Hey Weekly Growth Fam!

This week, in the spirit of perseverance and learning from setbacks, I want to share a story that perfectly encapsulates the power of bouncing back from adversity. I learned this after listening to How Walt Disney Built Himself from the Founders podcast.

The Magic After The Mistake

Walt Disney. The name conjures images of Mickey Mouse, fantastical theme parks, and a legacy of pure imagination. But before the empire, before the magic, there was a struggle. A young Walt Disney arrived in Hollywood in the 1920’s with a series of short films called Alice's Wonderland (not to be confused with Alice In Wonderland). Unfortunately, his distributor betrayed him, stealing his animators and essentially shutting down his business.

Devastating, right? This could have been the end of the Disney dream. But here's the inspiring part: Walt didn't let it break him. Instead, on the train ride home, he channeled his disappointment into creativity. He started sketching new characters and new animations. He was particularly fond of one character, sketched on a train napkin, that he initially would call Mortimer Mouse. Thankfully, his wife detested the name, though she loved the character, and they agreed on “Mickey” instead. This single act of resilience, of turning failure into fuel for innovation, laid the foundation for the Walt Disney Company we know today.

Here are some key takeaways from Walt's story:

• Setbacks are inevitable: We all face challenges and failures. It's part of the growing process.
• Don't dwell on the fall: Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward.
• Transform your frustration: Channel negative emotions into creativity and problem-solving.
• Embrace new beginnings: Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come after a major setback.

Remember, some of the greatest successes come after the most significant failures. Embrace the journey, learn from your mistakes, and never stop growing.

Quote of the Week

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." - Henry Ford

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Graduation is just around the corner (May 22nd, 2024 🤯), and my amazing wife, Madison, has cooked up something special. She's giving our friends and family the chance to contribute to a graduation card and leave a message of support! Whether it's a heartfelt note or a contribution of any size, your support will mean the world to both of us. Click the button below to participate in this exciting celebration! The deadline to contribute and share a message is May 22nd, so don't miss out!

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My Current Favs

🎙 Podcast: Founders

Learn from history's greatest entrepreneurs. Every week I read a biography of an entrepreneur and find ideas you can use in your work.

📖 Book: Mastery

Each one of us has within us the potential to be a Master. Learn the secrets of the field you have chosen, submit to a rigorous apprenticeship, absorb the hidden knowledge possessed by those with years of experience, surge past competitors to surpass them in brilliance, and explode established patterns from within. Study the behaviors of Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Leonardo da Vinci and the nine contemporary Masters interviewed for this book.

🛍 Amazon Store

Basically everything I own in my home. These things work for me! Hopefully they’ll work for you too!

The growth we want to see in the world starts with us. You just made an investment.

See you next week,

JR