Roy Disney – Disney Brand Loyalty Keynote Speaker

Walt Disney Was Inspired

Walt Disney was inspired. No one was more passionate about his vision for Family Entertainment than he was.

And when Walt Disney died in 1966, his brother, Roy O. Disney, had a big decision to make.

Walt Disney and his associates purchased 43-square miles of virgin swamp, pine forest and oak hammock in central Florida. They bought it cheap. Roy Disney could sell it cheap, and just get out of the deal. I mean, the great visionary is gone and the project hadn’t yet begun.

We can all be thankful Roy chose to finish his brother’s vision for EPCOT. Some are sad and say Walt Disney never got to see his vision come to life. Disney fanatics like me say, he saw his vision so clearly, that others could see it and couldn’t help but make it a reality.

A wonderful place where fantasy is real, and reality is fantastic. Like last night when my son and I stopped by the Magic Kingdom, on the way home from the Apple Store, for a Dole Whip and a parade, the Main Street Electrical Parade.

jungle jeff Vacation

Woo-hoo! jungle jeff is on vacation!

Now I can really get some work done. Here’s my list:

Slow down

Will let you know how this goes. Carpe diem.

Happy Birthday Walt Disney World

Happy Birthday Walt Disney World. Disney World opened to the public on October 1, 1971, nearly five years after Walt Disney died from cardiac arrest (brought on from the removal of his cancerous left lung on November 7, 1966).

Walt’s older brother Roy O. Disney, at 73 years old, and enjoying retirement, had a big decision after Walt died on December 15, 1966.

Sell or develop.

Disney had purchased 27,443 acres, or 43 square miles, of alligator, snake and mosquito infested swampland during the mid-1960’s. It is said the purchase price averaged less than $200 an acre.

Bought it cheap, sell it cheap. Or, build? And build Roy did.

Thank you to Walt Disney, Roy O. Disney, and the entire Disney organization for making Walt Disney’s biggest dream come to life.

My Family has enjoyed hundreds of visits to Walt Disney World. Our home is located just a few miles from Cinderella Castle. Every night we see and hear the Magic Kingdom fireworks.

It’s been a dream come true to live so close to the most Magical place on Planet Earth.

Walt Disney Had No MBA

Walt Disney didn’t have an MBA. Neither did his older brother, Roy Disney. So?

So, maybe you don’t need an MBA to be successful. Maybe you do. There are people in both camps – some insisting it’s mandatory, some it’s a complete waste of time and money.

Guess what? I’m in the middle. I think you don’t need one and you do need one. So that’s what I’ve set out to do. Get one and not get one.

Confusing? It won’t be. As the days pass and we get nearer to the autumnal equinox, this paradox will become clear.

It’s a four year degree, which I began January 2008. There are big life choices. We all get to choose.

For example, ten years ago I chose to be healthier, so I started doing one push up each day. The second week, two push ups each day. Third week, three a day, and so on.

Last month, I represented the United States in the Master’s Track & Field World Championships, in Lahti, Finland.

Walt Disney & Roy Disney

Walt Disney and Roy Disney. What a combination. One of the key things that made them a great team was their differences.

Walt, in my opinion, was the modern-day father of creativity. Roy, well, perhaps a financial genius. And both were very hard workers.

I think I met their reincarnations last night, on Sanibel Island.

I’ll call them Vince and Dirk.

Two men, both entrepreneurs, formed a small business partnership, and shared with me their incredible vision for their future.

What I love about Vince and Dirk is they represent, to me, seasoned business professionals who are capitalizing on these turbulent times, using technology and creativity, to position themselves for growth.

One watches every penny. One uses enthusiasm to spawn creativity. Both hustle and work incredibly hard.

I got excited just listening to their story.

If you told your story to a complete stranger, do you think that stranger would get excited about what you’ve done and what you are about to do?

I sure hope so. Carpe diem, jungle jeff 🙂