Written by Allison Gilmore, MBA, COE, CPC, ELI-MP
This week, I had the opportunity to visit one of my favorite places — Disneyland.
It’s famously known as “The Happiest Place on Earth.” But have you ever stopped to wonder why?
Leaving the World Behind
When Walt Disney imagined Disneyland, he made a unique design choice — he built an embankment around the entire park. It was an intentional and brilliant decision.
After you walk through the gates of Disneyland, a sign welcomes you with these words:
“To all who come to this place: Welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here you leave the world of today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.”
Walt disney
That embankment plays a critical role in creating a world where visitors can leave everything else behind. Inside the park, you can’t see or hear the outside world. You’re invited to embrace imagination, creativity, and presence — to find joy simply in being fully there.
The Magic of Being Present
It’s easy to get caught up in ride-chasing — navigating Lightning Lanes, managing wait times, and planning the perfect strategy to squeeze in one more ride.
One afternoon, while some of our group lined up to take pictures with a Marvel character, a few of us stumbled across a small, secluded area with an optical illusion created by black and white tile on the ground.
Had you been a fly on the wall, you would’ve seen three adults — in our late 30s — jumping, rolling on the ground, and laughing hysterically.
No phones. No strategy. Just pure joy.
There was no sign telling us what to do. The space itself invited imagination — and we accepted the invitation. Those moments of laughter, creativity, and presence were some of the best of the entire trip.
Losing Joy in Leadership
Sometimes, as leaders, we lose sight of what brings us joy in our roles.
We get consumed by spreadsheets, strategic planning, project implementation, and the endless firefighting that comes with leadership. It’s easy to start leading from logic alone — forgetting the joy, curiosity, and creativity that may have drawn us to leadership in the first place.
Walt & Roy: A Leadership Partnership
Throughout his career, Walt Disney never lost sight of the magic born out of imagination. That spark became the hallmark of everything “Disney.”
His brother, Roy Disney, was the one who kept their business grounded — balancing Walt’s boundless creativity with financial discipline and operational sense.
Walt pushed the boundaries of imagination and innovation. Roy made sure they stayed in business. Together, they created something extraordinary.
That balance between vision and logic, creativity and structure, is essential for effective leadership.
The Cost of Neglecting Creativity
When we lead only from logic — focusing solely on numbers, systems, and outputs — we risk losing the spark that inspires creativity and innovation in our teams.
According to Gallup’s Workplace Report: “Innovation Can’t Wait – Create It With 4 Guiding Principles”:
- 61% of U.S. employees say their employer expects them to be creative and innovative.
- Yet only 18% feel supported and safe enough to take the risks required for innovation.
- And just 30% feel they’re given the time or structure to think creatively or brainstorm new ideas.
As leaders, that should give us pause.
We can’t innovate without psychological safety. We can’t inspire without space to imagine.
And while it’s crucial to stay grounded in business realities — just like Roy did — it’s equally important to make room for the joy and creativity that fuel progress.
Finding Balance (and Joy) Again
Of course, joy doesn’t always come naturally — sometimes, we’re our own biggest obstacle.
There are a couple of water rides at Disneyland and California Adventure that our group wanted to ride. I had done them before and knew just how wet you could get — really wet. And truthfully? I wasn’t overly excited.
Eventually, I gave in. We donned ponchos and foot covers, laughing as we wrapped ourselves in plastic and braced for the splashes. As we boarded Grizzly River Run, I was still questioning my life choices.
Then, as the raft dropped, the water splashed, and the screams turned to laughter — I was reminded of something important.
By the end, we were soaked and smiling — and we even stayed on to ride again.
Once I let go of my resistance, I rediscovered the simple joy of being fully present.
Leadership Lesson: Presence Creates Possibility
Being fully present allows us to see the world — and our teams — through a different lens.
When we’re overly logical or focused only on obligations, we miss the moments that invite connection, creativity, and laughter.
Like Walt and Roy, effective leaders know that both structure and imagination are vital. But above all, they remember that joy is often found in simply showing up — fully and intentionally — in the moment.
Takeaway: See the World with New Eyes
As you go through your week, try to see your world through a new set of eyes — ones that recognize the moments where it’s better to be present than to be productive, better to imagine than to analyze.
Because sometimes, the most meaningful leadership happens not in the meetings or spreadsheets — but in the moments where we pause, laugh, and let ourselves feel the magic again.
Reignite Your Joy Through Coaching
If you’ve found yourself caught in the cycle of constant doing — managing fires, chasing deadlines, or feeling disconnected from the joy that once fueled your leadership — personal coaching can help.
Coaching offers a space to slow down, reflect, and rediscover what brings you energy and purpose. Together, we’ll uncover the soundtracks that may be holding you back and create new, empowering ones that reignite your creativity and confidence.
Let’s work together to bring joy, balance, and imagination back into your leadership journey.
👉 Schedule a complementary discovery session at https://calendly.com/allison-mindset/coaching-discovery-call