“It’s no secret that we were sticking just about every nickel we had on the chance that people would really be interested in something totally new and unique in the field of entertainment.”
- December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966
- Born in the United States
- Animator, film director, entrepreneur, producer
- Best known as the creator of Mickey Mouse, he established the animation film industry. As the founder of Disneyland, he is globally recognized as an iconic figure in the world of entertainment.
Quote
“It’s no secret that we were sticking just about every nickel we had on the chance that people would really be interested in something totally new and unique in the field of entertainment.”
Explanation
In this quote, Walt Disney reflects on the risks he took when pursuing new ventures, particularly in the realm of entertainment. Disney was often willing to invest everything he had into ideas that were innovative and untested, knowing that there was a significant chance of failure. However, he believed in the potential of new ideas and unique concepts to resonate with the public, even if the financial risks were enormous. This quote illustrates his willingness to gamble on his vision and the potential for success in the face of uncertainty. Disney’s commitment to creating something entirely new—whether in animation or theme parks—was foundational to his legacy of innovation.
Historically, this attitude was exemplified by Disney’s creation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The film was a huge financial risk, as it was the first feature-length animated film and the technology to produce it was still in its infancy. Disney faced skepticism from the industry, and many considered it a financial failure waiting to happen. Yet, he invested nearly every resource he had, and the success of Snow White proved to be a turning point in the film industry. Similarly, Disneyland was another massive financial gamble, with Disney putting everything on the line to create a new type of entertainment that had never been seen before.
In the modern context, Disney’s risk-taking mentality continues to resonate. Whether through the development of new technologies in animation, the creation of new franchises like Marvel and Star Wars, or ventures into streaming platforms with Disney+, the company continues to take risks in pursuit of innovative and unique entertainment experiences. Disney’s approach serves as a reminder to modern creators and entrepreneurs that true breakthroughs often require significant risk and a willingness to invest in the unknown, even when success is not guaranteed. The quote highlights the importance of visionary thinking in the pursuit of revolutionary ideas.
