the 1930s. [How to Be Like Walt] is by far the most enjoyable to read of them all!"Tim O'Day, Disney Scholar "How to Be Like Walt is a fitting tribute to Walt's memory and an important contribution to the Disney legacy . . . Now more than ever, we need people with the qualities Walt optimism, imagination, creativity, leadership, integrity, courage, boldness, perseverance, commitment to excellence, reverence for the past, hope for tomorrow, and faith in God." Art Linkletter How to Be Like is a "character biography" biographies that also draw out important lessons from the life of their subjects. In this new book-by far the most exhaustive in the series-Pat Williams tackles one of the most influential people in recent history.While many recent biographies of Walt Disney have reveled in the negative, this book takes an honest but positive look at the man behind the myth. For the first time, the book pulls together all the various strands of Disney's life into one straightforward, easy-to-read tale of imagination, perseverance, and optimism. Far from a preachy or oppressive tome, this book scrapes away the minutiae to capture the true magic of a brilliant maverick.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
161 people are currently reading
2220 people want to read
About the author
Pat Williams
198 books48 followersPatrick Livingston Murphy Williams was an American sports executive, who served as senior vice president of the Orlando Magic. Williams began his career as a minor league baseball player, and later joined the front office of his team. In the late 1960s he moved into basketball, with his biggest achievements being the 1983 title of the Philadelphia 76'ers and being a partner in the creation of the Orlando Magic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
January 8, 2015
Ugh! I was so close to loving this book. It's really a great, detailed biography of Walt Disney - which is why I still gave it 4 stars. But at every opportunity, the author would start talking about how faith in God and Christian values were important.
I'm not Christian. I'm agnostic, leaning heavily towards atheism. So to have a book repeatedly tell me that you must be faithful to be a good person REALLY got on my nerves.
I learned a lot about Walt and the book was engaging to read, but now I'm just irritated.
I'm not Christian. I'm agnostic, leaning heavily towards atheism. So to have a book repeatedly tell me that you must be faithful to be a good person REALLY got on my nerves.
I learned a lot about Walt and the book was engaging to read, but now I'm just irritated.
October 16, 2014
An inspiring biography of one of the most influential and beloved figures of the 21st century, based on more than a thousand interviews.
I am a HUGE Disney fan and lover. I am the biggest kid you will ever meet... which is why for my big 30 I am going to Disney World again.
Say what you want about Walt Disney but this man is inspiring. No matter how many times he got kicked down he got back up and tried harder.
This book was given to me by my former boss who gave this book to everyone, telling us to read it and soak it up. I did. And, because of this book I have learned not to give up, failures aren't failures but learning experiences, and all you need is pixie dust and faith ;)
This book will make you feel lazy and make you go for your dreams. Read it now. And, go after your dreams.
I am a HUGE Disney fan and lover. I am the biggest kid you will ever meet... which is why for my big 30 I am going to Disney World again.
Say what you want about Walt Disney but this man is inspiring. No matter how many times he got kicked down he got back up and tried harder.
This book was given to me by my former boss who gave this book to everyone, telling us to read it and soak it up. I did. And, because of this book I have learned not to give up, failures aren't failures but learning experiences, and all you need is pixie dust and faith ;)
This book will make you feel lazy and make you go for your dreams. Read it now. And, go after your dreams.
November 25, 2016
This is an excellent book. I recommend it to everyone. after you read the quotes below just remember that the book is 400 pages, so there is so much more! Enjoy and be inspired:
“We are all born to be who we are. What was the genetically unique individual who was going to be himself. His job, and ours as well, is to finish the job on earth that we were created for.” ~Ray Bradbury writer
Now more than ever, we need people with the qualities Walt had: optimism, imagination, creativity, leadership, integrity, courage, boldness, perseverance, commitment to excellence, reverence for the past, hope for tomorrow and faith in God.
But that’s just the point of this book. Walt was unique – – and so are you! The attitudes and traits we learn from Walt’s life teach us how to be more uniquely who we are and who we were meant to be. If each of us would dream big dreams, approach life with hope and confidence, and persevere until our dreams come true, then we would not only be more like Walt, but we would become the people God created us to be.
“They called Walt a genius, and he was. But in a real sense, while Walt was just an average man who could relate to other average people. So what is a genius, really? If we could learn the lessons of Walt’s life, maybe we could all be geniuses.” ~John Kimball, son of animator Ward Kimball
When Walt Disney was just a boy, his father put him to work in the harsh conditions of a Kansas City blizzard – – and kept the money Walt earned. Even so, Walt embraced the nostalgia for his early years while dreaming big dreams of the future.
Walt once said, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.” In reality, it all started with a boy. Here is that boy’s story.
Walt chose to emulate his father’s best traits: faith in God, faith and his fellow man, a strong work ethic, honesty and integrity, perseverance, a tolerance for risk, compassion for people, love of music, and love for family.
“His parents were plain people who moved from one section of the country to another in fertile search of the American dream. Young Walt showed no brilliance as a student; he daydreamed through his classes. Cartooning proved his major interest, but his drawings were uninspired; as soon as he could hire better cartoonists, he gave up drawing entirely. It seems incredible that the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City… could have produced works of unmatched imagination. ~Bob Thomas, Disney Biographer
A fourth-grade teacher once scolded Walt for exercising his Disneyesque imagination on a class assignment. The students were shown a bowl of flowers to sketch. Walt drew the flowers with faces – – a foretaste of the humanize flowers in the Silly Symphonies and Alice in Wonderland. “Flowers,” the teacher sternly admonished, “do not have faces!”
The two twenty year-olds, Walt and Ub were the “old men” at Laugh-O- Gram. The other employees were still in their teens. (Two of them, Hugh Harmon and Rudolf Ising, would later create the Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies series for Warner Brothers.)
“Walt was not afraid to surround himself with the best artist he could hire. He was not threatened by having better people around him. Eventually all his old Laugh-O- Gram animators from Kansas City came out to California to work for him.” ~Brian Burnes, co-author, Walt Disney’s Missouri
“Walt’s older brother Roy devoted his life to helping Walt finance his dreams. Outside of Watt’s on personal drive and creativity, Roy O. Disney was the single most important factor in Walt’s ultimate success.” ~Ken Annakin, Disney Movie Director
“Walt was the best salesman in the world because he felt he wasn't selling." Wolfgang Reitherman, Disney Animator
Build these qualities into your life and you can sell like Walt. Those five qualities are honesty, enthusiasm, confidence, courage and persistence. Let's take a closer look:
1. Honesty. The best salesmen are people of integrity. A great salesman lives on repeat business. The key to repeat business is trust, and the key to trust is integrity.
Always tell the truth about your product. Never promised more than you can deliver. It's better to under-promise and over-deliver than the other way around.
2. Enthusiasm. All great salesmen are fired up about their product. Enthusiasm is contagious; it affects everyone around you.
3. Confidence. Great salesmen always brim with confidence, even in tough times.
Selling is all about attitude. You must believe you can sell your product even in a down economy, even in an off-season, even if you've been in a slump. Confidence is not a feeling; it's an attitude choice. Even if you don't feel confident, you can still adopt an attitude of confidence.
You may not be comfortable selling yourself or your product, but so what? Nobody is comfortable selling. Nobody ever became successful by staying within their comfort zone. If you want to succeed, you have to do what Walt did: take a big, confident step outside your comfort zone, and start selling your dreams.
4. Courage. The biggest obstacle every salesman faces the fear of rejection. Psychological studies show that high-achieving, successful people are not overly concerned about what others think.
5. Persistence. The most important part of selling his persistence. Nothing that is worthwhile comes easy.
“Walt Disney worked hard and sold his ideas from the earliest days of his career. He had no MBA, not even a college degree. But Walt had the right idea and the right spirit, and he was willing to go out and sell his ideas. He was a world-class salesman." ~Peter Clark, Retired Disney Executive
“Actually, it’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” ~Walt Disney
“Walt was in the business of believing the impossible,” Lynn told me. “To him, the impossible was always possible. Now, of course, we are getting into the realm of God and faith, because God is in the business of making the impossible possible in our lives. As Jesus once said, ‘All things are possible to him who believes.’
Wendell Warner told me, “I heard Walt say, many times, ‘I’m not interested in what man can’t do. I want to know what he can do.’
"Today, you hear people talk about ‘thinking outside the box.’ But Walt would say, ‘No! Don't think outside the box!’ Once you say that, you've established that there is a box. Walt would refuse to accept the existence of the box.”
Walt chose to respond creatively. He responded with imagination instead of retaliation. He said, in effect, "I'll solve this problem by creating something new, something the world has never seen before." So Walt created Mickey Mouse.
“Mickey was the first cartoon character to stress personality. I thought of him from the first as a distinct individual, not just a cartoon type or symbol going through a comedy routine.” ~Walt Disney.
Creativity is the ability to unleash the imagination so that we can envision what has never existed before.
Some people believe that creativity is a talent that you are either born with or not. I'm convinced that creativity is a skill that can be learned and nurtured. All people are essentially creative because we are all made in the image of a creative God.
Here are some creative insights drawn from Walt’s life:
1. Draw on all of your life experiences. Everything that has ever happened to you is grist for the mill of your imagination. Don’t waste your experiences. Remember them, reflect on them, and let them inspire you.
“Ideas percolated in Walt’s memory for years, from his childhood to the trips he made to South America and Europe. On one European vacation, he bought an arm load of mechanical toys – – birds, poodles, and so forth– – and these toys inspired him to build a system of robotics called Audio-Animatronics. That invention changed entertainment history.” ~Stacia Martin, Disney Artist and Historian
2. Remove the limits from your imagination. Most of our limitations are actually self-imposed. We limit ourselves by worrying about the “right” or “proper” way to do things. The moment we place limits on imagination, creativity shuts down.
Sometimes creative thinking demands that we set aside the rules of logic and make an intuitive leap to a completely new range of ideas.
3. Consider all possible solutions to every problem. Creative people look at the problems and challenges from every angle. They don’t want one solution they want hundreds.
4. Silence your inner critic. We all have that little voice inside us that criticizes our ideas and inhibits our inner creativity. Our inner critic nags at us and warns us not to take chances or color outside the lines. Creative people learn to shut off that critical voice so they can explore the outer limits of their imagination.
5. To be creative, be courageous. “People called Walt a dreamer, and he was,” said Bob Thomas. “But he was so much more, because he dared to risk everything to make his dreams come true.”
6. Work hard. Authentic creativity doesn't just dream; it builds. It turns fairytale dreams into castles. "If you can dream it," Walt said, "you can do it."
7. Ask yourself, “What if –?” Creative people don’t say, “I always do it this way.” They question assumptions. They ask, “what if we could find a better way?”
“There was a moral foundation to Walt’s movies that people tapped into—a basic moral foundation. In Disney films, you see strong values and role models. You see the importance of being kind to others, of serving others, of finding joy even in adversity. All of this reflects the Judeo-Christian worldview that Walt was raised in.” ~Les Perkins, Video Producer and Disney Historian
In the author’s book, “The Paradox of Power,” he distilled the art of leadership down to seven essential components. Walt Disney perfectly exemplifies every one of them: Vision, Communication Skills, People Skills, Good Character, Competence, Boldness, and a Servant’s Heart. Let’s take a closer look at each one:
1. Vision
Great leaders are people of vision. Your vision is your definition of success. Not all visionaries our leaders, but all leaders are visionaries. You can't lead people without a vision of where you are taking them.
“Think beyond your lifetime, if you want to do something truly great. Make a fifty-year master plan. A fifty-year master plan will change how you look at the opportunities in the present.” ~Walt Disney
2. Communication Skills
A great leader is also a great communicator.
What made Walt such an inspiring communicator? He understood that communication is more than words – – we communicate with their eyes, are smile, our hands, our posture and our bearing.
“I was stumped one day when a little boy asked, ‘Do you draw Mickey Mouse?’ And I had to admit I do not draw anymore. ‘Then you think of all the jokes and ideas?’ ‘No,’ I said, ‘I don’t do that.’ Finally he looked up at me and said, ‘Mr. Disney, just what do you do?’ ‘Well’ I said, ‘sometimes I think of myself as a little bee. I go from one area of the studio to another, and I gather pollen. I sort of stimulate everybody. I guess that’s the job I do.’” ~Walt Disney
Walt was a great communicator in part because he listened so well.
3. People Skills
Walt once said, “You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make that dream a reality.” Everything Walt achieved, he achieved through people. Not one of Walt’s accomplishments was a solo effort. To be a leader, you must have people skills: the ability to delegate; the ability to manage the results; the ability to inspire loyalty; the ability to create an atmosphere of creative freedom and informality; the ability to turn a collection of talented individuals into a team; and the ability to create an atmosphere of teamwork.
"Walt wanted to manage the creative process without intruding on it. So, after work, he would go study the artists’ desk, bulletin boards, and even the wastebaskets. Janitors would say he'd sit there and study at his artists’ work for hours." ~Harriet Burns Disney Imagineer
4. Good Character
A leader must have good character in order to inspire other people with his vision for the future. As leadership guru John Maxwell observed, "people buy into the leader before they buy into the leader’s vision."
“He created Mickey Mouse and produced the first full length animated movie. He invented the theme park and originated the modern multi media corporation. … But the most significant thing Walt Disney made was a good name for himself.” ~Richard Schickel, Film Critic, TIME MAGAZINE
5. Competence
The word competence means “the state or quality of being well-qualified, skilled, knowledgeable, and able to perform a given roll.” Noticed that the first seven letters of the word “confidence” C-O-M-P-E-T-E. Your people need to know that you are a competent and competitive leader. If they know you will fight hard to win, they will follow you anywhere.
6. Boldness
Boldness is courage, confidence, and adventurous spirit, and a willingness to take risks. Bold leaders master their fears, act decisively, and except the consequences of their decisions.
7. A Servants Heart
I believe the ultimate test of leadership is this: Does this person have the heart of a servant? If you don’t have a servants heart, you are not a leader just a boss.
In 1936, Disney’s distribution agreement with United Artist came up for renewal. This time around, the UA attorneys inserted the strange clause in the contract, asking Walt to sign over all rights to exhibit his film on experimental new technology called “television.” Walt refused to sign. “I don’t even know what television is,” he said, “so I’m not going to sign away my rights to something I know nothing about.” After negotiations with UA broke down, Walt cut a deal with RKO Radio Pictures, giving Disney seventy percent of the gross while permitting Disney to retain all television rights. Though no one could have imagined the future importance of television, Walt’s decision to retain TV rights for his films would prove to be a stroke of brilliance.
After three years of work and $2.6 million, Pinocchio premiered in New York City on February 7, 1940. Artistically, it is regarded as one of Disney’s finest productions. Commercially, however, Pinocchio was a flop. The person responsible for undermining Pinocchio’s success was an Australian-born dictator by the name of Adolf Hitler.
Disney’s film budgets were partly based on earnings from European distribution. On September 1, 1939 – – five months before Pinocchio opened – – Hitler sent his Nazi storm troopers into Poland, igniting World War II. The outbreak of war closed the lucrative European markets to Disney’s films and Pinocchio failed to earn back its production cost in its initial release.
“People mistakenly think of Walt as a creator of children’s entertainment. When Walt was at the top of his artistic form, he made movies for everyone, not just children. Snow White and Pinocchio were suitable for children but tremendously sophisticated. It was filmmaking at its best. ~J.B. Kaufman, FILM HISTORIAN, COAUTHOR OF WALT IN WONDERLAND
“My dad would quote Walt Disney: ‘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.’” ~Don Iwerks, Son of UBS Iwerks, Longtime Disney Employee and Founder of Iwerks entertainment
Walt Disney, Leopold Stokowski, and the Disney engineers broke new ground with Fantasia’s revolutionary Fantasound multi-track sound system. It was not only the first film with stereophonic sound; it was the film that invented stereophonic sound. Though The Sorcerers Apprentice was recorded in California, the rest of the music was recorded by Stokowski's Philadelphia Orchestra in the historic Philadelphia Academy of Music.
Walt Disney teaches us to do what you love. Fall in love and stay in love with and what you’re doing. With Walt, cartoons started it. They said Snow White wouldn’t work, but Walt did it because he loved it. The same with Fantasia—a commercial failure at the time, but what a magnificent failure! Fantasia set the standard. Walt lived his loves. His life shouts to us, ‘Don’t try to please others! Be yourself!’” ~Ray Bradbury, Writer
Walt committed his studio to producing films for the government at cost – – Disney’s contribution to the war effort.
“Walt had a burning desire for excellence in everything he did. He was always thinking, ‘we can do it better’. That’s a common trait of all successful people.” ~Royal “Mickey” Clark, Former Treasurer of WED Enterprises
"Walt Disney was adamant about quality. He always found new ways to ‘plus the experience.’ He wanted to give people more than they anticipated. ~Dan Viets, Disney Historian and Co-author, WALT DISNEY’S MISSOURI
“If Walt made one million from one picture, he didn’t retire to Miami. He’d take that million, borrow another million and make another picture.” ~Charles Shows, Disney Writer-Director
“Walt Disney taught me to always go for the highest quality and never settle for less. Nothing but the best quality products ever left a studio, no matter what it cost.” ~Bob Brunner, Disney Composer
“We make movies that children are not embarrassed to take their parents to.” ~Walt Disney
“Fantasy, if it’s really convincing can’t become dated, for the simple reason that it represents a flight into a dimension that lies beyond the reach of the time.” ~Walt Disney
“Our goal at Disneyland is to always give the people more than they expect. As long as we keep surprising them, they’ll keep coming back. But if they ever stop coming, it’ll cost us ten times that much to get them to come back.”
No matter what business you’re in, your success depends on your commitment to excellence and attention to detail. If you deliver more than people expect, you will turn clients into fans. If you go out of your way to make people feel special, they will go out of their way to buy your product.
“Lillian used to say, ‘But why do you want to build an amusement park? They’re so dirty.’ I told her that was just the point – – mine wouldn’t be.’” ~Walt Disney
“Walt loved the story of Davy Crockett, and he lived by Davey’s motto: ‘Be sure you are right, then go ahead,’ That’s why Walt put Davy Crockett on TV. He made the kind of entertainment he liked to watch.” Stacia Martin, Disney Artist and Historian
The Disneyland opening ceremonies were scheduled for live coverage on the ABC television network. Walt chose his friend, Art Linkletter, to host the show.[It was determined they needed two co-hosts]
Linkletter didn’t hesitate. “I know two fellas who would be the perfect for the job: Bob Cummings and Ronnie Reagan.” So Walt had his broadcast team – – genial TV host Art Linkletter, popular actor Robert Cummings, and future President Ronald Reagan.
Walt’s nephew, Roy E. Disney told me, “If Walt had one great gift, it was that he kept his head down and kept trying.
“When things are going good, I’m afraid something’s going to crack under me any minute. A kick in the pants can be the best thing in the world for you.” ~Walt Disney
To see the rest of the quotes please see my blog!
“We are all born to be who we are. What was the genetically unique individual who was going to be himself. His job, and ours as well, is to finish the job on earth that we were created for.” ~Ray Bradbury writer
Now more than ever, we need people with the qualities Walt had: optimism, imagination, creativity, leadership, integrity, courage, boldness, perseverance, commitment to excellence, reverence for the past, hope for tomorrow and faith in God.
But that’s just the point of this book. Walt was unique – – and so are you! The attitudes and traits we learn from Walt’s life teach us how to be more uniquely who we are and who we were meant to be. If each of us would dream big dreams, approach life with hope and confidence, and persevere until our dreams come true, then we would not only be more like Walt, but we would become the people God created us to be.
“They called Walt a genius, and he was. But in a real sense, while Walt was just an average man who could relate to other average people. So what is a genius, really? If we could learn the lessons of Walt’s life, maybe we could all be geniuses.” ~John Kimball, son of animator Ward Kimball
When Walt Disney was just a boy, his father put him to work in the harsh conditions of a Kansas City blizzard – – and kept the money Walt earned. Even so, Walt embraced the nostalgia for his early years while dreaming big dreams of the future.
Walt once said, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.” In reality, it all started with a boy. Here is that boy’s story.
Walt chose to emulate his father’s best traits: faith in God, faith and his fellow man, a strong work ethic, honesty and integrity, perseverance, a tolerance for risk, compassion for people, love of music, and love for family.
“His parents were plain people who moved from one section of the country to another in fertile search of the American dream. Young Walt showed no brilliance as a student; he daydreamed through his classes. Cartooning proved his major interest, but his drawings were uninspired; as soon as he could hire better cartoonists, he gave up drawing entirely. It seems incredible that the unschooled cartoonist from Kansas City… could have produced works of unmatched imagination. ~Bob Thomas, Disney Biographer
A fourth-grade teacher once scolded Walt for exercising his Disneyesque imagination on a class assignment. The students were shown a bowl of flowers to sketch. Walt drew the flowers with faces – – a foretaste of the humanize flowers in the Silly Symphonies and Alice in Wonderland. “Flowers,” the teacher sternly admonished, “do not have faces!”
The two twenty year-olds, Walt and Ub were the “old men” at Laugh-O- Gram. The other employees were still in their teens. (Two of them, Hugh Harmon and Rudolf Ising, would later create the Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies series for Warner Brothers.)
“Walt was not afraid to surround himself with the best artist he could hire. He was not threatened by having better people around him. Eventually all his old Laugh-O- Gram animators from Kansas City came out to California to work for him.” ~Brian Burnes, co-author, Walt Disney’s Missouri
“Walt’s older brother Roy devoted his life to helping Walt finance his dreams. Outside of Watt’s on personal drive and creativity, Roy O. Disney was the single most important factor in Walt’s ultimate success.” ~Ken Annakin, Disney Movie Director
“Walt was the best salesman in the world because he felt he wasn't selling." Wolfgang Reitherman, Disney Animator
Build these qualities into your life and you can sell like Walt. Those five qualities are honesty, enthusiasm, confidence, courage and persistence. Let's take a closer look:
1. Honesty. The best salesmen are people of integrity. A great salesman lives on repeat business. The key to repeat business is trust, and the key to trust is integrity.
Always tell the truth about your product. Never promised more than you can deliver. It's better to under-promise and over-deliver than the other way around.
2. Enthusiasm. All great salesmen are fired up about their product. Enthusiasm is contagious; it affects everyone around you.
3. Confidence. Great salesmen always brim with confidence, even in tough times.
Selling is all about attitude. You must believe you can sell your product even in a down economy, even in an off-season, even if you've been in a slump. Confidence is not a feeling; it's an attitude choice. Even if you don't feel confident, you can still adopt an attitude of confidence.
You may not be comfortable selling yourself or your product, but so what? Nobody is comfortable selling. Nobody ever became successful by staying within their comfort zone. If you want to succeed, you have to do what Walt did: take a big, confident step outside your comfort zone, and start selling your dreams.
4. Courage. The biggest obstacle every salesman faces the fear of rejection. Psychological studies show that high-achieving, successful people are not overly concerned about what others think.
5. Persistence. The most important part of selling his persistence. Nothing that is worthwhile comes easy.
“Walt Disney worked hard and sold his ideas from the earliest days of his career. He had no MBA, not even a college degree. But Walt had the right idea and the right spirit, and he was willing to go out and sell his ideas. He was a world-class salesman." ~Peter Clark, Retired Disney Executive
“Actually, it’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” ~Walt Disney
“Walt was in the business of believing the impossible,” Lynn told me. “To him, the impossible was always possible. Now, of course, we are getting into the realm of God and faith, because God is in the business of making the impossible possible in our lives. As Jesus once said, ‘All things are possible to him who believes.’
Wendell Warner told me, “I heard Walt say, many times, ‘I’m not interested in what man can’t do. I want to know what he can do.’
"Today, you hear people talk about ‘thinking outside the box.’ But Walt would say, ‘No! Don't think outside the box!’ Once you say that, you've established that there is a box. Walt would refuse to accept the existence of the box.”
Walt chose to respond creatively. He responded with imagination instead of retaliation. He said, in effect, "I'll solve this problem by creating something new, something the world has never seen before." So Walt created Mickey Mouse.
“Mickey was the first cartoon character to stress personality. I thought of him from the first as a distinct individual, not just a cartoon type or symbol going through a comedy routine.” ~Walt Disney.
Creativity is the ability to unleash the imagination so that we can envision what has never existed before.
Some people believe that creativity is a talent that you are either born with or not. I'm convinced that creativity is a skill that can be learned and nurtured. All people are essentially creative because we are all made in the image of a creative God.
Here are some creative insights drawn from Walt’s life:
1. Draw on all of your life experiences. Everything that has ever happened to you is grist for the mill of your imagination. Don’t waste your experiences. Remember them, reflect on them, and let them inspire you.
“Ideas percolated in Walt’s memory for years, from his childhood to the trips he made to South America and Europe. On one European vacation, he bought an arm load of mechanical toys – – birds, poodles, and so forth– – and these toys inspired him to build a system of robotics called Audio-Animatronics. That invention changed entertainment history.” ~Stacia Martin, Disney Artist and Historian
2. Remove the limits from your imagination. Most of our limitations are actually self-imposed. We limit ourselves by worrying about the “right” or “proper” way to do things. The moment we place limits on imagination, creativity shuts down.
Sometimes creative thinking demands that we set aside the rules of logic and make an intuitive leap to a completely new range of ideas.
3. Consider all possible solutions to every problem. Creative people look at the problems and challenges from every angle. They don’t want one solution they want hundreds.
4. Silence your inner critic. We all have that little voice inside us that criticizes our ideas and inhibits our inner creativity. Our inner critic nags at us and warns us not to take chances or color outside the lines. Creative people learn to shut off that critical voice so they can explore the outer limits of their imagination.
5. To be creative, be courageous. “People called Walt a dreamer, and he was,” said Bob Thomas. “But he was so much more, because he dared to risk everything to make his dreams come true.”
6. Work hard. Authentic creativity doesn't just dream; it builds. It turns fairytale dreams into castles. "If you can dream it," Walt said, "you can do it."
7. Ask yourself, “What if –?” Creative people don’t say, “I always do it this way.” They question assumptions. They ask, “what if we could find a better way?”
“There was a moral foundation to Walt’s movies that people tapped into—a basic moral foundation. In Disney films, you see strong values and role models. You see the importance of being kind to others, of serving others, of finding joy even in adversity. All of this reflects the Judeo-Christian worldview that Walt was raised in.” ~Les Perkins, Video Producer and Disney Historian
In the author’s book, “The Paradox of Power,” he distilled the art of leadership down to seven essential components. Walt Disney perfectly exemplifies every one of them: Vision, Communication Skills, People Skills, Good Character, Competence, Boldness, and a Servant’s Heart. Let’s take a closer look at each one:
1. Vision
Great leaders are people of vision. Your vision is your definition of success. Not all visionaries our leaders, but all leaders are visionaries. You can't lead people without a vision of where you are taking them.
“Think beyond your lifetime, if you want to do something truly great. Make a fifty-year master plan. A fifty-year master plan will change how you look at the opportunities in the present.” ~Walt Disney
2. Communication Skills
A great leader is also a great communicator.
What made Walt such an inspiring communicator? He understood that communication is more than words – – we communicate with their eyes, are smile, our hands, our posture and our bearing.
“I was stumped one day when a little boy asked, ‘Do you draw Mickey Mouse?’ And I had to admit I do not draw anymore. ‘Then you think of all the jokes and ideas?’ ‘No,’ I said, ‘I don’t do that.’ Finally he looked up at me and said, ‘Mr. Disney, just what do you do?’ ‘Well’ I said, ‘sometimes I think of myself as a little bee. I go from one area of the studio to another, and I gather pollen. I sort of stimulate everybody. I guess that’s the job I do.’” ~Walt Disney
Walt was a great communicator in part because he listened so well.
3. People Skills
Walt once said, “You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make that dream a reality.” Everything Walt achieved, he achieved through people. Not one of Walt’s accomplishments was a solo effort. To be a leader, you must have people skills: the ability to delegate; the ability to manage the results; the ability to inspire loyalty; the ability to create an atmosphere of creative freedom and informality; the ability to turn a collection of talented individuals into a team; and the ability to create an atmosphere of teamwork.
"Walt wanted to manage the creative process without intruding on it. So, after work, he would go study the artists’ desk, bulletin boards, and even the wastebaskets. Janitors would say he'd sit there and study at his artists’ work for hours." ~Harriet Burns Disney Imagineer
4. Good Character
A leader must have good character in order to inspire other people with his vision for the future. As leadership guru John Maxwell observed, "people buy into the leader before they buy into the leader’s vision."
“He created Mickey Mouse and produced the first full length animated movie. He invented the theme park and originated the modern multi media corporation. … But the most significant thing Walt Disney made was a good name for himself.” ~Richard Schickel, Film Critic, TIME MAGAZINE
5. Competence
The word competence means “the state or quality of being well-qualified, skilled, knowledgeable, and able to perform a given roll.” Noticed that the first seven letters of the word “confidence” C-O-M-P-E-T-E. Your people need to know that you are a competent and competitive leader. If they know you will fight hard to win, they will follow you anywhere.
6. Boldness
Boldness is courage, confidence, and adventurous spirit, and a willingness to take risks. Bold leaders master their fears, act decisively, and except the consequences of their decisions.
7. A Servants Heart
I believe the ultimate test of leadership is this: Does this person have the heart of a servant? If you don’t have a servants heart, you are not a leader just a boss.
In 1936, Disney’s distribution agreement with United Artist came up for renewal. This time around, the UA attorneys inserted the strange clause in the contract, asking Walt to sign over all rights to exhibit his film on experimental new technology called “television.” Walt refused to sign. “I don’t even know what television is,” he said, “so I’m not going to sign away my rights to something I know nothing about.” After negotiations with UA broke down, Walt cut a deal with RKO Radio Pictures, giving Disney seventy percent of the gross while permitting Disney to retain all television rights. Though no one could have imagined the future importance of television, Walt’s decision to retain TV rights for his films would prove to be a stroke of brilliance.
After three years of work and $2.6 million, Pinocchio premiered in New York City on February 7, 1940. Artistically, it is regarded as one of Disney’s finest productions. Commercially, however, Pinocchio was a flop. The person responsible for undermining Pinocchio’s success was an Australian-born dictator by the name of Adolf Hitler.
Disney’s film budgets were partly based on earnings from European distribution. On September 1, 1939 – – five months before Pinocchio opened – – Hitler sent his Nazi storm troopers into Poland, igniting World War II. The outbreak of war closed the lucrative European markets to Disney’s films and Pinocchio failed to earn back its production cost in its initial release.
“People mistakenly think of Walt as a creator of children’s entertainment. When Walt was at the top of his artistic form, he made movies for everyone, not just children. Snow White and Pinocchio were suitable for children but tremendously sophisticated. It was filmmaking at its best. ~J.B. Kaufman, FILM HISTORIAN, COAUTHOR OF WALT IN WONDERLAND
“My dad would quote Walt Disney: ‘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.’” ~Don Iwerks, Son of UBS Iwerks, Longtime Disney Employee and Founder of Iwerks entertainment
Walt Disney, Leopold Stokowski, and the Disney engineers broke new ground with Fantasia’s revolutionary Fantasound multi-track sound system. It was not only the first film with stereophonic sound; it was the film that invented stereophonic sound. Though The Sorcerers Apprentice was recorded in California, the rest of the music was recorded by Stokowski's Philadelphia Orchestra in the historic Philadelphia Academy of Music.
Walt Disney teaches us to do what you love. Fall in love and stay in love with and what you’re doing. With Walt, cartoons started it. They said Snow White wouldn’t work, but Walt did it because he loved it. The same with Fantasia—a commercial failure at the time, but what a magnificent failure! Fantasia set the standard. Walt lived his loves. His life shouts to us, ‘Don’t try to please others! Be yourself!’” ~Ray Bradbury, Writer
Walt committed his studio to producing films for the government at cost – – Disney’s contribution to the war effort.
“Walt had a burning desire for excellence in everything he did. He was always thinking, ‘we can do it better’. That’s a common trait of all successful people.” ~Royal “Mickey” Clark, Former Treasurer of WED Enterprises
"Walt Disney was adamant about quality. He always found new ways to ‘plus the experience.’ He wanted to give people more than they anticipated. ~Dan Viets, Disney Historian and Co-author, WALT DISNEY’S MISSOURI
“If Walt made one million from one picture, he didn’t retire to Miami. He’d take that million, borrow another million and make another picture.” ~Charles Shows, Disney Writer-Director
“Walt Disney taught me to always go for the highest quality and never settle for less. Nothing but the best quality products ever left a studio, no matter what it cost.” ~Bob Brunner, Disney Composer
“We make movies that children are not embarrassed to take their parents to.” ~Walt Disney
“Fantasy, if it’s really convincing can’t become dated, for the simple reason that it represents a flight into a dimension that lies beyond the reach of the time.” ~Walt Disney
“Our goal at Disneyland is to always give the people more than they expect. As long as we keep surprising them, they’ll keep coming back. But if they ever stop coming, it’ll cost us ten times that much to get them to come back.”
No matter what business you’re in, your success depends on your commitment to excellence and attention to detail. If you deliver more than people expect, you will turn clients into fans. If you go out of your way to make people feel special, they will go out of their way to buy your product.
“Lillian used to say, ‘But why do you want to build an amusement park? They’re so dirty.’ I told her that was just the point – – mine wouldn’t be.’” ~Walt Disney
“Walt loved the story of Davy Crockett, and he lived by Davey’s motto: ‘Be sure you are right, then go ahead,’ That’s why Walt put Davy Crockett on TV. He made the kind of entertainment he liked to watch.” Stacia Martin, Disney Artist and Historian
The Disneyland opening ceremonies were scheduled for live coverage on the ABC television network. Walt chose his friend, Art Linkletter, to host the show.[It was determined they needed two co-hosts]
Linkletter didn’t hesitate. “I know two fellas who would be the perfect for the job: Bob Cummings and Ronnie Reagan.” So Walt had his broadcast team – – genial TV host Art Linkletter, popular actor Robert Cummings, and future President Ronald Reagan.
Walt’s nephew, Roy E. Disney told me, “If Walt had one great gift, it was that he kept his head down and kept trying.
“When things are going good, I’m afraid something’s going to crack under me any minute. A kick in the pants can be the best thing in the world for you.” ~Walt Disney
To see the rest of the quotes please see my blog!
July 22, 2016
A poorly written book about a very creative, forward-thinking man. Whatever your feelings about Disney as a business, the man was a visionary and had a fascinating life. I read this book just before trips to both Disney World and Disneyland. I saw the parks in a new light after reading about Walt Disney's vision for each place.
September 22, 2013
Not bad at all. I never realized how interesting this guy's life was, or how much of a character he was.
Particularly cool: the structure of the book was just plain neat. It was chronological, but not.
Slightly annoying: Pat Williams sometimes comes off a little too fanboy-ish, and the tone of the book can occasionally get preachy.
Particularly cool: the structure of the book was just plain neat. It was chronological, but not.
Slightly annoying: Pat Williams sometimes comes off a little too fanboy-ish, and the tone of the book can occasionally get preachy.
January 23, 2020
3 main elements to this book: The history, how to be like Walt and the authors continual links to faith and religion. While I can leave the last element the first two were really interesting. I love exploring the history of TWDC and Walt and this was a thorough walkthrough of the companies early days and Walt’s early life.
May 9, 2010
I share Walt Disney's birthday and have been fascinated with Walt and Disneyland since my daughter wrote a report on Walt Disney and Disneyland as a California treasure for her 4th grade social studies class.
This book is part biography, part management skills, and part self-improvement book. It is wholly enjoyable. I learned a great deal about Walt as a person, an artist and entrepreneur. I learned about the art and science of animation, film production and creativity.
The inspiring part of the book is the list of life-lessons that the reader can apply to their own life to become like Walt. How to apply characteristics like optimism, wonder, risk-taking, perseverance and ingenuity to your own life.
I have to admit that I am a sucker for a good character biography, but often find many in this genre cloying. Admittedly this book had its cotton-candy sweet moments, but hey that is fine. Sweetness is part of the Disney Magic.
This book is part biography, part management skills, and part self-improvement book. It is wholly enjoyable. I learned a great deal about Walt as a person, an artist and entrepreneur. I learned about the art and science of animation, film production and creativity.
The inspiring part of the book is the list of life-lessons that the reader can apply to their own life to become like Walt. How to apply characteristics like optimism, wonder, risk-taking, perseverance and ingenuity to your own life.
I have to admit that I am a sucker for a good character biography, but often find many in this genre cloying. Admittedly this book had its cotton-candy sweet moments, but hey that is fine. Sweetness is part of the Disney Magic.
September 5, 2020
Преди две години и половина имах удоволствието да представя на „Книжни Криле” родното издание на книгата на Брайън Джей Джоунс, посветена на живота и творчеството на Джордж Лукас. А ето, че сега мога да направя същото и за друга чудесна биографична книга, посветена на още един от моите големи идоли - гениалният Уолт Дисни. Дисни е много повече от създателя на Мики Маус и основателя на империя, променила завинаги лицето на развлекателната индустрия. Той е човекът, който окончателно утвърждава анимацията като пълноправно изкуство, развива я до невиждани висоти, и съумява да превърне мечтите си в реалност, доказвайки, че артистичното и комерсиалното могат да вървят ръка за ръка. Дисни е един от най-напредничавите умове на 20 век, и това личи буквално във всичко, което прави – от експериментални филми до невиждани увеселителни паркове. С нелеката задача да обхване живота и делото му се захваща писателят Пат Уилямс, който в крайна сметка ни поднася нещо много повече от един наистина мащабен обзор. „Как да бъдете като Уолт Дисни” (оригинално заглавие: „How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life”) отива отвъд очевидното и надниква в начина на мислене и работа на Уолт, в корените на неговия идеализъм и вечен стремеж към един по-добър и по-красив свят. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле": https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
October 27, 2013
Original BookTube review HERE
It’s part biography, part motivational speech, part self-help book, part business guide, and utterly captivating. Everyone needs to read this book. Everyone. To assume only Disney fans will enjoy this book would be a gross miscalculation. Certainly they will enjoy it the most, but there’s plenty in this book to benefit anyone looking for a good way to conduct business, keep your priorities straight, or even just believe in yourself.
Pat Williams has done a wonderful job with this book; it contains all of the things you wanted to know about Walt Disney for those Walt Disney fans out there. But even for practical people it provides a wonderful, in-depth look at what made Walt so successful and creative, along with a helpful lesson at the end of each chapter to help you implement such success and creativity into your life. Obviously, there’s no one in the world quite like Walt, and we may not ever come close to the innovative genius he was, but Pat Williams breaks down the ‘how’ and the ‘why’, and all that’s left for us is to ‘do’.
Disney fans will especially cherish the little tidbits about Walt revealed here. I’m something of a Walt Disney fangirl, so I was no stranger to the facts and details of his life, but this book provides a much more in depth look than any other bio I’ve read of Disney. Williams went to painstaking lengths to learn about the real Walt Disney and what made him tick. To quote Art Linkletter, this may be the most important book ever written about Walt Disney. I believe this is because it doesn’t just tell you about Walt, it shows you.
Chapter 15 had me bawling my eyes out, so you might want to read that one with a box of tissues. On the whole, this book was amazing. It’s well written and insightful, filled with wonderful and motivating quotes, as well as the aforementioned lessons at the end of each chapter. I’m going to make myself a list of these How To Be Like Walt lessons for my desk, because its excellent advice for life, especially if you dream big.
This is a heartwarming book and a great motivator. I already predict I’ll be reading this one every couple of years or so, because hey! I’ve got big dreams, and who better to help inspire me than the king of big dreams himself?
How to Be Like Walt earns five stars from me and an immediate recommendation to anyone interested in Walt.
It’s part biography, part motivational speech, part self-help book, part business guide, and utterly captivating. Everyone needs to read this book. Everyone. To assume only Disney fans will enjoy this book would be a gross miscalculation. Certainly they will enjoy it the most, but there’s plenty in this book to benefit anyone looking for a good way to conduct business, keep your priorities straight, or even just believe in yourself.
Pat Williams has done a wonderful job with this book; it contains all of the things you wanted to know about Walt Disney for those Walt Disney fans out there. But even for practical people it provides a wonderful, in-depth look at what made Walt so successful and creative, along with a helpful lesson at the end of each chapter to help you implement such success and creativity into your life. Obviously, there’s no one in the world quite like Walt, and we may not ever come close to the innovative genius he was, but Pat Williams breaks down the ‘how’ and the ‘why’, and all that’s left for us is to ‘do’.
Disney fans will especially cherish the little tidbits about Walt revealed here. I’m something of a Walt Disney fangirl, so I was no stranger to the facts and details of his life, but this book provides a much more in depth look than any other bio I’ve read of Disney. Williams went to painstaking lengths to learn about the real Walt Disney and what made him tick. To quote Art Linkletter, this may be the most important book ever written about Walt Disney. I believe this is because it doesn’t just tell you about Walt, it shows you.
Chapter 15 had me bawling my eyes out, so you might want to read that one with a box of tissues. On the whole, this book was amazing. It’s well written and insightful, filled with wonderful and motivating quotes, as well as the aforementioned lessons at the end of each chapter. I’m going to make myself a list of these How To Be Like Walt lessons for my desk, because its excellent advice for life, especially if you dream big.
This is a heartwarming book and a great motivator. I already predict I’ll be reading this one every couple of years or so, because hey! I’ve got big dreams, and who better to help inspire me than the king of big dreams himself?
How to Be Like Walt earns five stars from me and an immediate recommendation to anyone interested in Walt.
January 9, 2017
The book shows what are the characteristics that allowed Walt to establish an organization that until today inspires people across the world, as well as talks about what the personality traits that a leader needs to succeed in changing the world.
I very much enjoyed the book and major takeaways include maintaining a very innocent childish type curiosity. Walt was curious about everything, and he was a life learner. He asked questions about everything, he even asked all the employees their opinion, as well as customers and as well as people from different industries. He took all this information and have a gift and synthesizing it and making decisions. While his decisions were final there was a lot of thinking and thoughts around them.
He was also a hugely optimistic person that believes in the natural compassionate nature of humans. He found it in a belief that all humans will get along and that the world of the future will be a world that is extremely positive, inclusive and enriching. That is what he wanted to show and his city of the future and when designing Disneyland. I'm awesome take away that I had was that the reason while Disney and Disney land are such a magical place for people and consider the happiest place in the world, is that as an organization they treat visitors as guests never as customers as such the quality of the service and attention is superior.
Be an optimist, be a life long learner, be compassionate, be fair, be driven by a bigger cause and ask a lot of questions.
I very much enjoyed the book and major takeaways include maintaining a very innocent childish type curiosity. Walt was curious about everything, and he was a life learner. He asked questions about everything, he even asked all the employees their opinion, as well as customers and as well as people from different industries. He took all this information and have a gift and synthesizing it and making decisions. While his decisions were final there was a lot of thinking and thoughts around them.
He was also a hugely optimistic person that believes in the natural compassionate nature of humans. He found it in a belief that all humans will get along and that the world of the future will be a world that is extremely positive, inclusive and enriching. That is what he wanted to show and his city of the future and when designing Disneyland. I'm awesome take away that I had was that the reason while Disney and Disney land are such a magical place for people and consider the happiest place in the world, is that as an organization they treat visitors as guests never as customers as such the quality of the service and attention is superior.
Be an optimist, be a life long learner, be compassionate, be fair, be driven by a bigger cause and ask a lot of questions.
January 28, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. The life of Walt Disney is every bit as entertaining as the best Disney films and going to Disneyland. In fact, while reading this, I found myself watching movies to further enhance the biography. Okay, I didn't watch as many as I'd liked to have, but I was able to watch them in my mind along with the events of Walt's life. This book is great storytelling. Story after story after story based on friends, family, and employees' experiences with Walt. I call him "Walt" because, had I known him personally, he in most likelihood would've asked me to. And he'd call me "Jerry." I laughed out loud frequently and was brought to the brink of tears throughout this book. This ranks very high on my favorite books list. Number one at the moment. During the course of my reading it, I've probably mentioned it to everyone with whom I've had a conversation. I've probably even offered to lend it to them. Go buy it; it's a good one to have on your shelf. When my kids are a little bit older and less fascinated with illustrations, I'll read it to them. In fact, we're going to read it on our next trip to Disneyland. Yes, this has increased my yearning to make another trip to the Magic Kingdom. Thank you, Pat Williams, for putting this book together! I know there are many biographies of Walt Disney but I'm sure glad this was the first one I read.
February 3, 2014
Be like Walt and Pat, positive and prolific
I grew up with happy, albeit vague, memories of Disney television programs and a definite love of Disney World which has survived puberty, parenting and my middle ages. So it is with a certain sense of relief that the more I have learned about its creator has reinforced what a great American he was. His creativity and stick-to-it-ivity are well chronicled in Pat Williams’ biography.
Williams himself has led a life worthy of biography-type attention. His experiences span from being mentored by Bill Veeck in sports management all the way to parenting 18 children, five biological and 14 adopted from four nations between 1983 and 1993. He has also authored [or co-authored] over 70 books, seven of which have followed the format of the “How to be like”–the subjects themselves having a wide span, from Jesus all the way [way] down to Michael Jordan. The book draws liberally from other Disney biographies and is not intended to resemble anyone’s dissertation. In my case, the book accomplished all most books can hope for, someone purchased it and was inspired by it.
I grew up with happy, albeit vague, memories of Disney television programs and a definite love of Disney World which has survived puberty, parenting and my middle ages. So it is with a certain sense of relief that the more I have learned about its creator has reinforced what a great American he was. His creativity and stick-to-it-ivity are well chronicled in Pat Williams’ biography.
Williams himself has led a life worthy of biography-type attention. His experiences span from being mentored by Bill Veeck in sports management all the way to parenting 18 children, five biological and 14 adopted from four nations between 1983 and 1993. He has also authored [or co-authored] over 70 books, seven of which have followed the format of the “How to be like”–the subjects themselves having a wide span, from Jesus all the way [way] down to Michael Jordan. The book draws liberally from other Disney biographies and is not intended to resemble anyone’s dissertation. In my case, the book accomplished all most books can hope for, someone purchased it and was inspired by it.
June 21, 2009
I loved learning the history of Walt Disney - the man and the enterprise and have a whole new appreciation for Disneyland/Disney World and the Disney movies. After reading the book, I would love to go back to Disneyland or Disney World. I think I would see the parks in a whole new and very remarkable light! I know I will see his movies in a different light as well. However, as a business book, it fell a bit short and was a bit over the top in the enthusiasm department, perhaps not as authentic as Walt himself really was or was portrayed to be. The biggest take-away was a reminder of the classic business principle - know your strengths and then partner/create a team of people that is strong in the areas you are less talented. Walt Disney was the creative mastermind behind Disney and his brother Roy was the financier that enabled it all to happen.
If you are interested in learning the history of Disney, I would definitely recommend reading this.
If you are interested in learning the history of Disney, I would definitely recommend reading this.
January 28, 2014
Walt Disney is an inspiration to me, and I love how this book is able to function as a biography of him that also made connections to practical, daily principles that readers like me can use to incorporate many of his best features and enduring qualities into our own lives. That is no easy task, I'm sure. The portion towards the end about Walt and his faith is something I've rarely read about elsewhere, and I'm extremely glad that part especially is in there. Walt wasn't perfect, though, and this book touches on that we well, which I found refreshing (it seems that most biographies of him tend to be all good or all bad).
Highly practical and eminently readable, a must-read for Walt Disney fans--particularly those who want to be more like him.
Highly practical and eminently readable, a must-read for Walt Disney fans--particularly those who want to be more like him.
October 7, 2013
This was an excellent book. It was very interesting and inspiring. I really enjoyed all the little stories. I also enjoyed that this book was mainly objective; it didn't talk about Walt in a bad way, and it didn't sing his praises all the time. I didn't like all the quotes on the side of the page. They could be distracting, and they often were all saying similar things. Also, I think the author assumed some things, and you should NEVER do that when writing non-fiction. And the author was a little preachy when talking about god. And he mixed up religious and spirituality. They are not the same thing. Anyway, I just felt like he spent a little too much time talking about God. Walt was a spiritual man, but he didn't have to go on and on about it.
October 22, 2016
I'll be honest. Walt Disney is a hero of mine. I have loved him and his work all my life. I cry when I hear stories about him or see pictures of his Disneyland. I just really loved this book. I personally think there was a bit too much religious aspects to it in some parts, but I want everyone to read it anyway. Every page is filled with personal stories that you won't read anywhere else. Loved it. I left this feeling closer to him.
Everyone who says that they are a Disney fan needs to read this book. I think that too many people today have forgotten about Walt and all he did to make this world a better place.
Everyone who says that they are a Disney fan needs to read this book. I think that too many people today have forgotten about Walt and all he did to make this world a better place.
March 7, 2008
I have been a Disney fan for a long time, and enjoyed reading about the man behind it all. Disney really is what it is because of this one man and his vision. I think he was a really remarkable person, and feel a little cheated that he passed before his time.. I actually cried a little when I got to the part in the book where he dies..But the book is really inspiring--focuses in on his great qualities and ways we can try to be like him, it's more than just a biography timeline.
September 9, 2010
I have always admired Walt Disney. How could you not? There is not one person on the Earth that hasn't been affected by his vision for peace and happiness. This book not only let me learn more about his life but more about his beliefs and how to be more like him. He was by no means a perfect man but I think all the good that he did, and is still doing even from beyond the grave, overshadows his imperfections. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone!
December 17, 2013
While I enjoyed learning about Walt, sections of the book did seem to drag on for a bit. It also espoused a Christian message, which was fine, but unexpected.
Also, I read the Nook version which was filled with typos and other blunders, such as passages repeated a number of times.
Overall, a very informative read, it just could have used a lesson from Walt -- throw out anything which slows the story down, no matter the cost.
Also, I read the Nook version which was filled with typos and other blunders, such as passages repeated a number of times.
Overall, a very informative read, it just could have used a lesson from Walt -- throw out anything which slows the story down, no matter the cost.
January 17, 2014
What a great book about a great man. I see it as a great business and motivational book that I will keep within reach as I move forward with my latest creative endeavor. Pat Williams' format of providing history behind Walt Disney's efforts and then ending each chapter with "This how you can be like Walt..." I am glad I saw this on Glenn Beck's website as one of three books he gave his staff in 2013. I gave it as a gift at Christmas 2013 and she is loving it as much as I did.
May 17, 2014
I really enjoyed this biography of Walt Disney! He is such a fascinating guy and I've always wanted to learn more about the magic behind him, the Disney Company and his wonderful movies! It was fun to read about the man behind Disneyland -- the happiest place on earth -- and I had know idea how ahead of his time he was and how ground breaking he was in the world of animation. Loved the book! If you want to learn more about Mr. Walt Disney I highly recommend this book!
July 24, 2014
"How to Be Like Walt" is an inspiring and interesting biography of a man who created miles of magic with his one short life.
It’s a journey through history, a motivational masterpiece, and – most of all – a practical guidebook about leadership. Packed with inspiring stories and memorable quotes, Williams’ tribute to Walt is anything but boring. This book should be required reading for university students and business people…and anyone who aspires to leave an unforgettable legacy.
It’s a journey through history, a motivational masterpiece, and – most of all – a practical guidebook about leadership. Packed with inspiring stories and memorable quotes, Williams’ tribute to Walt is anything but boring. This book should be required reading for university students and business people…and anyone who aspires to leave an unforgettable legacy.
January 24, 2015
You know how Elphias Dodge wrote that warm and loving obituary for Dumbledore in the beginning of Deathly Hallows and then he kind of just skimmed over the murkier parts of Dumbledore's past? Pat Williams did just that for Walt, and I loved it - obviously. I am in awe of Walt Disney and of all the things he accomplished, and it was a treat to read of all of his adventures and quirks and how he made his dreams into the incredible realities that we enjoy today.
August 6, 2018
This was one of the most inspirational books I've ever read. There are so many lessons to learn from him that apply to everyone's life. "Walt's life challenges us to dream bigger, reach higher, work harder, risk more, and persevere as long as it takes... That is the supreme lesson of his endlessly instructive life. The riches of an incredible, adventure-filled life are within our grasp--if we will dare to be like Walt."
June 5, 2008
This book was incredibly interesting to me. I cannot believe how amazing Walt the man was. The only thing I could have done without was the "how to apply this quality of Walt in your own life" at the end of each chapter. I like to think that I am smart enough to glean those gems on my own.
I love biographies, but even if you don't you might give this one a try.
I love biographies, but even if you don't you might give this one a try.
June 19, 2011
Walt Disney is one of my Idols and this book is full of interviews of people who have worked with him over the years. It is a great look into the mind and actions of a very special person who has changed so many of our childhoods for the better. I learned a lot about Walt and when I finished this book I felt like a good friend had just moved away=)
April 8, 2017
After booking Disneyland Paris, I realised I didn't know much about the man himself. I set out to find a decent biography on Walt Disney and this definitely fits; it's part biography, part self-help. I generally skipped the self-help parts but the book in general is a pleasure to read, well researched and includes numerous perspectives on Walt Disney from his family, friends and employees alike.
April 17, 2012
Great bio if you're into Walt Disney. The author definitely is. Gives great insight into his behavior from several people close to him. The book paints his flaws as positives without being apologetic and talks about the many contributions this historic character made to our modern culture. I've read it twice.
January 30, 2016
So, so good! I knew he was responsible for some great innovation in the animated world (obviously); but I was amazed at just HOW MUCH he invented/created! The writing, admittedly, is not fantastic. But the man himself is a fascination! And there were so many stories and anecdotes, I really felt like I got to know Walt Disney. I recommend it to anyone!
February 22, 2008
This is the best biography of Walt Disney I know. Pat Williams does an excellent job showing you ways you can apply things Walt learned in his life to your own life. Walt was an amazing man and I think few realize how remarkable and innovative he was -- and the struggles he had to go through.
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