The Wisdom of Walt: Leadership Lessons from the Happiest Place on Earth (Disneyland): Success Strategies for Everyone (from Walt Disney and Disneyland) by Jeffrey A. Barnes

Author:Jeffrey A. Barnes [Unknown]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
ISBN: 9781943164165
Publisher: Aviva
Published: 2015-07-22T18:30:00+00:00

A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY

One December night at dinner, while my daughter Bethany was still in middle school, I did what most parents do around the dinner table—I asked about her day at school. She shared that they played volleyball in P.E., worked on problems in pre-algebra, and wrote an essay in history. Hearing the word “history” piqued my interest, so I immediately inquired further. “What did you write your essay on in history?” I asked.

“Oh, the importance and significance of December 7,” she replied.

“Wow, you got to write an essay on the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into World War II,” her U.S. history teacher dad responded. “That’s great!”

After several seconds of silence, I looked up and realized Bethany was whiter than the paint on Space Mountain. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

Pushing back tears, she responded, “I didn’t write my essay on the bombing of Pearl Harbor.”

“Okay,” I replied. “Well, for the love of God and all things holy, if you didn’t write your history essay on the importance of December 7 as the date of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, then what did you write about?”

She responded with words that only a seventh grade girl can understand. “I wrote my essay on the upcoming middle school dance. It’s this Friday, December 7th, and they’ve been announcing it all week.”

Mortiied, she immediately went to work writing a new essay and turned it into her teacher first thing the following morning. I, of course, have had fun with it ever since. As a history teacher, I still recognize December 7th as Pearl Harbor Day, but now it is also “Middle School Dance Day” for our family. Each year, I give Bethany a “Middle School Dance Day” card (not easy to find) and even have my college-level U.S. History students sign it for her.

If we allow it, the dance of life can quickly distract us from what’s really important, just as a middle school dance distracted my daughter from realizing the significance of World War II. That said, we all have to participate in the dance of life, so in order to take your dreams seriously, you must choose focus as your dance partner. We always get more of what we focus on, so build your berm and get serious about what you allow in and what you keep out. In his book The Success Principles, Jack Canfield reminds us of the importance of focus, “Everything you think, say, and do needs to become intentional and aligned with your purpose, your values and your goals.” Disneyland’s berm serves as a similar reminder.

“The berm creates your horizon and helps you define what belongs in your experience and what doesn’t.”

— Randy Crane

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