I normally don’t get sad when I read business books. But Rich Hamilton’s “Disney Magic: Business Strategy You Can Use at Home and at Work” (Sellbetter Tools, September 2003) really got to me.
Why for? Because it was clear — as I read through this 112 page paperback — that Rich has a real fondness for the Walt Disney Company. In this well-researched volume, he cites example after example as to how the Mouse went that extra mile to deliver a great guest experience, an excellent theme park attraction and/or a supremely entertaining film.
Unfortunately, most of the examples that Hamilton cites are from Disney’s recent past. In reading through “Disney Magic,” I noticed there that seem to be no stories from the past five years. During that era when Disney CEO Michael Eisner decided to make taking profits — rather than pleasing people — his top priority.
Which makes me think that maybe the Walt Disney Company should invest in a couple of hundred copies of “Disney Magic: Business Strategy You Can Use at Home and at Work.” Then they could distribute these books to the suits that currently occupy the Team Disney buildings in Burbank, Anaheim and Lake Buena Vista. Remind these clueless execs what the Walt Disney name used to stand for.
Because that’s what clearly comes across in Hamilton’s book. That the Walt Disney name used to stand for excellence. In every arena that this corporation entered, Disney strove for excellence. To deliver a product that actually exceeded the customer’s expectations.
And — in “Disney Magic” — Rich shows you practical ways to use Disney’s own techniques to bring that same sort of excellence into your business and personal life. Brilliant little tips like:
- “Guestology” — Which tells you how to use Disney’s technique of exceeding guests expectations to improve your own dealings with your company’s customers.
- “Magic Moments” — Again borrowing pages from Disney’s own playbook, Hamilton explains how you can establish a relationship with your customers that virtually guarantees that they’ll never be lured away by your competition.
- “Fanatic Cards” — Which shows you another Disney-fied technique for keeping your customers as well as your staff happy, involved and accountable.
As I read through “Disney Magic: Business Strategy You Can Use at Home and at Work,” I found pieces of Disney history & culture that — thanks to Hamilton’s insight — I could now apply to my own personal life as well as improving the way JHM runs. (Speaking of which: Look for some pretty significant changes at this website starting next Monday morning. But we’ll talk more about that in tomorrow’s “Why For” column …).
In short, “Disney Magic” is an excellent little book. Filled with great little bits of Disney history, cool anecdotes about how this corporation really operates. Or — rather — USED to operate.
In fact, I think I’m going to buy a second copy of “Disney Magic” and send it off to Michael Eisner. With the hope that Disney’s CEO can learn from Rich Hamilton’s teachings and finally figure out a way to get the Mouse House back on track.
A quick & informative read, I can not say enough nice things about “Disney Magic: Business Strategy You Can Use at Home and at Work.” So go pick up a copy today.
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Would you like to own your very own copy of “Disney Magic: Business Strategy You Can Use at Home and at Work” as well as help support JHM? Well, then you can purchase Rich Hamilton’s excellent little volume from Amazon.com by clicking the link to the right. Your cost will (unfortunately) remain the same . But — if you go to that site through JHM — you help support this website (because we get a tiny cut of whatever it is you spend). So — if you’d like to help keep Jim Hill behind a computer where he belongs — order your very own copy of “Disney Magic: Business Strategy You Can Use at Home and at Work” today! |
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