Disney’s Lion Guard and Lessons for Entrepreneurs

Sometimes children and children’s television shows like Disney’s “Lion Guard” have a lot of lessons for the adults in the family.  If you are like most parents, you have watched more than your fill of kids’ television shows. It is a true treat when you find a television show that is good for you and for your children as well.

Team work makes the dream work so recruit a team of advisors to help you get where you want to go.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Dusan Brown who is the voice of Beshte the hippopotamus on the Disney Show “Lion Guard.” It is a continuation of the “Lion King” storyline. I was quite impressed with the young man, particularly the words he shared about communication. Like many people, young Mr. Brown depends upon his parents’ help and guidance as he navigates his roles as a young man and actor. His mother, in particular, is a source of advice and guidance for him. She goes with him to auditions, provides support and encouragement when he needs it. His mother even had research on hippos at hand due to her interest in a variety of African regions including the Ivory Coast. His parents never let him give up, not in school, not in sports and not in his career as an actor. In fact, his hard work helped him to a successful and valuable member of his Chicago wrestling team which was ranked number one in the nation.

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Just as Dusan, has a team which includes his parents to give him support and guidance, entrepreneurs need to be supported and guided when they make decisions. In your role as an entrepreneur, who helps you to make decisions? Who provides you with the research, information and facts you need in order to do your job. It is important to understand that even though the responsibility for running the business lays squarely on your shoulders, you do not have to do it all alone. You can and indeed should recruit a team of advisers to help you work more efficiently, productively and profitably.

If you do the work correctly now, you can reap the rewards for years to come.

When speaking with Dusan on the phone, he talked about his outlook on life and work. He first wanted to become an actor when he was only 6 years old. Today he recognizes that if he works now and does a good job at all he attempts he can help others in the future and take on large projects. His mother taught him that if he does not get one role today, it is okay because there will be other roles for him in the future. His advice for others is to never stop and to keep going on because a life changing opportunity may be just around the corner.

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This lesson is a good one for entrepreneurs. When you have put in a lot of work to put together a project or to woo a client, it can feel devastating when that client goes with another company or the client does not want the services you have to offer. However, you must learn that this is part of the way business works. You may not get all of the business or clients that you seek, but that is okay. It is the nature of business, that there are ups and downs. There are wins and losses. You must learn how to keep your head up and continue to push forward with your business agenda.

Have a big picture and think long-range in all you do.

Dusan was introduced to the original “Lion King” when his parents showed him the movie when he was a young child. After seeing the movie, he wanted to play the role of Simba, the lion who is the young protagonist in the story. He talked about how he can see himself sitting in the front row 20 years from now  about to win Oscars for best actor, screenwriter, and director for a movie he wrote, directed, and starred in. When he talked about his dream, he was convincing and clear. The confidence and conviction he felt in his heart about this event in the future was so real you could almost touch it.

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When you talk about your plans for your business a year from now, five years from now and ten years from now do you sound hopeful and convincing? Do you sound self-assured or do you sound timid and afraid. If you want others to share your visions for the future, you must lay the groundwork now. You must speak in terms that are accurate, strong, convincing and sure. When you stand strong and upright when you talk about your business and your plans for the future, you help others get the confidence and strength they need to follow you on your journey.

Communication is key to all interactions we have with those around us.

One of the best lessons from the show “Lion Guard” is that communication is one of the keys to success. Both Dusan and the character he lends his voice to, Beshte the hippopotamus, care a great deal about communication. Dusan says that communication is one of the keys to his success as a student, actor and athlete. By communicating with his teachers, coaches and team at work, he is able to get better results and overcome adversity and problems that arise.
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