The 7 Habits of Highly Successful (Disney) People (And How They Can CHANGE Your Life)

How do those super-successful people DO IT?!

You’ve heard of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, but today we’re looking at the 7 habits of highly successful DISNEY people, and why you should consider adding them to your routine. Check it out!

1. Bob Iger wakes up at 4:15 AM and doesn’t look at his phone until after his morning workout.

Bob Iger is the current executive chairman of the Walt Disney company, but prior to that, he was the CEO for 15 years. Needless to say, Bob Iger is a pretty successful guy and he still remains one of the most recognizable faces of corporate Disney. So what’s one habit that this big-wig sticks to on a daily basis?

Bob Iger shared in his Master Class that he wakes up at 4:15 AM every morning and does NOT look at his phone until after his morning workout. There are a few layers to this habit. It shows us that Bob is (1) an early riser, (2) physically active, and (3) imposing limits on his screen time. Here’s why those choices could be good for YOU!

According to Business Insider, waking up early could give you a better night’s sleep and could help to stave off depression. Plus, it’s been linked with a more productive day! After all, Iger isn’t the only mega-successful business person who employs an early morning routine.

Exercise is also extremely beneficial! Not only does the practice have benefits for keeping you physically healthy, but it can improve your mood and your mental health, per MedlinePlus. Iger is investing in himself. As for limiting screen time, the Mayo Clinic says that limiting screentime can improve physical health, mood, and relationships as well.

2. Justin Timberlake eats a protein-heavy breakfast…twice every morning!

You might know Justin Timberlake for many reasons — his time in N*SYNC, his 10 Grammy awards, or perhaps his iconic all-jean outfit with then-girlfriend Britney Spears (yeah, you know what we’re talking about).

We, however, know and love JT for his ties to Disney. Timberlake was a Cast Member in The All-New Mickey Mouse Club as a child. That’s right, he’s a Mousketeer!!!

JT has to keep up his health as a bigtime performer and he has a pretty interesting habit to help him keep up with his workout routine. According to Bon Appetit, this guy eats breakfast TWICE every morning.

Pre-workout he chows down on waffles with flax seed and almond butter and one scrambled egg. Post-workout he fuels up AGAIN with another egg or a protein shake.

Timberlake says he does this because eating protein before and a half-hour after a workout can help with losing weight or gaining muscle. According to Science & The Public, eating breakfast (but…twice?) might also help to keep you from overeating throughout the rest of the day. Good lookin’ out, JT!

3. Steve Martin practices (and performs!) the banjo.

Steve Martin is a renowned actor, one of the funniest stand-up comedians of all time, and a banjo player (we’ll get to that). Plus, Martin’s got some pretty close ties to Disney. Not only is Steve an official Disney Legend, but he actually started his career working in Disneyland from ages 10-18. He even cites the park as the birthplace of many of his most iconic jokes!

Perhaps the least-known part of Martin’s career is that he’s an accomplished bluegrass player! He’s even won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass album! So, needless to say, Steve does an awful lot of banjo practicin’ and playin’. It takes one look at his fancy fingerwork to see what we mean!

Now how can this change your life? There are a LOT of physical and mental benefits of playing an instrument. According to Musicnotes, practicing music (like the banjo!) can improve mental performance, coordination, time management, reading skills, listening skills, concentration, mathematics ability, and more! 

4. Christina Aguilera “just wears sweatpants.”

Another MAJOR name on this list is Christina Aguilera. You can hear her belt out “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” on the first Disney Family Singalong! Christina is another Disney legend who got her start on Mickey Mouse Club. She even went on to perform the pop version of Mulan‘s theme song, “Reflection.”

Christina’s habit? When she’s home, she pretty much “just wears sweatpants,” she told Time. Well, Christina, sounds like we are one and the same! What this means is that this mega-star knows how to relax and give herself the time she needs to keep up with her rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.

The crazy thing is that this can actually be good for you! “Laziness” — or taking time to rest and relax — might actually make people more productive, according to Time. It gives you a chance to rest your brain. Plus, studies have found that when the brain is “unfocused” it is actually when we are at our most creative. Sweet.

5. Beyonce balances work with breaks and family time.

If you haven’t been living under a rock for the last 20 years, you’ve probably heard of Beyonce. ‘Yonce is one of the world’s best selling musical artists with over 100 million records sold worldwide. Bey has officially been a part of the Disney fam since she starred as Nala in 2019’s The Lion King and she recently cropped up for a surprise performance of “When You Wish Upon A Star” on The Disney Family Singalong.

So, how does one of the most accomplished performers in recent times manage her days?

Beyonce makes a priority of balancing work with breaks and family time, according to Owaves. She mentioned, “My daughter has been my balance,” after the birth of Blue-Ivy.

There’s a lot to be learned from this habit! Fostering communications with your kids and family members can improve their success and yours, according to CNBC. Learning to communicate and spending time with littles can help them do better in school and help you avoid burnout from work. You got it, Bey!

6. Josh Gad draws inspiration from the great artistic works of history.

Alright, so this next one is most definitely a big Disney name. Josh Gad is the actor behind some of our favorite Disney characters including LeFou in 2017’s Beauty and the Beast and the best snowman in the whole world, Olaf in Frozen.

Josh Gad recently wrote an article for Vanity Fair on the “new normal” with a focus on fear, family, and art. In it, he talked about how he’s made a habit of looking to great works of art of the past for inspiration — especially during hard times. Mostly, he talks about looking to great works of film to see what they can teach him.

This is a great habit especially because the art of the past helps to contribute to who we are as people, according to the Met Museum! Plus, viewing these great works could help you to feel motivated to create — and improve your mood.

7. Walt Disney ate a light lunch, memorized his employees’ names, and carried snacks in his pockets.

You didn’t think we were going to make a list of successful Disney people and NOT include Walt Disney, did you? Perhaps the most successful Disney person of all time is Walt, himself. He’s the man, the myth, the legend behind the roots of everything that Disney is today. So, what kind of habits did Walt maintain?

According to Business Insider, Walt had work-heavy days. Still, in those days he made sure to take time to memorize his employees’ names. He also wasn’t too big a fan of big lunches (he thought too much food slowed down the brain) but he DID carry snacks in his pockets. (A man after our own hearts!)

According to the Business Marketing Engine, getting to know your employees (names and beyond) can be the key to becoming a successful leader. Creating those relationships can really keep people engaged in your company! We, for the record, would be honored if Walt Disney had learned our names!

As for those Disney pocket snacks? That could be a good habit for you to adopt as well. Per Discover Good Nutrition, if you snack smart, it can actually be good for you. Snacking can help to give you a steady flow of energy and keep you from over-eating at your main meals. Maybe Disney was on to something!

So there ya have it! These are just a few of the things that famous Disney peeps implement in their lives to help them be successful. Pick out some habits and see if they work for you!

Do you have any of these habits? Let us know in the comments!

From our friends at www.disneyfoodblog.com
Filed Under: Featured, News, Beyonce, bob iger, christina aguilera, Disney people, josh gad, Justin Timberlake, Steve Martin, Walt Disney