RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

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.

We are blessed to have John Maxwell on our church's teaching team.

This past Wednesday in staff meeting, he shared 7 questions to ask people so you can continue to grow as a leader.

1. What is greatest thing you have ever learned in life?

2. What are you learning now?

3. How has failure shaped your life?

4 . Who do you know that I should know?

5. What should I read?

6. What have you done that I should do?

7. How can I add value to you?

Great leaders ask great questions.  These are great questions to add to your leadership tool belt.

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 and leadership.

Yesterday I shared the first 25.  Here's 25 more...

Be optimistic - if you are not positive, who else will be?

Courage and confidence are major cross streets on the road to success.

Make curiosity your search engine.

Learn to love your next assignment - be passionate about whatever you do.

Provide time to explore - but deadlines are great motivation and discipline.

Take time to teach - mentors are important.

Forget the politics - it's not an election.

Traditions are important - but change is the great dynamic.

Team and work are four-letter words - but together they spell "winner."

Remember, the last three letters of trend are E-N-D.

Speak up.  Great teammates raise issues before decisions are made.

Never be afraid to ask questions.  That's how we learn our parts - onstage and backstage.

Make your experience count.  That's why you're on the team.

Help the rookies succeed.  You were "new" once, too.

Understand your role - everyone has a job to do.

Never fear failure - winners sometimes fail, too!

But - know when to take a chance and always let your leaders know you're doing it.

Play by the rules.  If you disagree, work to change them after the game.

Share the joy of success - you didn't do it by yourself.

Support your teammates - at Disney, there's only one name on the door.

There are two ways to look at a blank sheet of paper.  It can be the most frightening thing in the world,  because you have to make the first mark on it.  Or it can be the greatest opportunity in the world, because you get to make the first mark - you can let your imagination fly in any direction, and create whole new worlds.

Never lose your faith in family entertainment.

When we go into a project , we believe in it all the way.  We have confidence in our ability to do it right.  And we work hard to do the very best job possible.

I go from one area of the studio to another and gather pollen and sort of stimulate everybody.  I guess that's my job. - Walt Disney

Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life.

Is your leadership fueled by self-interest or shared success?  There's a big difference.  Here's some key indicators.

Self-interest promotes the leader.  Shared success promotes the team.

Self-interest says "I."  Shared success says "we."

Self-interest pushes itself into the spotlight.  Shared success pushes others into the spotlight.

Self-interest makes sure it shines.  Shared success helps others shine.

Self-interest wants the credit.  Shared success gives the credit to others.

Self-interest passes the blame for failure.  Shared success takes the responsibility for failure.

Self-interest is always on stage.  Shared success raises up other people to be on stage.

Self-interest develops itself.  Shared success develops itself so it can better develop others.

Self-interest runs the show.  Shared success empowers others to run the show.

Self-interest can't be gone or things will "fall apart."  Shared success can be gone and things run as normal.

Self-interest makes sure he or she is the best leader on the team.  Shared success develops people to be even better leaders than he or she is.

Self-interest brags on itself.  Shared success brags on others.

Self-interest micromanages.  Shared success empowers and gets out of the way.

Self-interest has all the answers.  Shared success asks a lot of questions.

Self-interest does all the talking.  Shared success listens a lot.

Self-interest builds its kingdom in the church.  Shared success builds the entire church.

Self-interest surrounds itself with "yes men."  Shared success wants push back.

Self-interest always uses its own idea.  Shared success uses the best idea.

Bottom Line...
Self-interest uses people to build its ministry.  Shared success uses its ministry to build people.

What are some other indicators of self-interest vs. shared success leadership that we missed?  Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.