RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Do you have a mentor?  Someone you learn from?

If not, it's not because none are available.  In fact, they are all around you.  Let's look at an example that comes from Walt Disney.

One morning, while visiting the Disneyland Park before it opened, Walt invited some third-shift maintenance workers to stop what they were doing and join him for a chat.  When their manager found them talking with Walt, the manager asked Walt if he could have the workers back to finish their work before the park opened.  As they went back to their assignments, the manager felt compelled to ask Walt why he was spending his valuable time talking with third-shift workers.  That’s when Walt shared his philosophy with the manager:  


Walt Disney sought out advice from everyone on his team - from executives to those who swept main street.  He believed that everyone has the potential to contribute creatively to their organization's success by generating new and useful ideas.

That was a key part of Walt's excellent leadership.  He purposely learned from everyone.

Take that approach and you'll soon discover that everyone can be your mentor.  Everyone has something to contribute to your journey, if you'll just take the time to involve them.

Instead of just sitting in an office with "executive" leaders, get out and rub shoulders with everyone. Ask them their thoughts about a program.  Ask their opinion about the appearance of the rooms.  Ask them what they would change?  What they would drop?  What they would start?

When you see everyone as a mentor, you unlock the door to so many new conduits of ideas.

Want to improve your guest services area?  Insstead of just getting ideas from 2-3 people in an office, talk to the people who work on that team.

Want to improve your curriculum?  Instead of just debating about it with 2 other people, ask all the people who are actually using it.

Want to improve your VBS?  Do an evalution after it's over.  Don't just ask the people who taught, but also ask the helpers, the people who helped set up, the maintenance team and some parents.

You get the point.  The more mentors you get involved, the more ideas and insight you'll have to work with.

This doesn't mean you'll be able to implement all the ideas you receive.  But it will give you more advice and input to work with.  And tucked down inside the advice is an idea that is going to take your ministry to a whole new level.  

The idea is there, you're just not asking enough people to find it.  That's why everyone should be your mentor.  Walt took that approach and did pretty well.  I bet you can too!

p.s. If you want to see tons of ideas from Disney that you can apply to your ministry, then check out the book "If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry,"  You can get it at this link.

Walt's vision for creating Disneyland was at a crossroads.  To move forward, it had to be approved by the board of directors.  Several of the board members were complaining that Disney shouldn’t even enter the amusement park business.  Walt had to convince them that his vision was viable.

"As he stood before the board, he admitted that it was hard for them to envision Disneyland the way he could, but he assured them, ‘there’s nothing like it in the world.  I know because I’ve looked.  That’s why it can be great: because it will be unique.  A new concept in entertainment, and I think...I know...it can be a success.’  When he finished there were tears in his eyes. The members of the board were persuaded.”

Walt knew how to effectively communicate his vision.  Here’s another great example as told by Ken Anderson, one of the animators who worked on the original film Snow White.  He shares how Walt communicated the vision with the animators.

“Walt gave us fifty cents each in the afternoon and he said, ‘Why don’t you go get yourself a dinner and be back here at eight o’clock.  Be back on the soundstage.’  So we went and had this wonderful dinner - you could have a wonderful dinner for thirty-five cents.  And came back to the confines of the studio and he walked in, still not knowing what it was all about, walked into this sound stage that was all dark so we could save money.  So we, about forty of us sat there, and we got all settled and Walt was talking to the guys in the front.  And he came down the front of the thing and said, ‘I’m gonna’ tell you a story.’  He says, ‘Been with me all my life.’  He said, ‘I’ve lived it.’  He started in and told the story of Snow White better than we put it on the screen. 

He spent from 8:00 to 11:30, and he portrayed all the parts.  He had to go forward and back and forward and back and the cutting didn’t matter, in order to tell it all and get it all in.  But he became even the Queen, he became the Huntsman, he became the dwarves, he became Snow White.  And the guy changed.  He sat right in front of our eyes and here comes Walt Disney changing.  Now there’s an enormous talent as an actor; he could really sell things.  And he sold the story to us in such a way that we couldn’t believe our ears."

From this inside look at Walt’s leadership, we learn that when a vision is effectively shared, people will be motivated to help make the vision become a reality.  Communicating your vision is a crucial part of seeing it become a reality.  Without Walt casting the vision, there would have been no Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  You see, a vision that is not communicated properly will fall.

Let's look at some key elements of effectively communicating a vision.

Communicate the vision with passion.  Great leaders believe in their vision in the depths of their soul and it is obvious when they talk about it.  Did you notice that Walt had tears in his eyes as he shared his vision to build Disneyland?  Have you ever watched the video of Dr. King sharing his vision at the Washington Monument?  The passion for his vision echoed throughout his speech that day.  When president John F. Kennedy stood and uttered the words "so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country," his passion for the vision was evident.

A new logo.  Several times when we needed a fresh vision for a children’s ministry I had been called to lead, I would create a new logo.  A new logo can be a symbol of a new and exciting vision.  Make sure you have someone professionally create your logo.  A shabby or “I-did-it-myself ” logo will communicate that the vision is shabby.

Make sure new volunteers understand the vision.  This helps them see the “why” of their role and not just the “how” of their role.  A great place to do this is in a new volunteer orientation.

Communicate the vision at the beginning of a new year.  Each January, I take our staff team on a one-day retreat.  During this retreat, I share the vision for the upcoming year.

Keep your vision statement as short as possible.  I sigh when I see a church’s vision statement that is a paragraph or longer.  There is no way people are going to remember something that long.  Our brains are wired to remember about 7 words or less.  That’s why our phone numbers are 7 digits long.  Use this not only to communicate upcoming events or programs, but your vision as well. 

This is an excerpt from the book If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry.  You can get the book in eBook and hard copy formats at this link.

As a young man, Walt Disney was hired to work at the Kansas City Star newspaper.  He was later fired from the paper because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."

In 1922, he started his first film company with a partner in Kansas City.  Disney couldn't cover his overhead and his studio went bankrupt in 1923.  Things got so bad at one point that he could not pay his rent and survived by eating dog food.

When Walt tried to get MGM Studios to distribute Mickey Mouse in 1927, he was told that the idea would never work - a giant mouse on the screen would terrify women.

His movie, Pinocchio, lost a million dollars in its first release.

His movie, Alice in Wonderland, initially lost a half-million dollars.
   
His movie, Sleeping Beauty, was a financial failure, leading to animation layoffs and a company-wide annual loss.

Walt never lived to see Fantasia become a success.  1940 audiences were put off by its lack of a story.  Also the final scene, with the devil damning the souls of the dead, was considered unfit for children.

The movie, Pollyanna, in 1960 failed at the box office.  It was concluded that the title was off-putting for boys.

The city of Anaheim originally rejected the plans for Disneyland, saying it would attract “riff-raff.”

Worthwhile visions aren’t easy.  The road is usually uphill and involves sweat and determination.  You have to work for it...sometimes for years and even decades.  And you will fail on the way.  Like any leader, Walt faced many obstacles and failure.  But the difference – he didn’t give up on his vision.  He was a finisher.  Nothing would stop him from seeing his vision fulfilled.

All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me. You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.  -Walt Disney

The reason many leaders don’t see their vision fulfilled is because they give up when things get bumpy on the road to the vision.  You see, sticking with a vision is just as important as casting a vision.

A vision fulfilled is normally the result of 1,000 failures.

What is the vision you have given up on?  What is the vision you have stopped praying for?  What is the vision you’ve stopped sharing because of the “no’s” you’ve heard?  Keep pursuing it!  Don’t give up!  It’s better to fail on the way to accomplishing your vision than to just stare at it from your comfort zone. The reward of seeing it come to pass will far outweigh the discomfort you went through to get there.  Just ask Walt!  Here’s what he said about creating Disneyland.

Well, it took many years. I started with many ideas, threw them away, and started all over again.  And eventually it evolved into what you see today at Disneyland.  -Walt Disney

This is article is an excerpt from the new book If Disney Ran Your Children's Ministry, where you'll find help to fulfill the vision God has placed in your heart.  You can get it today at kidminmouse.com.

Would the people you lead say you're a positive leader?  One of the qualities of a good leader is optimism.  I recently read a story about Walt Disney.  The year was 1928.  Walt had just finished up some business meetings and was sitting in Union Station in New York City, preparing to board a train back to California.

Before boarding the train, he sent a telegram to his brother that read: "Don't worry, everything okay, will give details when I arrive."

What the telegram didn't say was that Walt had just lost everything.  He had went to New York to negotiate a contract for his cartoons.  But on arrival, he found that his distributor had hired away most of his animators to start a new studio and produce the cartoons without Walt.

Instead of giving up...with no contract....no animators...no promises...he got right back to work and created Mickey Mouse.  From Walt's optimism, we can learn 3 things.

#1 - Face your circumstances with a positive attitude.  It's easy to be positive when things are going great.  A positive leader remains positive even in the midst of adversity.

#2 - Focus on what you have instead of what you don't have.  Notice how Walt immediately begin focusing on what he could do.  Instead of focusing on what had been taken from him, he turned his attention to what could not be taken from him...his creativity, passion and skills.

#3 - Find positive words to stay instead of negative words.  This is reflected in the telegram Walt send to his brother.  Positive leaders lead with positive words.

Are you a positive leader?

It's important to have an eye for detail.  Why?  Because excellence is found in paying fantastic attention to the small details.  A great children's ministry does the small things well.  And when the details are consistently done well, it builds people's trust and confidence in your ministry.

Trust me.  People notice when the small details are missed.  Your team notices.  Your volunteers notice.  Parents notice.  And yes...even kids notice.

And when you miss a detail...it can come back to bite you.  I've learned this the hard way over the years.  Here's an example.  Years ago, we had ordered new t-shirts for all our volunteers.  We asked our ad. min. to send out an email to all our volunteers, letting them know they could pick up their shirt that weekend.  The email went out...but one small, tiny detail was overlooked.  She accidentally left the "r" out of shirt in the email.  Yes...that's right...an email went out to all of our volunteers telling them to come pick up their sh#t that weekend.  Needless to say, we had to do a lot of damage control over that one small detail that was missed.

So how good are you at the details?  Here's a little quiz.  See how many mistakes you can find in the following email.  I'll give you the answer in the comment section below.

Dear Volunteers, 
Thank you for sering this past weekend.  We had great service and saw lots of kids and parent attend.  This coming weekend, wed like to honor you for serving with a free lunch after the service.  Join us in the cafe as we celebate you.  We'll be serving spagetti and Pastor Rob will be present to thank you for your hert for kids and families.  I lok forward to seeing you.  Have a great week and know you are loved and apreciated. 

How'd you do?  If you don't have an eye for detail, it's something that can be learned through discipline and intentionality.  You can also surround yourself with people who do have a natural eye for detail.  And even if you do have an eye for detail, it's still important to surround yourself with other people who have an eye for detail.  One person can't see everything, no matter how good their eye for detail is.

If you'd like to get some more help with paying attention to the details, check out these articles.

The Little Whispers That Speak Loud 
Success is in the Details...A Lesson from Walt Disney 
Do You Recognize the Importance of 100 Little Details?

"The best leadership legacy is not one that is fondly remembered, but one that is actively emulated."
Disney Institute

July 17, 1955, Walt Disney opened Disneyland.  60 years later, Disney employees are still carrying on his legacy.

Below is a video that features several Disney employees who were working at Disneyland when Walt was there.

As you listen to them talk, you'll see a great example of what it means to leave a leadership legacy.

Here are a few thoughts I had after watching this.  Would enjoy hearing your thoughts as well in the comment section below.

• A legacy is not a true legacy unless the leader's values are transferred to the followers. 

• Good leaders have a vision that lives during their lifetime.  Great leaders have a vision that lives beyond their lifetime in the actions and attitudes of their successors.

• Good leadership - people carry on the name of the leader.  Great leadership - people not only carry on the name of the leader, but what the name of the leader stands for as well.

• When a leader truly leaves behind a legacy, his passion can still be felt even in the absence of his presence. 

50 years ago, Walt Disney was developing an experimental audio-animatronic Tiki Bird for his newest attraction...the Enchanted Tiki Room.

As he met with his developers, he watched the bird blink, move and sing.  He was excited, but there was one thing he felt was missing.  The Tiki Bird wasn't programmed to breathe.

His team had a good answer:  The circuits, valves and pumps made it difficult to add an element that hardly anyone would notice.  If the bird was breathing, and 99% of the audience would likely never notice, would it make a difference?  One of the Imagineers said to Walt, "People are not going to get this.  This is too much perfection."

Walt listened to the team and then shared a lesson that is one of the secrets of The Walt Disney Company's success.  "People can feel perfection."  Quality is the imperceptible things that guests might not even know they see.  But "devotion to detail lets guests know that they're worth the effort."

Any area that families come in contact with you is an area that you must be committed to excellence in.  This includes...

• First-time guest experience
• Check in / check out
• Music
• Facilities
• Programming
• Correspondence by phone or email
• Classes
• Decor
• Cleanliness
• Signage

Your commitment to excellence in these and other areas will determine your success.  Show me a great children's ministry and I'll show you a ministry that does the small details well.  Yes...success is found in the details.

When it comes to customer service, Disney sets the standard.  There is much we can learn from them in this area.

Keep in mind that new families usually decide if they're going to return to your church based on how you treat them on their first visit.  So it's critical to get this area right.

Giving families a great first experience doesn't happen by accident.  It's the result of great training and intentionality.

There are 16 key rules that Disney employees are taught as part of their training process.  Many of these can also be used to train children's ministry volunteers and help create a experience for families at your church.

#1 - Cast members.  All Disney employees are called a Cast Member.  This goes for all Disney employees from the ride operators to the janitors.

Children's Ministry takeaway -  What you call your team members matters.  Pick a name that conveys a sense of ownership and family.

#2 - Never say "I don't know."  Cast members can't say "I don't know," no matter what the question is.  Instead, they have to pick up the phone and call an operator to get the answer.

Children's Ministry takeaway - We've all had it happen.  We've asked a question at a place of business or a church and been told, "I don't know."  Just left hanging.  Feeling like you're not important enough for the person to muster enough effort to find out.

Train your volunteers to never say, "I don't know."  Instead, train them to say, "That's a great question...let me find out for you."  Then train them to do whatever it takes to find out the answer.  A great starting point is to make sure your volunteers have the information they need to answer questions.  Equip them with a list of activities, events, classes, etc that are going on.  Also make a list of FAQ's that new families might ask and equip your volunteers with the answers.

#3 - Beards can not be shaped and mustache can not extend over their lips or further than the corner of their mouth. 

Children's Ministry takeaway - This one doesn't totally translate into children's ministry, but is a good reminder that a professional appearance is important.

#4 - Hair code.  Disney cast members can not shave their eyebrows.  Hair must be neatly brushed.  Men's hair can not extend over the ears or hang over a shirt collar.  Beads are not allowed in the hair, however braids are acceptable but must be neat.

Children's Ministry takeaway - Another good reminder that a professional appearance is important.

#5 - Autographs.  Disney cast members go through signature training, if they are going to become one of the characters.  For each character, they have to follow very specific guidelines when writing signatures because they all need to be consistent regardless of who might be playing that character that day.

Children's Ministry takeaway -  Excellence is found in the details.  Another is the importance of consistency in values, procedures and culture.

#6 - Character Height - You can only be a certain height to play a character at Disney.  For example, to be a princess, you can only be between 5'4" and 5'8". 

Children's Ministry takeaway - It's important to put volunteers in the right role.  More on how to do this in this post.

#7 - Finger nails - Did you notice that Disney cast members don't usually have nail polish on?  If they have any at all, the polish needs to be a neutral color and no one in food or beverage is allowed to have any at all.  Furthermore, women's finger nails can only be a 1/4 inch past the finger and all males can not be past their finger tips.

Children's Ministry takeaway - Another good reminder that a professional appearance is important.

#8 - Body art - Disney cast members can not have any visible tattoos, tongue piercings or ear gauges. 

Children's Ministry takeaway - Another good reminder that a professional appearance is important.

#9 - Glasses - Those that need to wear glasses cannot wear glasses that have any type of branding (logos, etc) on them.  Also, the colors and frames must be conservative in nature.

Children's Ministry takeaway - Another good reminder that a professional appearance is important.

#10 - Cleaning - Every cast member is responsible for keeping the park clean.  If a cast member spots a piece of trash, they must pick it up and dispose of it.

Children's Ministry takeaway - Cleanliness is vital in Children's Ministry and is everyone's job.  A messy and cluttered environment is a turn-off for families.

#11 - How you clean - When a cast member spots a piece of trash, they must not bend over.  That is simply not proper.  You will see them instead pick it up in a scoop like manner. 

Children's Ministry takeaway - It's not just what you do, but how you do it, that creates a culture of excellence.

#12 - No finger pointing allowed - If you ever ask a cast member for directions, he will not point with one finger.  This is viewed as offensive in some cultures.  Instead, he will use his entire hand or use at least 2 fingers to point.

Children's Ministry takeaway - While it is recommended to always walk a family to a location, in a situation where volunteers need to point someone in the right direction, teach them to point with at least 2 fingers.

#13 - Social media guidelines - Cast Members are not allowed at any time to talk about what they do at Disney on social media platforms. 

Children's Ministry takeaway - It's important that volunteers agree to not post anything questionable or offensive on social media.  Kids and parents are on social media and we must maintain a good testimony online.  Here's more about social media guidelines for volunteers in children's ministry.

#14 - First name only - Walt Disney always liked to be called by his first name "Walt," so this is why you only see cast member's first name on their name tag.  Friends and family operate on a first name basis. 

Children's Ministry takeaway - Create a family atmosphere.  Team spirit must trump titles.

#15 - Code words - There are plenty of code words that cast members use through out the park to cover up the real meaning of what is happening.  One in particular is rather telling.  When a guest throws up, you might hear the code word "Protein Spill" or as of late it has been called "Code V."

Children's Ministry takeaway - Create code words for incidents such as a child missing, accident, lock down, etc.  This will help alleviate panic if you need to communicate about an incident where people can hear.  Know ahead of time what you will do in an emergency situation. 

#16 - Cast Members must always stay in character no matter what.  Don't expect a Disney character to know anything outside of the Disney Universe.  So don't ask Tinkerbell what she thinks about Superman.  She will have no idea what you are talking about. 

Children's Ministry takeaway - Another example of commitment to the details that creates a culture of excellence.

Do you want to effectively talk with kids?  Here's 5 keys that can make you a pro.

Use their name.
The sweetest sound to anyone's ears is their name.  Make sure you use kids' names when you are talking with them.  That can be a challenge if you have a class of 20 kids.  If you have a hard time remembering names, then make sure the kids wear name tags.

But that should be a short term fix.  The goal is to know their names.  I have a friend who can hear someone's name one time and then remember it months later.  I asked him how he did it.  He said when he hears the person's name for the first time, he says it in his head 10 times over.  Once he does that, he's got it.

Another idea for remembering names is to repeat their name back to them several times when you first meet them.  An example would be a new kid named Jaques.  When you are introduced to him, respond by saying something like, "Hey Jaques, we're so glad you're here.  Jaques how old are you?  Jaques what grade are you in?" etc.

One other idea for remembering names is word association.  Perhaps the child's name is Rosalyn and you notice that she has on a red shirt.  Associate her with R's.  Red and Rosalyn.  You get the idea.

Look through their eyes and enter their world.
Children haven't changed, but childhood has changed.  We were doing a video shoot last weekend.  There was a 4th grader in the shoot.  I noticed between filming scenes, he was over using his cell phone to text people.  When I was a kid, there were no cell phones.  Childhood has changed. 

If you have kids, it's easier to stay in their world because it's naturally part of your world.  But if you don't, you have to be intentional about looking through their eyes and entering their world.  What are some ways you can do this?

• Ask them what they like.
• Flip over and watch the Disney channel and Nickelodeon channel occasionally.
• Walk through the toy aisle when you are shopping and notice which toys are popular.

Did you know when Walt Disney was building Disney Land that he made the designers get down on their knees when they were creating main street?  He wanted to make sure they designed it at a kid's eye level.  What was he doing?  He was entering the world of kids.  Which leads to the next point.

Talk about their interests.
If you want to effectively talk with kids, you have to find common ground.  Once you know their world, you can talk with them about their interests.

I remember there was a boy sitting in the back of the classroom.  He didn't want to listen and was sitting back there with his arms crossed and a scowl on this face.  I went back and sat down beside him.  Instead of correcting him, I simply asked if he had a PlayStation, Xbox or Wii.  Bam.  He immediately snapped out of the scowl and began talking with me about video games.  His attitude changed and he was able to engage with the class.  What happened?  Instead of jumping on his case, I entered his world.

Talk with kids about their video games, favorite movies, family, school, toys and pets.  Do this and you will have their attention.

Don't look down at them. 
We forget what it's like to be a kid and have to stare up at the giant adult that is looking down at you.  When you talk to a child, get down on and get on direct eye level with them.  This simple step makes a huge difference.

Don't talk down to them.
We have a tendency to talk down to kids.  This manifests itself in our voice changing to a "baby talk" tone or a "pampering" tone.  I have found that kids often respond better if you simply talk to them like you would a normal person.  Because guess what?  They are normal people.  They deserve our honor and respect like everyone else.  Instead of talking down to them, talk to them just like you would anyone else. 

One weekend, I was brought a 4-year-old who "didn't want to stay in class."  I sat down with him and asked him point blank, "Are you a big kid?" 

He quickly answered "yes."  I then said, "You're not a baby.  You're a big kid.  Why don't you act your age and go into your class with the other big kids."

It clicked and he went into the room.  If I had babied him, I think the opposite would have happened. 

Of course, I am not talking about using big words or being harsh or unkind.  Our words should always be spoken with love and care. 

Here's the bottom line...
Kids don't care what you have to say until they know you care about them.  And the way you show you care about them?  All of the above.  When you do these things, they will open their heart to receive what you have to say.

The floor is yours.  What are some other tips for effectively talking with kids?  Share with us in the comment section below.

Disney World is the number #1 family vacation destination in the world.  It has incredible rides, shows, attractions, restaurants, parades, music, fireworks and more. 

All of this adds to the magic, but there is one key that makes it such a special place for families.  It’s the Cast Members…the people who work there…that make Disney World the “happiest place on earth.” 

Walt Disney built Disney on 4 principles.  These 4 principles are the secret sauce behind their success over the years.

Dream
From the early days, when the staff could fit into one room, Walt had the ability to gather employees together and capture their imaginations with what could be.

Walt's dreaming was inclusive.  He sought ideas and suggestions from everyone on team.  In fact, employees were not just asked to give input, but required.

Action steps:

• Be committed to dreaming that inspires creativity.
• Set aside time to dream.  Go off-site at least once a year to dream, pray, and plan.
• Encourage everyone on the team to dream and share their ideas, input, and suggestions. 
• Set up pathways that enable the team to share their ideas, input, and suggestions.

Believe
Walt built Disney on values and beliefs.  His passionate belief in the need to instill a company culture led him to set up a formal training program that has become known as Disney University. 

Action steps:

• Formalize your vision and values.  Put them in writing.
• Communicate your vision and values constantly.
• Have each area of your children's ministry write down how they can align with the overall vision and values.
• Let your vision and values guide your decision making.

Dare
Walt knew what it meant to go out on a limb.  He dared to meet challenges, he dared to take risks, he dared to excel.  At times...especially in the early years...he risked it all to see the dream become a reality.

Action steps:

• Take a hard look at your current programs, processes, and philosophy.  Is it working?  Is it time for change?  Are you willing to take a risk to get out of your comfort zone?  Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get out of the rut you're in?
• Create a culture where failure is part of the learning and growing process.

Do
Disney wasn't built with wand-waving or "abracadabras."  It was built on detailed preparation, planning, and execution.

Here's his formula.

Step 1 - Blue skies

• ask "what if?"
• be okay with the discomfort of being out of the comfort zone

Step 2 - Concept development

• research
• evaluate
• recommend

Step 3 - Feasibility

• reconcile the dream with what can be done

Step 4 - Schematic

• finalize your plans
• outline the process needed to get you there

Step 5 - Objectives

• finalize details, equipment and materials needed
• develop strategy and budget

Step 6 - Contract documents

• prepare contracts 

Step 7 - Production

• develop
• produce

Step 8 - Install, test, adjust

• install or implement your plans

Step 9 - Close out

• monitor performance

Step 10 - Celebrate

• take time to celebrate the accomplishment

Action Steps:

• Develop a process for implementing your ideas.
• Ask people to own steps of the process.  Let them lead the areas you assign them without micromanaging them.

"The way to get started is to quit talking and get started." - Walt Disney

I'm reading a new book called "Dream It! Do It!  My Half-Century Creating Disney's Magic Kingdom."

It's written by Marty Sklar.  Marty is a Disney legend and Imagineer.  I am picking up so many great ideas from this book about connecting with children and families.  Here's the first 25...

Know your audience.  Identify the prime audience for your attraction or show before you begin your design.

Wear your guests' shoes.  Insist that your team members experience your creation just the way guests do.

Organize the flow of people and ideas.  Make sure there is a logic and sequence in your stories and in the way guests experience them.

Create a visual magnet.  Create visual targets that will lead visitors clearly and logically through your facility.

Communicate with visual literacy.  Make good use of color, shape, form, texture - all the nonverbal ways of communication.

Avoid overload - create turn-ons.  Resist the temptation to overload your audience with too much information and too many objects.

Tell one story at a time.  Stick to the story line; good stories are clear, logical, and consistent.

Avoid contradictions - maintain identity.  Details in design or content that contradict one another confuse an audience about your story or the time period it takes place in.

For every ounce of treatment, provide a ton of treat.  Educate people, but don't tell them you're going to do it.  Make it fun!

Keep it up!  Maintain things.  Everything must work.  Poor maintenance is a poor show.

Create and maintain a climate of trust. 

Be responsive and make decisions - that's what leaders do!

Empower your teammates - it takes many hands to bake success.

Create opportunities for new birds to fly.

Remember - experience is not a negative.

Make sure yours is not the only voice you are listening to.

Celebrate diversity and different points of view.

Never rest on your laurels - the next at-bat is your most important.

Take a chance.  Support risk taking.

Provide plenty of blank paper. 

Creative people thrive on "yes if."

One of Walt's strengths in his relationship with talent was that he made it clear he cared about us.

He taught the team concept by his own actions.  Everyone was equal in a story meeting - Walt just rolled up his sleeves and was one of the group.

Walt was open to everyone's thoughts.  He was a referee.

Disney makes many mistakes; what artist doesn't?  But when we fly, we really fly. 

Stop by tomorrow for 25 more ideas.