The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do

fast to the block of ice.
For twenty minutes, Walt cried for help—he screamed—
but no one came. Finally, a wagon driver stopped and came
to his aid, chipping away at the ice and taking him to the
doctor. After removing the nail with a pair of pliers and
administering a tetanus shot, the doctor sent Walt home
without any painkillers. He would be bedridden for two
weeks.
During the days that ensued, young Walt Disney had a
lot to consider, including what he might do with the rest of
his life. At sixteen years old, a boy growing up in the early
twentieth century didn’t have much time left to become a
man. College was out of the question, given the Disneys’
lack of means. He would not be a lawyer or a doctor. Even
if his parents did have money, Walt’s poor grades and
inability to concentrate in school would have done him in.
His prospects were limited. Would he follow in his father’s
footsteps or forge his own path as his elder brother Roy had
done?
The break from his regular routine allowed Walt to
imagine the possibilities. During those two weeks, he must
have thought about many things. Perhaps he thought about
his friendship with schoolmate Walter Pfeiffer, whose family
had introduced him to the magic of the theater. Maybe he
thought about how he loved drawing and amusing
classmates with cartoons. He may have thought of the time
he and his sister, Ruth, were left home alone to discover a
barrel of tar outside. Walt said it would make for excellent