10 Walt Disney Quotes That Are Perfect for Any Entrepreneur
Becoming an entrepreneur involves taking risks to become successful in your chosen field. The road to success is a journey that many entrepreneurs take alone. For this reason, it is often useful to look at others who have already enjoyed great success to give you inspiration and motivation. One such person is Walt Disney, who was an entrepreneur, an animator, a film producer, and a voice actor. He set up the Disney Brothers Studio with his brother, Roy, in the early 1920s. The then expanded into film production, television, and amusement parks. His phenomenal success is an inspiration for any entrepreneur. Here are ten inspirational Walt Disney quotes for entrepreneurs.
1. On Thinking of Becoming an Entrepreneur
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
This is very true when thinking of starting a business. Although it is important to prepare and plan properly, nothing will happen until you have the confidence to take the plunge and take the first steps to launch your business. It can take courage to make the first move, but you won’t know if the risk will pay off unless you try.
2. On Representing Your Brand
“Whatever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it they will want to come back and see you do it again and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.”
Creating a brand is an important element of building a business, and the best representation of your brand is yourself. If you do what you do well, then you will build trust with your customers and they will buy your products or use your services time and again. When you do everything to the best of your ability, it also sets a good example to your employees.
3. On Setting Goals
“A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.”
Setting goals is a vital part of running any successful business. These give you something to aim towards and can help you clarify how you will progress at each stage of your business’ development. Disney says that identifying your goals in the early stages is essential, although putting in the effort is the only way to achieve these goals This quote also highlights how thins sometimes change along the way and that your initial goals may no longer be relevant if your business changes direction. According to Walt Disney, the whole process is an enjoyable experience that will make you feel alive.
4. On Perseverance
“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.”
There are many occasions when you may experience self-doubt or doubt the potential of your business. When you face challenges as an entrepreneur, it is easy to lose our self-confidence and it can seem like your business will never become a success. Walt Disney faced many setbacks in his life, yet he persevered to achieve his dreams. When he encountered problems, he found a solution and persevered. Use this quote to give yourself motivation and self-belief.
5. On Overcoming Obstacles
“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all the 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.”
Running your own business does not always run smoothly and you will face many obstacles and challenges along the way. This quote from Walt Disney highlights how experiencing adversity is almost inevitable, but it is not necessarily a bad thing. Finding solutions to problems will help you to move forward with your business. It can also help you to identify the weaknesses in tour business and to become a stronger person.
6. On Leadership
“Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion, no matter where it is exercised. Usually it implies some risk — especially in new undertakings.”
Once you have a team working for you, it is essential that you develop some leadership skills and lead by example. In Walt Disney’s opinion, the main quality of leadership is having some courage and being willing to take risks. This will show your employees that you are determined to succeed and that you can make strong decisions.
7. On Facing Competition
“I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn’t know how to get along without it.”
There are many times when you will face competition. On some of these occasions you will come out on top and on other occasions, the competition is too fierce. Disney says that he has faced strong competition throughout his career. This is not a bad thing, as it can help your business to thrive. Developing a competitive streak will give you the ambition and motivation to make sure your business can stand up to the competition, so you will always strive to become the best.
8. On Work-Life Balance
“A man should never neglect his family for business”
Walt Disney believed in the importance of family and maintaining a good work-life balance. Achieving the right balance between your professional life and your family life is one of the greatest challenges an entrepreneur can face. In Disney’s opinion, you should not neglect your family for the sake of the business, so it is important to get the balance right. Having downtime away from the working environment will help you to maintain focus when you are working.
9. On the Importance of Building a Team
“When we opened Disneyland, a lot of people got the impressions that it was a get-rich-quick thing, but they didn’t realize that behind Disneyland was this great organization that I built here at the Studio, and they all got into it and we were doing it because we loved to do it.”
Although having a strong leader is important for a business, it is just as important that the leader has a team behind them who are supportive and enthusiastic about taking the business forward. It is only when a team can work together toward the same goals that a business can reach its full potential.
10. On Appreciating Employees
“Never forget! You can design, create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make a dream a reality.”
While you can start a business on your own, it is almost impossible to build the business or expand without the backing of a team. Walt Disney highlights the importance of appreciating your team if you want to become a success as it is your team that will help you to achieve your goals. As an entrepreneur, it is vital to realize the value of your employees, both individually and collectively.
