The Man Behind Walt Disney

TL;DR

Hey, I’m Tim! ☕

Last time, you read about brothers who got each drafted by the Nazi party and started a generational feud.

Let’s switch it up. This time, you’ll read about brothers from the same time period who built an empire of imagination and innovation.

From movies to music, and parks to princesses, this is the story of Disney.

Here’s the one thing to remember: influence isn't about being seen; it’s about being felt. True leaders don't seek the spotlight. They make sure the light shines on others.

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Let’s get into it ⤵

DEEP DIVE

"Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” — Roald Dahl, a fighter jet pilot and military intelligence officer turned children’s’ book author of all things.

Walt’s Wingman

• While Walt Disney is a household name, many of you might not realize that behind the scenes, his brother Roy was actually the company’s first CEO.

• Roy secured the funding for Walt’s wildly ambitious ideas and managed business operations while Walt was the creative genius behind the stories.

• Although Roy held titles like CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board, he consistently rejected the publicity and fame that came with the Disney brand.

• Even in a tense argument against each other, Roy took a moment to remind everyone present that none of them would be there if it weren’t for Walt.

Actionable Advice

• Splitting responsibilities evenly might sound ideal, but even Roy and Walt had their fair share of heated arguments. Blur the boundaries when necessary.

• Vision without action is hallucination. Action without vision is wandering. Think of it not as a balancing act but as counterbalancing from one end to the other.

• Define success internally. Neither brother cared about receiving credit for their work. They understood it was a combined effort and both were indispensable.

• Actively fight to give your cofounder more credit. Walt wanted to name the company Disney Brothers, but Roy insisted otherwise.

TIM’S TAKE

Candid Comments

• From the stories I read, they debated hard like any good cofounders (or brothers for that matter) but always had each others’ back in the end.

• Unconditional support is a rare commodity. It only exists if you place your cofounder above the company. Weirdly, that’s the key to making it all work.

• It’s cliché, but it really is you and your cofounder against the problem, not each other. Look at the Dassler brothers compared to the Disney brothers.

• If you’re overwhelmed at any point in your entrepreneurial journey, remember this — Disney started with a mouse.

Related Resources

• If you’re the Roy of your company and you deal with the foundational stuff like legal, equity, finance, and HR, then check out Carta, the platform for it all.

• Searching for a cofounder? Check out StartHawk for an online platform and join LFC.DEV's in-person meet-ups in NYC for face-to-face connections.

• Both Superpowers for Good and FundingHope share incredibly powerful stories about companies doing social good. Yours could be next.

LAST LOOK

Make sure your cofounder sees this — either pass it along or get them to subscribe. A solid relationship takes everyone's effort.

Looking for a cofounder coach? Hit reply.

PS: I chatted with a lawyer who specializes in helping startups. More info on how we’re planning to team up soon.

Tim He
Founder & CEO