Today we celebrate the 62nd anniversary of Disneyland opening. When you think of Walt Disney it’s hard to think of anything but success. The man is responsible for dreaming up and setting in motion the vast empire that is Disneyland and Disney World. The company has spread to having parks in other companies and wild success within the TV, movie, and merchandising industries. You may feel discouraged by hearing about the wild success of another business, especially if yours is struggling to have the working capital it needs. But, Disney experienced many of the same obstacles as you, and possibly even more than you.
Overcoming Obstacles
Disney faced obstacle after obstacle while trying to find success in business. If you think you have it bad take a look at this:
- As a young man, Walt Disney went bankrupt due to a failed cartoon series that he created. After this failure, he made his way to Los Angeles from Kansas City.
- He first created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. As Oswald grew in popularity Disney was made aware that he didn’t own the rights to the rabbit and was kicked to the curb.
- When trying to open Disneyland, Walt was turned down multiple times for financing
Does any of this sound familiar to you? It’s easy to hear the success of a business person, and think that everything must have come easily to them. But, that isn’t usually the truth. In spite of opposition, Walt Disney rose to the challenge and found success that is unmatched in many ways. Here are some lessons you can take away as a small business owner:
Pursue Your Dream
“If you dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney
Everything that Walt has created, and much of what has been created since his death, was built upon his wild imagination. He dared to dream of something outside of what people knew and understood and it paid off for him. If he had listened to all the naysayers along the way can you only imagine what wouldn’t have been created, including the happiest place on earth.
Every time you think of quitting at your dream to start, or grow, your small business remember Disneyland and Walt Disney. Do not listen to those that say you can’t achieve what you are setting out to do and don’t let opposition stop you. Pursue your dreams in your business and don’t let what others think is realistic stop you from achieving greatness.
Sometimes You Have to Make it Happen
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney
You can talk until you are blue in the face about what you want to do and what your business plans are, but without action, none of it matters. It can be overwhelming to get started sometimes, but the only way to do it is to start taking action. For example, Walt Disney could not obtain the working capital he needed to start the construction of Disneyland. In fact, he was even told that it wouldn’t be possible. Did he let that stop him? Nope, instead he got creative and thought outside of the box.
Instead of obtaining working capital from a traditional source, Walt ventured into television, which was heavily discouraged by those in the movie business. However, it was just what he needed to build Disneyland. If you are trying to obtain the working capital that you need, maybe you need to start thinking outside of the box.
If at First You Don’t Succeed… Do it Again
Walt Disney didn’t find instant success in pretty much anything that he did, but he kept on going. Here are just a few problems that Disneyland encountered on opening day:
- Counterfeit tickets overcrowded the park to nearly double the amount that had been invited
- There was not enough food
- They were working on finishing construction right up until the park officially opened
- The tar on Main Street became sticky during the 100-degree day and women’s high heels became stuck
- A plumbers’ strike caused a lack of working drinking fountains and water on a hot day
- Mark Twain’s Riverboat was beyond capacity and taking on water
Does that sound like the “happiest place on earth”? No. In fact, the Walt Disney Company considered July 17th “Black Sunday” after the bad press that they received from that day. But, did they get depressed and give up? Instead, they invited everyone back for a second day which went over much better. And, here we are 62 years later and we can see that Disneyland was just the start of something that became so much more.
Applying the Lessons to Your Business
It’s easy to think that you could never experience the success in your business that Walt had in his business, but you are only limited by your thinking. Take action today to find the resources that you need to grow your business. iBusiness Funding can help you find the working capital that you need to achieve your dreams within your business. It’s as simple as – stop talking and start doing by filling out the online form today.
Walt Disney 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.”
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