To Dream With Courage

"Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion, no matter where it is exercised. Usually it implies some risk--especially in new undertakings. Courage to initiate something and to keep it going-- pioneering and adventurous spirit to blaze new ways, often, in our land of opportunity."
- Walt Disney

I never met Walt Disney, but I was introduced to his philosophy in the summer of 1983. I had come to the Walt Disney Company with an idea for a show called "Saturday In The Park." It was quite an ambitious project I was proposing: Every show would be done on location at an national or amusement park throughout the country. I would gather a group of kids and together we would explore the park and discover "guest stars" along the way.It was that grand idea that brought me to the table and while it was not what they were looking for, it led to another Disney project. The result was hosting an new show on a new medium: The Disney Channel. It was called, "You and Me, Kid."For 10 years, the program taught parents and kids how to have fun by using their imagination.

I am continually approached by those who watched as children.The experience taught me two valuable lessons:

• One was the viewpoint of a man named Walt: To never say never and never stop looking at the world through the eyes of a child.
  
• And, secondly, that what you may dream of may take you to something bigger and better.

May we all dream with courage.