The movie “Saving Mr. Banks” is an inspiring story about how Walt Disney persistently pursued P. L. Travers to produce a movie from her Mary Poppins novel. By looking at these two-real people and the fictional character of Mary Poppins, we can take away a few lessons. Their approach to life and business has many applications for those in the IT business.
Walt Disney’s Character
Walt Disney was a true pioneer in the film and animation industry. He didn’t shy away from challenges and was not deterred by failure. He simply refused to give up and famously said his life’s challenges made him stronger. He was determined to get the rights to produce Mary Poppins and did all he could to convince P.L. Travers to give them to him. His persistence paid off and the Mary Poppins movie was a great success.
Convincing P.L. Travers was no easy matter. She simply would not budge despite all his best efforts. Walt Disney adapted his approach and sought to understand her reservations. Disney got to the root of the matter and was able to address her concerns. He asked her to trust him with her creation and did everything to prove himself.
To succeed in the IT industry, one must be able to learn from failures and keep pressing forward. If, for example, a new product or service is not embraced by clients, or advertising efforts do not yield the desired results, use these experiences as a learning opportunity. Once you know what doesn’t work, you are nearer to discovering what does work.
In order to deliver great value to your clients, it is vital that you understand them. What do your clients really want, what are their main issues and concerns, and how best can you meet their needs? By finding the answers to these questions, you can position your business to be their go-to for IT services. When you listen to your clients, they begin to trust you.
P.L. Travers’ Character
In “Saving Mr. Banks,” we see P.L. Travers as someone who knew the value of what she had created in the character of Mary Poppins. She was not willing to give the movie rights over to someone who hadn’t proved they valued her work. In your IT business, do you recognize the value of the services you provide? If you emulate Travers’ passion, you can avoid selling yourself short.
Mary Poppins’ Character
As a result of Disney’ persistence, the character of Mary Poppins was brought to life for children and adults alike to enjoy. In the Mary Poppins movie, the main character shines through as a happy and magical character. There are many lessons to be learned from that movie as well. One of her famous songs is titled “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down”. She sings it to drive home her point that work can be made less mundane by making room for the fun side of it.
In your IT company, you should also find ways to make work less tedious. You can try creative ways to keep employees actively engaged. Consider using a different selling approach and offer incentives. Recognize your employees’ efforts and strive to make the work environment more dynamic.
“Saving Mr. Banks” is an inspiring story about Disney’s determination to realize one of his dreams. Bringing Mary Poppins to life was a journey full of lessons for entrepreneurs and businesses. Consider how you can apply the lessons from Walt Disney’s determined approach and P.L. Travers’ commitment to her work to your IT business. You should also use find creative ways to make work more enjoyable.
