If you’ve ever been to Disney World you were probably awestruck by the shear enormity of it. The magic and creativity of it is like being sucked into a perfect alternate universe. Every detail has been planned, and every cast member carefully coordinated. It’s been described as the “happiest place on earth” for a good reason. It’s hard for me to imagine how something that brings so much joy and delight to such a large number of people worldwide was all done through the vision of one man… Walt Disney.
On a recent trip to Disney we learned a little about how the Disney vision started. He was a man that started from nothing. Leaving home at 16 to join the army or find work, Disney ended up instead venturing into several animation related businesses. In 1928 Disney found himself starting all over again after the company he worked for (greedy for profits) decided they could somehow make the animated movies without him. Because most of his creative team was contracted staff of this company, he was forced to strike out on his own. So, on a train ride Disney began to draw. He drew a mouse… a mouse that would one day become the most famous mouse in the world. He based the character on a mouse he had adopted as a pet while working in a Kansas City studio. Walt originally named him Mortimer. This name was changed by his wife Lillian sometime later to the character known today as Mickey Mouse!
So, each morning I have coffee from my favorite cup that I got in Disney World. On the inner rim it says, “…it was all started by a mouse.” Frankly, it inspires me. It reminds me that a great man started from nothing but creativity and a pencil drawing of a little mouse. He won 26 Academy Awards out of the 59 times he was nominated and today, The Walt Disney Company grosses over 35 billion dollars annually. Sometimes all of us need encouragement, inspiration, and a little push to keep going when success and greatness seems so far away. I repeat the words in my head and remember that it was all started by a mouse.
There better be Starbucks in that cup!! Seriously, thanks for providing a dose of inspiration to kick start the afternoon.
Posted by: jbf | May 24, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Tiny pearls of wisdom ;). And yes... it's Starbucks.
Posted by: Melinda Reddehase | May 24, 2010 at 12:32 PM