This is one of 186 strategies and applications that will appear in Putting Your Small Business on Steroids — 186 Strategies to Increase Your ROI, by John Gifford and Matt Hall.

These days you’d be hard pressed to find a man, woman or child who hasn’t heard of Walt Disney. For many, Walt Disney, the man, is an American hero and an icon of our times. His name is synonymous with wholesome family entertainment and good old-fashioned American values.

Today the Walt Disney Company is a commercial juggernaut which employs over 100,000 people and generates annual revenues of approximately 35 billion. But its beginnings were much more humble. Starting with only $3,200 borrowed from an uncle and his parents, who mortgaged their house for the money, Walt Disney had a unique idea for a cartoon and ended up with a dramatically successful film studio. Always the visionary, from his studio successes he branched out to theme parks and resorts, hospitality, cruise lines, merchandise, licensing and media networks.

All of Walt Disney’s works, from his movies to his theme parks, seem to be infused with an almost magical quality. The real magic, however, was Walt’s ability to attract so many talented individuals and then persuade and motivate them to consistently produce at the peak of their ability.
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