Could being remarkable really be this simple?

Picture 9 As you may know, I am a Disneyophile.  I love the Disney parks, I love the Disney movies' happy endings, I love the unrelenting pursuit of better customer service that drives Disney to their own level of excellence.

I also love Walt Disney's story.  

I know he wasn't perfect by a long shot.  But he was a dreamer, a story teller and a man who believed so strongly in his own vision that he ignited the people around him until they were as caught up in the dream as he was.  And despite being told no about a million times — he just keep at it until his dream came to be.

But if you've studied his life like I have, you discover that his philosophies are incredibly simple.  And in that simplicity, incredibly profound.

When asked how to build a successful business, he replied:

"Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends."  

Pretty much sums up referral selling, word of mouth marketing, and customer retention all in one sentence.  And in the end — isn't Walt talking about creating a love affair with your customers?

Do you think we make it too complicated?  Do you think Walt was right? Is that really all there is to it?

 

 

 

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6 comments on “Could being remarkable really be this simple?

  1. Rick Wolff says:

    There’s simple, and there’s easy. That’s the infuriating thing about the “just be awesome” blog post, in its many variations. So easily written.

  2. Great question as always Drew.

    Here’s what I think.

    Simple is hard work.

    And Walt Disney did simple well. When you pour all your heart and all your soul into something like Walt did, year after year after year after year after year, constantly honing and refining our art, it’s only then that any of us start delivering something that remotely starts to resemble WOW products and services.

    This post makes me want to watch Walt:The Man Behind the Myth again.

  3. Rick,

    If you’ve spent any time digging through my blog posts — you’ll quickly discover that I agree with you — easy to say, tough to do.

    Which doesn’t mean we shouldn’t say it. It just means we need to back it up with help, suggestions and encouragement to do the hard part!

    Drew

  4. Scott,

    Simple is difficult — yes. But I think it comes with a clarity of purpose and direction. When I clearly (whether I am the guy selling popcorn or the head of Disney marketing) understand, internalize and BELIEVE in the single reason for our shared existence then I probably know what to do in just about every situation.

    But there are a lot of steps to go through from founder’s vision to foot soldier’s execution of that vision. THAT’S the hard part.

    Drew

  5. Drew,

    I agree. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

  6. Tracy Geier says:

    Drew, I do believe we tend to over complicate things these days. And while I may be biased, as I worked at WDW during my college days, I do very much think that Walt had it right. If you have passion for what you do and you keep it honest and simple, it is hard not to succeed. Marketing 101=K.I.S.S.! It’s just that “simple” sometimes! Thanks for sharing his wisdom with us!!

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