Using the Power of Creative Curiosity to Enhance Your Life & Career (inspired by the life of Walt Disney)
An intense curiosity transformed Walt Disney from a bankrupt high school dropout to a pioneer in the American animation industry. Undoubtedly, there were several vital ingredients that made him an unprecedented success, but what fueled him was his curiosity.
From his humble beginnings as a young boy in Kansas to his last days as a thriving entrepreneur in animation and entertainment, Walt displayed an insatiable desire to learn, explore possibilities, and put his knowledge to use.
To tell us more about Walt Disney’s inspirational story, I invited David Bossert, an award-winning artist, filmmaker, and author. He was a long-time animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios, who worked on iconic films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.
David and I explore the different facets of Walt’s career and how his natural instinct to question, innovate, and explore led to his unprecedented success, which has touched millions of lives around the world. I hope that listening to the Walt Disney story will jumpstart your curiosity and drive to create a magical life.
Learn more about David Bossert and his books at his website.
Interview timestamps:
05:04 ︳The importance of acting on your dreams and being resourceful
07:50 ︳What David learned from his friendship with Roy E. Disney (Walt Disney's nephew)
09:25 ︳How to optimize our life for creative thinking
13:54 ︳The value of taking personal retreats to clear our minds and boost our thinking
15:15 ︳How to develop our curiosity and its benefits
19:20 ︳David's advice for dealing with distractions and overwhelm
21:51 ︳How did Walt Disney's insatiable curiosity drive his success and innovative capacities
26:55 ︳How Walt Disney dealt with critics and naysays and what it can teach us
28:52 ︳The key traits of pioneers like Walt Disney, Steve Jobs and Elon Musk
31:15 ︳How to remain curious in the face of failure and negative self-talk
34:20 ︳The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people who encourage your growth
37:33 ︳How Walt Disney drove creativity in his employees and rise to creative challenges
42:44 ︳The importance of embracing new technology and getting outside your comfort zone
46:10 ︳Walt Disney's love for new technology and how he used it to enhance his parks and films
48:05 ︳How to develop a child-like curiosity if you're feeling cynical and inclined toward instant gratification
50:36 ︳What inspires David and jumpstarts his creativity
55:30 ︳The role of passion in tapping into their gifts
01:00:00 ︳What Walt Disney learned from a major failure in his career and used it to transform
01:02:00 ︳The essential role of having a vision and goals 01:04:30 ︳David talks about the intention and creative process of his new book