Creating Disney Magic

All of us will work with a difficult coworker at some point in our career.  Communication and patience are the best options when working with a difficult coworker. You can create an environment to communicate with the coworker about your working relationship. Communication can possibly help you create a better working environment. If not, you need patience until the situation changes. Or, you can...

Nearly 10 years ago, Lee Cockerell retired from his role as Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World. Rather than retire to the couch and golf course, Lee made a career pivot into his own business as a consultant and keynote speaker.  In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, we look into what it takes to make a successful career pivot.  All of the questions about making a career pivot come f...

In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Lee explains how you can create magic in the classroom.  A listener asks Lee how he would use his business principles to manage a middle school classroom. Lee offers his perspective on how you can create magic in the classroom.  Lee also tells the questions he most often hears from students.  Jody Maberry, the host of Creating Disney Magic, has launched a...

No matter how you plan your day you have to know you will get interrupted.  If you struggle with not getting enough done because you get interrupted, look at your schedule and consider if you are doing work you should not be doing. Also, consider if you are overplanning.  Time Management is the key to getting work done, even when you struggle with interruptions.  Follow the Creating Disney Magic P...

Everybody is different, so how do you motivate employees? You have to get to know the people you work with and learn how to motivate them individually. Your job as a leader is to build self-confidence in other people.  In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Lee explores ways to motivate high performers, mid-performers, and low performers.  Use Twitter? Connect with Lee Cockerell or Jody Maberry...

There are two ways to get better in life; look back and fix the things you didn't do well yesterday and look forward and consider what could happen if you don't do things in the future.  Take a few minutes each morning and reflect on the past and anticipate the future to make today better than yesterday.  Join Lee on the Creating Disney Magic Facebook Page . 

In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Lee Cockerell talks about his recent battle with Anxiety.  After years of pushing himself for success and holding back his feelings about stress, Lee is now dealing with Anxiety. Lee discusses his experience and offers suggestions on how others can deal with the problem. 

Brainstorming is a good way to solve a problem, but how do you brainstorm effectively?  In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Lee Cockerell examines how to use brainstorming to solve a problem. Lee explains how to decide who to invite to a brainstorming session and what the dialog should be. Make sure everyone understand all ideas are good ideas. What may seem like a silly idea today could be...

This week on Creating Disney Magic, Lee Cockerell answers a listener question about evaluating risk.  Join us on the new Creating Disney Magic Podcast Facebook page here . You can also Lee Cockerell on Twitter here and Jody Maberry on Twitter here . 

Lee Cockerell is considered an expert in customer service. His second book, The Customer Rules , is often used as an example of how to deliver excellent customer service. With that, you may be surprised to learn that Lee does not believe the customer comes first.  Leadership comes first.  An organization must put leadership first to create an environment where people want to work. When you create...

Marriott and Starwood have merged to create the largest hotel chain in the world.  In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Lee Cockerell explains what it takes to manage a successful merge.  Join Lee Cockerell and Jody Maberry on the Creating Disney Magic Facebook Page . 

In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Lee Cockerell examines what it takes to become an expert.  The elements of becoming an expert are; reading, experience, ask questions, and listen more than you talk The biggest key to becoming an expert is to decide you want to be an expert.  Once you become an expert, start teaching others. Teaching will take you to a new level of Expert.  Here are the bo...

Lee Cockerell's granddaughter gave him the perfect gift for Christmas one year. She gave Lee a two-page letter letting Lee know how much she loves and appreciates him. Appreciation, recognition, and encouragement are the best gift you can give to anyone, whether it is in your personal or professional life.  Don't underestimate the impact you have on other people.  This week, pick someone in your l...

Lee Cockerell got his start in the hospitality industry as a banquet waiter. In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Lee shares customer service lessons he learned as a waiter.  Lee explains how customer service lessons from the food service industry can be applied to any job.  Lee also offers some tips on improving service to anyone who works as a waiter or waitress.  Join Lee Cockerell and Jod...

At Disney World, seconds matter. Everytime Disney World can take a few seconds out of your wait for a ride, the experience improves for you and everyone in line behind you. Your experience is improved, and by the end of the day many more people have been able to enjoy the ride.  Do seconds matter in your business? What opportunities do you have to improve the experience for your customer? How can...

When Lee Cockerell was a hotel general manager, he would walk around the hotel. Three times each day he would walk through the hotel, greeting staff members and inspecting rooms.  What are the benefits of managing by walking around? Staff will see you every day. You can build relationships you would not if you were behind a desk. You can see what really happens in your business.  If you are intere...

Lee Cockerell answers listener questions in this episode.  How do you deal with an ambitious worker who causes a disruptive environment?  How should you handle it if you are the disruptive employee?  In this episode we reference The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth by Chris Brogan .  Find out more about Lee Cockerell's Time Management Magic course here .  Creating Disney Magic Podcast has a new page...

In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Lee Cockerell answers listeners questions.  Should you attend every meeting you are invited to attend? What should you do when suppliers cause a situation where you can't serve your customer? How can you attract more customers if you don't have an ideal location? Want to get your time management under control? Get on the list to find out more about Lee Coc...

To create balance at both work and home you need to be clear about what you need  to get done at both work and in your personal life.  True balance comes when everyone in your life is happy. If you are happy, but your boss is upset, you don't have balance. If you are happy, but your spouse is not happy, you don't have balance.  Balance can be learned. If your life is out of balance, it can be fixe...

You need to decide what culture you want and introduce it to everyone in the organization through clear expectations.  The way the leader acts dictates the culture of the rest of the organization.  Cultures get better or worse very slowly.   Find out more about Lee Cockerell's Time Management Magic course here .  If you enjoy Creating Disney Magic, you can leave a review here . 

There are two types of meetings, either to give out information or to make decisions. Understanding the difference between the two types of meetings will determine who should be at the meeting.  If you want to have an effective meeting, the first step is to determine if you should even have a meeting. If it is vital to have a meeting, be prepared, have an agenda and keep it as short as possible. I...

In any organization, we all have different jobs, but there should be a single purpose everyone is working towards.  A mission statement does not have to be a well-written paragraph displayed on a wall. Instead, create  a single statement that drives decision making and behavior in the organization.  Instead of developing a mission statement, values, and a vision, use the one sentence statement of...

Communication is usually the number one complaint in any organization.  Too many managers don't plan their communication. Employees find it boring and don't get the message. In fact, most managers aren't even sure what message they are trying to get out to employees.  Bob Burg, co-author of the The Go-Giver, returns to Creating Disney Magic to discuss how to improve employee communication in any o...

What is the difference between a poor experience, a good experience, and a great experience? The difference is the value you provide.  If you provide enough value, not only will people want to come back, they will tell others about your business.  Bob Burg , co-author of the The  Go-Giver , joins Creating Disney Magic to discuss how to create magic though providing exceptional value.  You can find...

Lee Cockerell dealt with depression when his wife nearly died after surgery. Jody Maberry dealt with depression after his brother was killed by a drunk driver.  Together, they talk about how to deal with depression. Even if you have never been depressed, chances are you know someone who is battling with depression.  Lee also discusses how to identify and deal with depression in the workplace.  Lea...