The
Imagineering Workout ~ Update 11
Choose
Optimisum
“Attitude,
specifically an optimistic, can-do attitude,
gets you
started and keeps you going when the going gets tough.”
Gary
Landrum
Associate
Show Producer, Show Awareness,
Walt
Disney Imagineering Florida
At key part of storytelling at Disney is consistent optimism. There
is an infectious optimism igniting passions for projects. Walt
Disney was an incurable optimist; he imparted an infectious optimism igniting
their passion for the project.
“Collect
stories about people whose success can fuel yours. Record them in a dedicated
journal (they will become a reference for you on days when you need to be
encouraged to choose optimism). Include in your stories how the person’s
infectious optimism ignites your passion and what you can learn from them. Consider
how you can apply optimism to a current project and how it might affect the
project’s outcome and those working with you on the project.”
Ok I have friends that say, “I can’t cook. I’m not creative!”
I say, “Yes you can!” You can do almost anything you want with a positive
attitude but with a negative attitude you will do nothing. It does not matter
if it is cooking a meal, writing a book or drawing a picture, a negative
thought process will stop you while a positive attitude will help you.
Let me share a couple stories of people that have inspired my
husband and me. These people are not related nor do they know each other. One we
had the pleasure of talking to several times while on a second honeymoon in
Yosemite National Park, Ca. They second is a dear friend we met for the first
time at Disneyland.
The first thing you notice about both of them is the smiles
they have. Their positive attitude shines through. You can see those smiles
from yards away. The second thing you will notice about them both is the
wheelchairs they are in.
During our 1990 visit to Yosemite National Park, we noticed Ranger
Mark Wellman was moving quickly around the Ranger Station in Yosemite Valley
excitedly talking to guests and giving climbing and hiking tips. He would point
to this map or that telling people what assents he had made and asking
questions to help them find the best hikes/climbs suited to their abilities.
At first I thought Ranger Mark was recently and/or temporally injured
then I started to listen closer. I found out he had slipped while climbing and
fell 8 years earlier. The fall had left him paralyzed from the waist down. He
had climbed El Capitan the year (1989) before and was looking forward to
climbing Half Dome the following year (1991). He did climb Half Dome, pulling
himself up the steep from of that great rock with just his arms. He is set many
records climbing mountains and now is a motivational speaker.
The second is my Tinker Sister, Margo. Margo was born with multiple
birth defects. The first time I met her was at Disneyland. We were sitting on a
bench waiting for the nightly fireworks. She was sitting several feet in front
of us with a friend. She noticed my husband was drawing and came over to see
what he was drawing. We started to talk and have been good friends ever since. I
know the physical pain Margo faces but you don’t see it in her face. She is
thankful for the little things. She hangs onto the memories of kindness shown
and she repays each one in kind.
When I feel I can’t do something and feeling pitiful I think
of one of these two people. I start thinking well if they can do it so can I.
If you wish to follow along and read the book for yourself here is the information:
The
Imagineering Workout
By
The Disney Imagineers
ISBN
078685554-1
It
is available at Amazon.com
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