Habits and Hustle - Wondery: Business Movers

Episode Date: January 15, 2021

In Wondery’s newest series, Business Movers, host Lindsay Graham dives deep into the inner workings of some of the most successful companies of all time. From the origin stories of their famed leaders to the million dollar idea that catapulted them to success, how exactly did these companies grow from an idea and a dream to multi- billion dollar corporations? Hear the landmark decisions, the scandals, and the stunning triumphs that made them who they are. First up: Walt Disney. Listen at http://wondery.fm/habits_movers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by FX's The Bear. The hit series returns with Jeremy Allen White and the Golden Globe winning role of Karmie. He and the team will transform their family sandwich shop into a next-level spot, all while being forced to come together in new ways as they confront their past and reckon with who they want to be in the future. FX is The Bear, all episodes now streaming only on Hulu. In Wendry's new series, Business Movers, host Lindsey Graham died his deep into the inner workings from some of the most successful companies of all time. From the origin stories of their

fame leaders, to the million dollar idea that catapulted them to success. How exactly did these companies grow from an idea and a dream to a multi-billion dollar corporation? Here are the landmark decisions, the scandals, and the stunning triumphs that made them who they are. First up, Walt Disney. The first season features a name that has been synonymous with the entertainment industry since the early 20th century.

Walt Disney learned how even when faced with harrowing obstacles and wide ranging skepticism, he remained true to his vision and brought his world of magic to life. You're about to hear a preview of business movers. While you're listening, subscribe to business movers on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or listen early and add free in the Wondery app.

Disney Land is the happiest place on Earth, but it's also a business, and Walt, the shrewd entrepreneur, was a cut-throat businessman driven by a bold vision and a relentless pursuit of a better bottom line. While Walt's movies were critically acclaimed, they didn't always make money, but after Disneyland got over its rocky start, it made money, and a lot of it. In 1957 alone, the park grossed more than $11 million, well over $100 million today. But Wall was not motivated by dollars alone.

He was also driven by a desire for perfection. One set a showing of Fantasia when a journalist asked Wall why he was rearranging chairs at his own movie screening. Walt replied, because I like things just so. Walt's desire for perfection drove him to improve on Disneyland and create a second theme part. As he searched for the perfect location, Walt envisioned something bigger and better than Disneyland, something new and something perfect, a total destination resort, a city of tomorrow.

This is episode 1, Project Future. Behind every successful business is a story. It begins with a vision and then a leap of faith. Along the way people make bold decisions, ride through booms and busts, and sometimes they find success. Before I began hosting shows like American Scandal, American history tellers, and producing audio dramas like 1865, I got my masters in business, because I've always been interested in how businesses work,

how they grow, how they thrive. In business school, we looked at case studies. How did this business succeed? Why did that business fail? On business movers, we'll ask those same questions, and we'll dive into the true stories of the brilliant but all-too-human business leaders who risked it all. The critical moments that led to their triumph for failure and the ideas that transformed the way we live our lives. We begin with a four-episode series about Walt Disney

and what drove his desire to build a bigger and better theme park in Orlando, Florida. It's November 1963 in St. Louis, Missouri. Walt Disney has come to town nine months after construction began on the Gateway Arch, America's tallest man-made monument. St. Louis is a town on the rise, and today Disney brings with him the potential for another massive project, a second Disney theme park. The finances are sorted, the paperwork's been drafted. All that's left is to put pen to paper, which is why Walt Disney, his executives and a group

of local politicians and business leaders have gathered for a celebratory dinner. Walt sits at the head of the table, he looks dapper, with his neatly groomed mustache and slick, graying hair. All smiles Walt proposes a toast. Here's to a bright and successful future and a fruitful partnership. Here, here, here! After considering upward to a dozen cities, Walt chose St. Louis and no small part because the locals have been easy to work with. But that's all about to change. Because there's one dinner guest who is not smiley.

August, Gussie Bush Jr. the successful St. Louis beer magnet. Gussie is clearly skeptical of Walt Disney's theme park and he's about to blow the deal. Well Mr. Disney, looks like everything's in place but what about liquor? I beg your pardon? You heard me? Gussie's blunt question sucks the air out of the room and steals the smile off Walt's face. Booze is my business and St. Louis is my town. If you're going to be coming here at least like to know what your distribution plan is. Sitting nearby the local mayor tries to intervene. Well, now Mr. Bush, I believe that question has already been answered, hasn't it Walt?

It has. Walt's position on liquor is non-negotiable. As long as he's around, it will never be sold on Disney property. Walt believes liquor would cheapen the Disney image, and the family-friendly Disney brand. Who Walt doesn't say a word to Gussie. He quietly listens as the brash Mr. Bush presses the issue. I think liquor is critical. Like I said, the question's already been answered. Then we ought to revisit the issue, Mr. Mayor.

The fact is, any man who thinks he can design an attraction that is going to be a success in this city, and not serve beer or liquor ought to have his head examined. It's now Rage's taunt, but Walt doesn't blow his top. He hardly shows any emotion at all. He simply raises his right eyebrow. The Disney executives in the room have seen this look before, and they know exactly what it means. Walt is livid.

Later that night, Walt returns to his hotel suite across town. One of his executives walks into his room. Good night, Mr. Disney. What time can we have the plane in the morning? The plane? We have a meeting in the morning. We're supposed to forget about that. It's finished.

We're not going to that meeting. Have the plane ready first thing. Whether or not Walt Disney abandoned St. Louis because of Gussie Bush's offensive comment is not entirely known. But what he is known by all of us is that no Disney theme park was built in St. Louis. And the story about Disney and Gussie Bush illustrates a critical fact about the man many called Uncle Walt. He was a hard-nosed businessman who did not back down. Walt was determined that Disney World would eventually eclipse Disneyland and to achieve that goal, he would embrace

what worked the first time and improve on what didn't. The liquor policy was essential. The family-friendly Disney brand was more precious to Walt than any possible location for the park, no matter how accommodating. But the most important lesson Walt had learned the first time around was not about booze. It was about the importance of keeping this secret. This episode is brought to you by the YAP Media Podcast Network. I'm Holla Taha, CEO of the award-winning digital media empire YAP Media, and host of YAP Young & Profiting Podcast, a number one entrepreneurship and self-improvement podcast where you can listen, learn, and profit. On Young & Profiting Podcast, I interview the brightest minds in the world

and I turn their wisdom into actionable advice that you can use in your daily life. Each week, we dive into a new topic like the art of side hustles, how to level up your influence and persuasion and goal setting. I interview A-list guests on Young & Profiting. I've got the best guests.

Like the world's number one negotiation expert, Chris Voss, Shark, Damon John, serial entrepreneur Alex and Leila Hermosi, and even movie stars like Matthew McConaughey. There's absolutely no fluff on my podcast, and that's on purpose. Every episode is jam packed with advice that's gonna push your life forward. I do my research, I get straight to the point, and I take things really seriously. Which is why I'm known as the podcast princess, and how I became one of the top podcasters in the world in less than five years.

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