EP145: What Is Your Disneyland?
THE MORE CLARITY YOU HAVE…
…the better results you will experience.
Enjoy!
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(The notes below are only a brief bullet point summary of what is discussed in the podcast. Be sure to listen to get all of the goodness! If you would like a full transcription of the episode, please send an email request to: angie@angie-robinson.com. We’d be happy to provide that!)
A question that I heard Jeff Barnes asked during his presentation has stuck with me. He asked: What is your Disneyland? This question, inspired by Walt Disney’s visionary dream of creating Disneyland, challenges us to identify our own ultimate vision or life’s passion. For Walt, Disneyland was the physical manifestation of his dream—a place where families could experience joy, wonder, and connection. But what does this metaphor mean for you?
When you ask yourself, What is your Disneyland?, you’re really asking about your own bold vision, the dream you want to pursue, and the impact you hope to make in your career, leadership, or even personal life.
Discovering Your Vision
Just as Walt Disney sat on a park bench watching his daughters ride the merry-go-round, a spark of inspiration can lead to something extraordinary. Disneyland wasn’t just a theme park; it was the culmination of Walt’s lifelong curiosity, imagination, and hard work. In the same way, your vision for your life, career, or leadership might start with a small spark of inspiration but requires clarity, persistence, and action to bring it to life.
What is your ultimate vision? Whether it’s in leadership, career, or personal endeavors, this question pushes you to explore your aspirations and the legacy you want to leave behind.
When to Ask the Question
There’s no “right” time to ask yourself this question. The best time might be now. However, certain situations often lend themselves to revisiting this question:
Feeling stuck in your career? Reflect on what you really want to achieve next.
Experiencing a career transition? After an unexpected change, like a job loss, take a moment to redefine your vision.
Setting yearly goals? This can be a natural time to align your actions with a bigger vision, much like many of us do with our Word of the Year.
How to Bring Your Vision to Life
So, how do you begin bringing your Disneyland to life? Start by exploring three key areas:
Your Vision: What is that big, transformative goal you're striving for? Think about your long-term aspirations and what you want to accomplish, whether it's career-related or about the legacy you want to leave in your leadership.
Your Values: What guiding principles shape how you lead or work? Get clear on your core values because they will guide your decisions and interactions along the way. Misalignment here can often signal that something needs to change.
Your Legacy: What lasting impact do you want to make? Consider how you want to influence the people you lead or the organization you're part of. How do you see yourself getting there?
These three areas are critical in aligning your daily actions with your vision, ensuring that each step moves you closer to your ultimate goal.
The Importance of Clarity
A well-defined vision is essential. It provides you with a “guiding star” to help navigate both opportunities and challenges. Just as Walt Disney’s vision guided him through obstacles while building Disneyland, your vision will help you overcome setbacks and stay focused on what truly matters.
In leadership, having a clear vision ensures that you are inspiring and guiding others effectively. For your career, it helps you stay aligned with the positions and organizations that will lead you toward your goals. It’s not only about imagining the future but also about defining the path to get there.
Overcoming Challenges
Challenges are inevitable. Just as Walt faced difficulties in bringing Disneyland to life, we all encounter setbacks—whether they are life events, resource limitations, or even our own doubts. But if you remain aligned with your vision and values, these obstacles become manageable stepping stones rather than roadblocks.
Bringing Your Disneyland to Life
Here are a few practical steps to make your vision a reality:
Communicate your vision: Share your goals clearly with your team, supervisors, or trusted individuals. Speaking your vision out loud helps bring it to life.
Live into your values: Align your daily actions with your core values. When your actions reflect your values, your leadership and career path become more authentic and fulfilling.
Get support: Foster a collaborative environment where others can contribute to building your Disneyland. Having a support system is crucial in navigating challenges and staying motivated.
Navigate obstacles: Expect setbacks, but use your vision and values to guide you through them. Persistence and resilience will help you stay the course.
The process of defining and pursuing your Disneyland isn’t always easy. It requires deep reflection, self-awareness, and sometimes getting out of your comfort zone. But when you’re clear on your vision, you’re better equipped to make decisions, overcome challenges, and create the impact you want to leave behind.
What Do You Think?
What is your Disneyland?
Head over to my Instagram account and send me a DM - - let me know what you come up with!
Links
Episode 7: The Magic of Knowing your Values
Episode 101: Crafting Your Leadership Statement
Episode 141: The Magic of Vision in Leadership (and Life)
Discover Your Values Worksheet (scroll down)
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