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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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How To Be Like Walt summary
Pat Williams
Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life
18 mins
Brief summary
How To Be Like Walt by Pat Williams is an inspiring biography of Walt Disney, revealing the secrets of his success. It provides valuable insights into leadership, creativity, and entrepreneurship, and motivates readers to pursue their dreams with passion and perseverance.
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How To Be Like Walt
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Key idea 1 of 8
As a young boy, Disney worked hard and was a showman in school.
In the Disney movie, Cinderella, a young, charming girl suffers abuse at the hands of her evil stepmother and stepsisters, toiling away to meet their every need. It sounds like a fiction, but it could be that Walt Disney was inspired to adapt this story because of his own troubled childhood.
Here’s the story:
Disney, just like Cinderella, learned the meaning of hard work at a young age. In 1909, his father, Elias, fell ill and was forced to sell the family farm. Elias moved the family to Kansas City where he got a job managing one of the distribution points for the local newspaper, the Kansas City Star.
But this new job didn’t make life any easier: Walt and his brother Roy had to work for their father, for no pay. They would wake up at 3:30 every morning, rain or shine, to deliver papers before they went to school – and after school there was more work preparing the next day’s deliveries.
You can imagine how these formative experiences stayed with Walt throughout his life. In fact, in later years, he often had nightmares in which he would be trudging through snowstorms, facing punishment for missing a delivery.
So Disney’s childhood impacted his work, but he was also fascinated by fantasy and entertainment as a schoolboy. Although he was a less-than-stellar student, often daydreaming, doodling or fighting the impulse to fall asleep, Walt was nothing if not the class entertainer.
For instance, in the fifth grade, he donned an Abraham Lincoln costume for the president’s birthday, complete with a scarf, a stovepipe hat and a beard he’d found in a costume shop. When his teacher asked him why he was dressed like Lincoln, Disney said it was the president’s birthday and he wanted to recite one of Lincoln’s most famous speeches, the Gettysburg address, for the class.
The speech was a hit and Walt was allowed to repeat his performance for the entire school.
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What is How To Be Like Walt about?
How to Be Like Walt (2004) takes a close look at the life of one of the most prolific and successful artists of the last century. These blinks detail the incredible career of Walt Disney, paying special attention to the characteristics that made him great – characteristics that we all might strive to emulate.
How To Be Like Walt Review
How To Be Like Walt (2004) is an insightful exploration of the life and achievements of entrepreneur and visionary Walt Disney. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers valuable insights into the mindset and strategies that made Walt Disney an iconic figure in the entertainment industry.
- Emphasizes the importance of imagination, perseverance, and innovation, providing practical lessons that can be applied to any field.
- Reveals the untold stories and behind-the-scenes struggles that shaped Disney's success, capturing the reader's attention and keeping boredom at bay.
Best quote from How To Be Like Walt
People who have worked with me say I am innocence in action. They say I have the unselfconsciousness of a child. - Walt Disney
—Pat Williams
Who should read How To Be Like Walt?
- Disney fans curious about the company’s creator
- Disney-bashers who’re willing to have their minds changed
- Artists and entrepreneurs in search of inspiration
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How To Be Like Walt FAQs
What is the main message of How To Be Like Walt?
The main message of How To Be Like Walt is to learn from the life and work of Walt Disney to achieve success.
How long does it take to read How To Be Like Walt?
The reading time for How To Be Like Walt varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is How To Be Like Walt a good book? Is it worth reading?
How To Be Like Walt is worth reading as it provides valuable insights into the life and achievements of Walt Disney in a concise and engaging manner.
Who is the author of How To Be Like Walt?
The author of How To Be Like Walt is Pat Williams.
What to read after How To Be Like Walt?
If you're wondering what to read next after How To Be Like Walt, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
- To Pixar and Beyond by Lawrence Levy
- The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
- In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
- How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
- The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Emotional Intelligence Habits by Travis Bradberry
- Time Travel by James Gleick