Creating Disney Magic

Today, Jody and I are looking at how to identify and deal with your biggest problem. Identifying issues and problems that we have can be challening. Choosing which ones need to be tackled first can feel overwhelming. But failing to do the hard things and deal with problems will haunt you. The quicker you deal with something, the happier you will be. It takes discipline to work on the hard things....

Today, Jody and I discuss the recent changes that have taken place at Disney. I also provide my interpretation of what may have led to it and what we, as leaders, can learn. As many have heard, there was a recent change in leadership at Disney as Bob Chapek stepped down and Bog Iger returned to head the company. When Bob Chapek stepped into his role at Disney, he came in hard, and centralized ever...

  Today, Jody and I discuss the difference between having fewer meetings and more conversations and how that can benefit your company. I recently attended a two-day conference for camps in Chicago. Something that stuck out was the number of things they solved and situations they brought clarity to through involved conversations. We are used to a culture of meetings. People show up and listen to ot...

Today, Jody and I look at the inner workings of the hospitality industry and what we can learn from it regardless the industry you are in. I worked in hospitality for many years. Much of what I learned during my time as a General Manager of a hotel chain formed the foundation for how I approach customer service. It is important to gather facts and information. There are different types of customer...

Today, Jody and I discuss what it means to take calculated risks in your career. I started taking risks early in my career and I wouldn't change it. Taking risks can be intimidating, but they aren't as great as they are in your mind. It is easier to take risks earlier in your career; you have your whole life ahead of you. When you start taking risks, you build confidence. That confidence helps you...

Today, Jody and I are unpacking how you can understand a situation from every angle. It is easy to be emotionally triggered, but as a leader, you must deal with every situation with professionalism and respect. Our biases can lead us to jump to conclusions, especially if it involves someone we respect or enjoy being around. No matter the parties involved, you need to be a detective and check it ou...

Today, Jody and I are tackling the question of Matthew Miller. Many places are understaffed, so how can employees make the best of a bad situation in their work environment? Be the light where you work. A strong employee becomes synonymous with a company for customers. You can represent your business. You may have to dig deep during times of stress, but your commitment will show through. Focus on...

After our most recent Creating Magic Mastermind, Jody and I are recording live from my favorite coffee shop, Coffee for the Soul. One of the conversations to surface during the mastermind was the importance of not making your bad day someone else's bad day. We have all had bad days. It is human nature to want to pass that bad on, either by talking about it or reacting and our actions causing someo...

This week Jody and I build on a recent LinkedIn post by Steve Ross. Steve referenced a previous Creating Disney Magic episode where we discussed the three P's of getting a promotion. Steve brought up a great point. There is another P needed for the equation: Patience. The 3 Ps of Getting a Promotion covered the importance of persistence, passion, and people. As Steve pointed out, patience is also...

Last week Jody and I discussed the moment of truth for customers. Did you know there is also a moment of truth for employees? The people you hire have a moment of truth, just like a customer does. Often employers make promises to get employees in the door. It is especially true now, as it seems there are never enough people to fill every role. When an employee comes in with a promise, and that thi...

Today Jody and I are looking at the moment of truth for customers. What is the moment of truth? It is that moment when your commercial comes in contact with the product. Does what your customer gets align with what you promised? Marketing and sales teams set high expectations. As the leader, we must ask if our product can live up to the promise. Can we achieve the moment of truth for a customer wi...

Today Jody and I unpack how you, as a leader, using outside resources to train your team can add value to the training. Often we think of training as something we develop or put in place. When it comes to the technical aspects of your organization, that is the foundation you build on. However, you can provide high-quality training and invest in your team by utilizing outside resources. Today, ther...

Today Jody and I are answering another question we asked during a recent webinar. This one came while we were talking about setting clear expectations when hiring and retaining people.  One of the attendees asked , "what if this was not part of the process when you were hired somewhere?" It can cause anxiety when you don't know or understand your managers expectations. Be brave enough to go ask th...

Today Jody and I are talking about an incident that happened to me recently. With all the credit card scams in the world I often wonder if I am next, and I was. There were a lot of things that were very frustrating about the issue, but it was a great reminder that your attitude can save the day. After going to the bank and taking care of everything we thought needed to be done, my wide Pricilla an...

Today Jody and I are answering a question we asked during a recent webinar. An event planner observed, "Burnout is a common problem in any environment." She followed up with this question: "What are your thoughts on working through burnout?" Be proactive. Burnout stems from time management issues and is a precursor to incoming mental health issues like anxiety. The best way to deal with it is to n...

Today Jody and I are discussing the difference between motivating or inspiring as a leader. There is a difference, and it impacts the culture of your business. There is a fine line between motivation and inspiration. It is not a leader's job to motivate people. A good leader hires motivated people. Then it is the leader's job to inspire them. That is done on many different levels. The best leaders...

Today Jody and I are looking at how to hire and retain the right people. Everywhere you look, people are struggling to hire or keep employees. What can you do to avoid this pitfall? Everyone needs the right amount of the right people to run their business, but where do you start? What do you do if you don't have enough employees? You need to invest in fixing the problem. It may take time. It may t...

Today Jody and I are talking about the importance of saying no and why you should say no more often.   It is easy to be a people pleaser or want to feel important. That can lead to over-committing yourself and may take away your ability to say yes to important things. You will always have opportunities "come up" . There will always be invitations for dinners or meetings or any other number of well...

Today we are discussing the three things you need to have an excellent career. People often ask what they need to have or do to be successful. I've spoken about it many times, but today I will explain it in more depth. To have an excellent career you need education, experience, and exposure. Education isn't just about a degree; you don't need a piece of paper to be successful. You do need to be a...

Today we are discussing the importance of self-reflection, both as an employee and as a leader. We have talked a few times about the changing terrain of the employee/employer relationship. People today are unwilling to remain in toxic environments or in places they don't feel valued. There are some industries where no matter how hard you work, you will probably encounter unappreciative environment...

Today Jody and I are taking a look at how to handle conflict in the workplace. After reading a recent  article  featuring a conflict between airline pilots, the question of how to handle situations like this has been front of mind. As a leader, you must remain cool, calm, and collected; especially where conflict is involved. Your ability to be focused and get the job done safely is a huge part of...

Today we are revisiting an important topic: time management. How people approach time management has changed in recent years. People don't just want to be more productive; they want to focus on what really matters to them. Time management isn't just about fitting more things into your day. It is about being aware of your priorities and using your time to get closer to accomplishing them. Often the...

Technology is a crucial part of everything we do. But does it get in the way of connecting with customers and co-workers? Getting people to talk and interact has become a challenge. We miss out on creativity, collaboration, and  It's time to get people in your organization to get together in person. After being apart for two years, many people have gotten comfortable being away from their coworker...

If you have traveled this year, you have noticed most people are stressed. Most businesses are understaffed.  Priscilla and I just returned from Europe and saw service delays everywhere we went.  Most travelers experience flight delays or cancelations. It's hard to get a rental car. Restaurants don't have enough people to serve customers.  Some companies stand out with their service, even with the...