3 Observations - Disneyland
Photo cred: Bastien Nvs from Unsplash
It’s only been a 1 month since our feet touched the magical grounds of Disneyland. And even though I have been many times, I found myself marvelling again at the imagination of human beings.
It is truly an inspiring place, and the leader in me couldn’t help but take a few notes that we hopefully can all ponder over.
3 Observations:
They value innovation
This first point is a bit obvious. But it can’t be understated! Even though the idea that a mouse has a pet dog confounds me to no end, imagination requires such radical thinking to create that which hasn’t been seen before. In my younger years as a songwriter, the best songs I wrote were the ones where I threw out the filter, where I threw out that critic that is always judging whether what I am creating sounded ‘acceptable’. And in truth, very few workplaces are willing to go to those places where innovation is without a rigid framework. But those who have, who reward gutsy innovation, flourish well beyond their competitors. Not only because they attract the wildest and most gifted creators, but because they recognise that not every idea is going to end up in their catalogue. But to get to the ideas that will, you must keep creating. You must keep creating ideas that keep pushing out the walls of ‘what is’ into the realm of ‘what is not yet’.
They don’t waste space
There were a few rides that I wasn’t game to go on, so naturally whilst I sat waiting for my husband and daughter I had a look around. Even the patches of grass in Disneyland, are often not grass at all. If they haven’t turned them into some kind of design feature, like a Mickey face, they have planted lettuce and basil, and other fresh herbs. I don’t know what they do with it! Whether they sell it, or use it at their food outlets. But again, none of it is wasted. There are even plots you can purchase to have your name displayed for generations to come. They utilise every space, and fill it with something that benefits their bottom line.
This is just a good philosophy in general!
Attention to detail
This is where Disneyland is a cut above every other amusement park I’ve visited. And believe me we’ve visited a fair few! The latest Star Wars ride is like being transported out of your own life, into a the real Star Wars movie. Every little detail has been designed to replica the experience of the movie. It would be obvious to get the look and voice of the robots right, the big elements of the ride that are most noticeable. But even the nuts and bolts, the seatbelts, the sounds…the things that you wouldn’t even take note of in your excitement - they have designed in theme with the overall experience. Some of these details will never be remembered! They may have even added to the time it took to create the ride, adding weeks rather than minutes to the launch date. But they took the time to do it. I am not by nature a details person, but boy did this get me thinking. Details are important! The details are what determine the QUALITY of the product, experience or service.
And the quality is often the only factor that separates the outstanding from the mediocre.
And maybe the biggest lesson we can all learn from Disneyland, is remaining child-like in our imagination is a positive thing. We are all too quick to label people, places, interests as ‘childish’…but sadly the thing we often lose as we age is our ability to dream. The ability to consider possibilities, because of our desire to be practical. At some point, the practical becomes important..true. But we don’t have to employ these faculties as quickly as we do, and therefore dismiss opportunities that maybe even God himself would desire us to take a chance on.