Creating Disney Magic

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...

Today we are tackling a question on many leaders' minds. How do you keep your employees from leaving? It is pretty simple. Appreciate your employees. Toxic culture is the most cited reason for leaving a job. It has been on the rise, and it is not going anywhere. As leaders, make a strategy to keep your employees and prioritize implementing it. When the culture isn't right, people leave. We like to...

Today we are exploring how to overcome the old mentality that says if it ain't broke, don't fix it. People can be resistant to change. Often, people push back when it is personal. So, if you want to help overcome resistance, you have to come at it on a personal level. It can be difficult, especially when dealing with frontline workers. When you let anyone know about the change, talk to them in the...

Today we answer a listener question. Should the top leader be the face of change, or should a direct leader represent change for the store they manage? Transition can be difficult for anyone. When you are a leader, and there is a change to implement, you need to approach it with empathy and a clear plan of action. If you are bringing discipline or correction, make sure you take the time to prepare...

Today we are celebrating something big. Episode 400! Creating Disney Magic started eight years ago and has stood the test of time. Jody has some interesting statistics about our audience. As we record our four hundredth episode, Jody asks an interesting question. Why keep doing the show? After eight years, I am surprised how much I have learned through this podcast; not to mention it is the perfec...

Today Jody and I are looking at the difference between being efficient and being effective. We also are going to tell you which is more important. You can be efficient by getting a long to-do list done, but are you being effective? If you aren't focusing on the correct things, then you may be checking things off without being effective. Being effective means you are getting the right things done....

Today we are celebrating our countdown to 400 episodes! This is episode 398, and Jody and I are talking about a topic that means a lot to me personally. People often talk about work-life balance. What they don't realize is work-life balance is an artificial barrier. You have one life, and you have to get it all in. Every area impacts and affects the others, so it doesn't do any good to try and sep...

When I was a General Manager at a hotel in Marriott, I came up with a purpose statement for all hotel staff to use as they did their job.  "Be so nice to the guest they won't believe it." A listener asked if the purpose statement should change depending on the level of the employee.  Your organization should have one purpose statement to apply to every role. Even if someone has a backstage role, t...

Someone once asked us about their dilemma about investing in their staff or focusing on business results during a tough time.  It's not an easy situation for any organization to be in. A business needs to survive. If you aren't making any money, you can't support the employees or serve customers.  When a listener sends us a question, we don't often hear how it turns out. This episode updates what...

Today we have a special guest Tim Schurrer with us. Tim spent ten years on Donald Miller's Storybrand team, and now he is publishing an impactful book. The Secret Society of Success. If I had to boil down Tim's book to one sentence, it is this: don't become a big deal. When we think of success we picture climbing a ladder or being the boss. But is that success? If fame, money, and power are not th...

Now that the world is opening back up, many leaders wonder what they should focus on to contend with the current climate. Many employees are resigning and looking for something else. These are the five things that every company needs to be mindful of. Retention is a big deal; employees know they can find a new job easily. Why should they stay where they are unhappy? Do you want to know how to reta...

Today, Jody and I are talking about the importance of expanding your mind. It is beneficial to be versed in multiple topics. The good news is it isn't complicated to grow in the things you know. I have mentioned before that experience, exposure, and education are important building blocks for life. When it comes to expanding your understanding, the three "E"s are just as vital. If you want to grow...

Today, Jody and I are talking about how to prepare for something going wrong in your business and how you communicate it to your customers. It doesn't matter your industry; you will find yourself in a situation where you have to deliver bad news. How you handle the communication of disappointing information can reinforce or destroy the trust your customers have in you. The best thing you can do is...

Today, Jody brought up a practice we had at Disney known as the No Strings Attached voucher. Simply put, a cast member was empowered to provide a guest with this certificate to help rectify a negative experience. If your kid dropped their ice cream or your shirt tore on a ride, the No Strings Attached voucher could fix it…with no strings attached. In business, you need to ensure your employees can...

Today, Jody and I are recording this episode in person, and we are exploring what it means to have a professional presence. You don't need a corner office to carry yourself professionally. It's not just something executives have or need. When you put yourself forward professionally, you communicate that you are trustworthy and dependable. Whether it is dressing for an interview or the way you inte...

Today, Jody and I are recording this episode in person, and we are exploring what it means to have a professional presence. You don't need a corner office to carry yourself professionally. It's not just something executives have or need. When you put yourself forward professionally, you communicate that you are trustworthy and dependable. Whether it is dressing for an interview or the way you inte...