If you walk down the street today singing “Do you want to build a snowman?” every child could tell you that’s the song from the new Disney movie, Frozen. Children grow up watching Disney movies, loving the characters, singing the songs and collecting the toys. But the success of this company that has now become a global business influencing millions of people around the world.

Walt Disney came from a difficult background and created his company from the ground up. Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901 in Hermosa, Illinois. As a child he loved to draw and would escape from the struggles of his life by escaping into the magical world he created. Disney started drawing for a career after returning from France in 1919 as a newspaper artist and working for the Kansas city Film Ad Company. After this he decided to open his own animation business with Fred Harman as his first employee. He later partnered with his brother Roy and moved to Hollywood to begin the Disney Brother’s Studio.

One of Disney’s biggest breakthroughs was in the creation of Mickey Mouse. The project of creating this character was in response to Charles Mintz stealing the rights to Disney’s animators. Steamboat Willie was a sensation and the cartoon that we know and love was born.

Walt continued with the first full-length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 and then Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo and Bambi.

During his life Disney won 22 Academy awards and was the founder of Disneyland and Walt Disney World. After his death in 1966 at the age of 65 his legacy continues today with love of these characters by children young and old around the world.

Walt Disney is an entrepreneurial success, creating a company that is now valued at $45.429 Billion. According to Jeannette Dozier in her article “7 Lessons Every Young Entrepreneur Can Learn from Walt Disney” she identifies the core qualities that led to Disney’s success. These include:

1. You must be a salesman “I’d say it’s been my biggest problem all my life… it’s money. It takes a lot of money to make these dreams come true.” -Walt Disney
2. Leadership is inspiration, innovation and focus. “You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.” -Walt Disney
3. Always be constantly improving. “Whenever I go on a rid, I’m always thinking of what’s wrong with the thing and how it can be improved.” -Walt Disney
4. Develop a high tolerance for risk. “We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” -Walt Disney
5. Change your attitude towards failure. “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me.. You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” -Walt Disney
6. Believe in yourself, even when everyone say’s you’re crazy. “When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way. Implicitly and unquestionable.” -Walt Disney
7. Resiliency is an entrepreneur’s best friend. “The difference in winning and losing is most often not quitting.” -Walt Disney.