Expanding Your Brand Beyond Your Own Name

“Find people that you’re willing to invest in, and you’re going to go to some really cool places that you can’t currently imagine.”

One of the things I admire most about Jeff Barnes is that he is always thinking beyond what is next and focusing on what is possible.

Most people know Jeff as Dr. Disneyland, the author of The Wisdom of Walt, and a speaker who helps audiences apply Walt Disney’s leadership lessons to their own lives and organizations. Over the years, Jeff has built a respected brand around his expertise, his writing, and his presentations. Recently, though, I noticed something interesting. He has started focusing on making the Wisdom of Walt bigger than Jeff Barnes.

That is not an easy transition.

For years, Jeff has been the face of the brand. He writes the content. He delivers the keynotes. He built the audience. Yet he recently invited Kristin Reinbold into the business in a much larger role. She now writes a weekly newsletter, co-hosts the Wisdom of Walt podcast, and helps shape the future direction of the brand.

What stood out to me during our conversation was Jeff’s reason for making that decision. It was not about finding help. It was about finding someone with a vision for what the brand could become.

Jeff talked about how every leader eventually reaches a point where time and energy become limiting factors. Growth requires trust. It requires investing in other people and giving them opportunities to contribute in meaningful ways.

That idea reminded me of Walt Disney. Walt’s greatest achievement was not simply creating attractions, films, or characters. It was building an organization that could continue growing long after he was gone.

Whether you lead a company, a team, or a personal project, there is an important question worth considering: Are you building something that depends entirely on you, or are you developing people who can help carry the vision forward?