When we consider a new project, we really study it-not just the surface idea, but everything about it. And when we go into that new 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 best possible job.

Walt Disney in Walt Disney Imagineering, a behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real by The Imagineers, p.
83.


I stood in front of a class today trying to get a group of students to look at their paragraphs and spend some time editing, improving, or otherwise making the work better in some way. The majority simply felt the first shot at it was good enough and, you could tell, they had NO idea what I was looking for.

"What do you mean, develop the idea more? The grammar is good enough. I can't think of any details to add! I like it fine, thank you! Can I go to the bathroom?"

The funny thing about it is that some of these students have the same spark and creativity that I'd expect to find in a young imagineer.

OK, I know that writing a term paper is not as exciting as creating a multi-sensory theme park attraction, but just where do we start developing our skills for enthusiastic excellence? If we aspire to mediocrity all our lives, can we suddenly turn on the drive to succeed later? I wish I could ask Walt when he started to care so much about his creations? Can he bottle some of that for the rest of us?

I wonder when it was that Walt Disney knew that focusing his attention on the creation of a over-the-top magical theme park was worth the effort? I mean, he must have started before he had a clue that he'd finish the job.

I'll be honest, if someone came to me with the kind of plans that Walt must have been throwing out there, I'd think the person should cut down on the caffeine at the least.

I get it that much of the Disney empire was built with the ultimate goal of making a profit, but Walt, in those early years, could never have imagined what the future would hold.

I wonder about the goals that seem like too much effort for the fact that they might fail. I think of the dream projects that really don't seem to have enough reality to deserve my full attention when there is all this daily life to contend with. I think about my hesitation to devote energy to some of my long-shot plans. Mainly today, I'm thinking of those GOOD ideas that seemed too far fetched to even try. Like getting back to my ideal weight and fitness level. Like writing my first best seller. Like believing in my dreams again.

So, I am not much different than my students, not knowing how to get my thoughts refined to really reflect the full depth of what I want to say. Or not knowing how to get my hopes to the next level of action. Or wondering if, maybe, it isn't even worth it, so I may as well just relax.

So, here I am following through, at least, with my commitment to a blog a day, for what that is worth, and wondering... what if I gave that same daily time and attention to one of my dreams? Where might I be at the end of a school year?