By Rolf Crocker

It isn’t too often that a book will have what I would call an ‘epiphany impact’ upon me.  The book reviewed below is now on my list of required reading for anyone desiring to improve their leadership skills, become more creative or be inspired to become a part of something greater than themselves. 

How To Be Like Walt by Pat Williams (©2004 Health Communications, Inc.  I have had the opportunity to review Pat Williams before (Paradox of Power – September 2004 Newsletter).  For those of you who don’t know, besides being a national motivational speaker and teacher on leadership, Pat is also Senior Vice President of the Orlando Magic NBA franchise.  This book is unique on several levels.  Number one – this book was written with the permission of the Disney family, and contains interviews with anyone still living who knew Walt Disney.  Number two - it is an excellent biography from soup to nuts on the life of Walt Disney.  Number three – Pat breaks down each biographical chapter with lessons on how to be like Walt.  As Pat makes abundantly clear, Walt was not perfect and by no means a saint.  However, by virtue of his modest, Midwest upbringing, he embodied many strong, solid character traits that infused every aspect of his creations.  Walt was a unique mix of Nostalgist and Futurist, Extravagance and Frugality, Cheerleader and Taskmaster.

I’ll close with a quote from Disney historian Jim Korkis located on page 49 of the book that is, quite literally, setting the course for my life in 2005:

            “Today, you hear people talk about ‘thinking outside the box.’  But Walt would say, ‘No!  Don’t think outside the box!  Once you say that, you’ve established that there is a box.’  Walt would refuse to accept the existence of the box.”  In essence, THERE IS NO BOX.  5 Stars!