Each week, we come to you with ideas from the Mouse on how you can grow your small business. This week, we're talking about how Disney fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Inside, you'll find examples of how Disney pushes the envelope in big and small ways, how big risks sometimes don't pay off, and ways you can think about innovating in your own business.

Listen now and discover:

• How Disney implements both small-scale and large-scale innovations to keep their guests coming back for more
• A few ways Disney balances the traditional, iconic Disney experience with modern culture and technology
• Why a workplace culture that encourages creativity and experimentation without fear of failure is key to staying ahead of trends
• Some of the new experiences that have popped up at Walt Disney World in the past year
• How the relatively new EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is simply a variant of other festivals that already existed in the park
• A look into the Disney Park expansions into China, Tokyo, and Paris… and the different success levels of each

Your small business takeaways:

• How you don't need to reinvent the wheel to create something new in your business
• The importance of knowing your audience when making investments or reinventing your products
• Easy ways you can survey your audience or get a customer pulse on a new project
• Examples of disruptive innovation (the new iPhone) and incremental innovation (new iPhone models)
• Encouragement to not be afraid to adjust and experiment with your signature products
• How to plan for innovation in your business and how to know when it's the right time to invest in change

Links:

• The Imagineering Story
• 3D Chalk Artist, Nate Baranowski
• Cinderella Castle Makeover
• Follow us on Instagram @pixiedustandprofits