Rob Mathews is the Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise at Ball State University, and co-author of: Entrepreneurship the Disney Way. A book about how the media giant maintains its lead in a turbulent, competitive, ever-changing industry: by sticking to its mission.
From Walt Disney’s vision way back in the 1920s to its status today as a multinational media giant, Disney’s mission — its North Star —has remained the same. Disney is a legacy company that has been directed by the same mission since its inception. Its well-crafted mission statement is anything but corporate fluff: it’s corporate bedrock.
Top Takeaways: The How and Why of The Disney Way with Rob Mathews
- Disney’s business model is different, it is intriguing
- Disney is a pretty guarded company
- Walt Disney was an “alpha entrepreneur”
- 4 styles of entrepreneurial leadership: artist, scientist, builder and evangelist
- Walt Disney excelled in all 4 styles of entrepreneurial leadership
- The Mission of Disney Parks- we create happiness
- Walt Disney was ahead of his time as he understood the importance of making people “feel” different
- Bob Iger, no question a builder (entrepreneurial leadership style)
- We predict the next Disney CEO will be an inspirational evangelist
- Have a simple, meaningful mission
- Make each role critically important to the mission
- We must connect our employees with our customers
- 70-80% of correspondence with Disney after their visit is about staff member interaction
- Disney is a legacy company
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Learning From Leaders:
Current Book: Innovation Methods Mapping: De-mystifying 80+ Years of Innovation Process Design by GK VanPatter
Change the Culture, Change the Game: The Breakthrough Strategy for Energizing Your Organization and Creating Accounta bility for Results by Roger Connors
Generation Gap: Raising The Next Generation of Leaders by Stan Belyshev
Leadership Superpower: Inspirational
Motivational Mantra:
[shareable cite=”Martha Graham”]You are unique- and if that is not fulfilled then something is lost I have spent all my life with dance and being a dancer it’s permitting life to use you in a very intense way. Sometimes it is not pleasant, sometimes it is fearful, but nevertheless it is inevitable[/shareable]
Book Most Often Gifted: The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren
The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and for Life by Laurie Beth Jones
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
Are You Fully Charged?: The 3 Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life by Tom Rath
Additional Items Mentioned
Rob’s website: elprofile.com
Rob’s book: Entrepreneurship the Disney Way by Michael Goldsby & Rob Mathews
