Walt Disney frequently used to say, “I hope we never lose sight of one thing. It all began with a mouse.”  This has always been my favorite quote from a man who said many brilliant and inspiring things.  In fact, it matters so much to me that I keep a picture of the statue of Walt and Mickey in my office to remind myself of this very statement.  But why? What can we learn from this quote?  What could you, a small business owner, possibly have in common with a massive global conglomerate like Disney?

Take a moment and think about Disney, the entity. There are giant parks in Florida, California, Paris and Tokyo. There are movies and television shows. They own a TV network, radio stations, music labels, book publishing, magazines and newspapers, retails stores (at least 500), theaters, sports franchises, and a cruise line.  And there’s probably a lot more that I’m not thinking of off the top of my head.  This is a serious, giant company with serious, giant interests.

But it all began with a mouse. Hey, your company began with a mouse, right? Think about it- what is Mickey Mouse but a single idea that took hold and grew into more ideas, more plans, bigger profits?  Everything, all of the Disney parks and the Hannah Montanas and the movies and the merchandising…it all began with a mouse.

This week, think about your mouse.  What’s your little idea that can take hold and grow? What are you thinking about in a small way that could get bigger?  And what could your idea become, someday?

What’s your mouse?