Podcasts about creating disney magic

"We don't make a big deal out of the podcast. It's just like you dropped by the coffee shop and we were sitting there talking." Key Moments 02:03 Global connectivity via podcasting 03:48 Value of dialogue about anxiety, depression, and feedback. 08:23 Using a podcast format best fit for your message 11:06 Solve problems through conversations and new perspectives. 15:25 Podcast bloopers and learning opportunities. 17:27 Celebrating 10 years of support for Creating Disney Magic podcast. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader  How to Spread Your Message with a Podcast We recently celebrated a big milestone for the podcast with the release of our 500th episode. That episode ended up being a live recording so people all over the world could join us, and they did. Despite Jody losing his voice, the event was a success with a lot of questions popping up in the chat. There were quite a few questions about podcasting, so we decided to dedicate this episode to answering them.  There have been a lot of topics around leadership, management, and customer service shared over the 10 years of this podcast. Despite not knowing much about a podcast, it didn't take me long to realize that they are a great way to spread your message worldwide. The format we've decided to use, with Jody as the host, has seemed to really help with the conversation and engagement. We haven't had many guests, but when we do they provide great new perspectives. One of the biggest recommendations I have is to keep it authentic and conversational. That is how your audience will connect with you. There have been a few memorable moments such as the episode when I discussed my experience with depression and anxiety. That one really touched a lot of people. Even though we don't really plan our episodes in advance we've not had a bunch of bloopers. The episodes are great conversations that feel like you are walking into a conversation at the coffee shop. I think that is what has made it so successful.  This podcast has been great and I have no plans to slow down. At this rate, episode 1000 would be done when I am 90. I love the subjects that come up because it makes me think about the way I handle myself in situations. And when you do this, you learn along the way. It may seem like I am teaching, but I'm also learning.  If you have been thinking about starting a podcast, go for it. 500 episodes ago I would not have realized how much it would have helped me spread my message around the world. Thank you for continuing to show up to the podcast. If you want to find the other work we're doing, go to cockerellacademy.com. You can also reach us at leecockerell.com and jodymaberry.com.  You should also reach out to Magical Vacation Planners for help planning your next vacation. They are great supporters of the show and great support for the people they help plan trips for. Reach out to them at 407-442-2694. Until next week, go out and create magic for others.

When Lee Cockrell, the mastermind behind the operational excellence at Walt Disney World, casually agreed to chat on our podcast, I knew it would be an episode packed with wisdom and heart. This week, we're honored to welcome Lee to share his story, from his Oklahoma upbringing and the tough love of his mother, to the peaks and valleys of a career that shaped the magic of Disney. His tales of personal growth, leadership, and how he weathered storms like 9/11 are more than just a lesson in resilience—they are a testament to the human spirit's capacity to triumph in the face of adversity.Navigating the intricacies of Disney's famed customer service, Lee unveils a straightforward yet powerful formula for success: hire right, train right, treat right. It's a mantra that any business, big or small, can adopt to elevate their team's performance and cultivate a culture of respect and responsibility. Alongside these practical strategies, Lee doesn't shy away from the tender topic of mental health. He bravely discusses his own battles, lifting the veil on the often-hidden struggles many face, and underscores the power of proactive self-care and empathic leadership in forging a supportive community.Capping off our enlightening session, Lee reflects on the indelible impact of mentorship and attitude in carving out a fulfilling career and life. He invites us into the behind-the-scenes of his popular podcast, "Creating Disney Magic," where he dishes out life lessons with the same candor and charm that have endeared him to listeners worldwide. Whether discussing the importance of staying fit in your 80s or the role of recognition in workplace culture, Lee's anecdotes serve as a compass for anyone seeking to lead with integrity, inclusivity, and a touch of Disney sparkle.Support the show► Subscribe to The Scott Townsend Show YouTube channel --- https://bit.ly/3iV8sOTThe Scott Townsend Show Merchandise https://teespring.com/stores/tsts-2Resources and Links--------------------------------------------My contact info:LinkedIn https://bit.ly/2ZZ4qweTwitter https://bit.ly/3enLDQaFacebook https://bit.ly/2Od4ItOInstagram https://bit.ly/2ClncWlSend me a text: 918-397-0327Executive Producer: Ben TownsendCreative Consultant: Matthew Blue TownsendShot with a 1080P Webcam with Microphone, https://amzn.to/32gfgAuSamson Technologies Q2U USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone Recording and Podcasting Pack https://amzn.to/3TIbACeVoice Actor: Britney McCulloughLogo by Angie Jordan https://blog.angiejordan.com/contact/Theme Song by Androzguitar https://www.fiverr.com/inbox/androzguitar

This episode of Starve the Doubts dives into Jody Mayberry's remarkable podcasting journey and its impact on his life. Jody and host Jared Easley explore the following key themes:The Spark of Podcasting: Jody recounts his early days on Starve the Doubt, which was instrumental in launching his successful podcast, Park Leader Show. He discusses overcoming self-doubt with Jared's encouragement.The Disney Connection: Jody's collaboration with Lee Cockerell (ex-Disney executive) led to their podcast Creating Disney Magic and the Cockrell Academy, fueling personal and professional growth and lasting relationships.The Influence of Dan Miller: Jody pays tribute to Dan Miller, sharing valuable life lessons about relationships, marriage, and kindness. This underlines Dan's impact on both Jody and Jared.Unexpected Opportunities: Jody highlights how podcasting opened doors to speaking, consulting, and travel, demonstrating its power for building authority and creating unforeseen possibilities.Personal Connection and Innovation: Jody's daily podcast for his son exemplifies how the medium can creatively foster connection.Reflection and Gratitude: Jody and Jared reflect on their growth, the impact of their work, and their enduring friendship. Jody acknowledges Jared's pivotal role in his journey and exudes optimism for the future.Key Takeaway: This podcast transcript showcases how podcasting can lead to profound personal and professional growth, foster connections, inspire others, and open doors to unexpected opportunities.Support the show

“If you want to have a better life and start to do better, to be better, and to feel better, you need to start making better decisions." - Lee Cockerell Episode Highlights [00:01:32] The importance of following up [00:04:50] Make time for learning; Manage your time to improve your life. [00:09:30] Analyzing meetings is essential for getting more out of training and meetings [00:12:47] Hiring, training, and treating employees well are key factors that impact performance. [00:14:11] A recap of high impact books featured on the podcast. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Take Advantage of Information One of the things I really worry a lot about is when people don't take advantage of information and resources available to them. With almost 500 episodes of the Creating Disney Magic podcast there is a wealth of knowledge and tools to help people succeed. We also provide education that is practical and actionable with the Cockrell Academy and our monthly Main Street Leader subscription. But here's the catch: you have to take the initiative. You have to take advantage of information that is available. If you want to get ahead then recognize the importance of utilizing the wealth of information available and the significance of continuous learning. Leaders need to prioritize self-improvement and to make intentional efforts to enhance their knowledge and skills. There are a number of resources made available through the Cockrell Academy, including courses and monthly subscriptions focused on leadership and management. When you sign up for these resources make sure to fully engage with them. Schedule dedicated time for learning and personal growth. Take a listen to this episode, 475, to hear more on the impact of knowledge, experience, and exposure on becoming the best version of ourselves in both our personal and professional lives. Planning a vacation is easy with Magical Vacation Planners. They are ready to take care of you. Let them plan your next vacation by reaching out to them at 407-442-2694.  

"The only person that can control your life is you. And if you don't, don't blame anybody else. It's not your mother's fault. It's, it's your fault." Episode Highlights [00:03:08] Nobody should want you to get training more than you [00:04:44] Learn what you need for promotion, and find opportunities for self-education. [00:07:19] Reading daily is essential for personal growth and success in life. [00:10:06] Find an expert or learn from someone in your network. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader If you depend on anybody to prepare you for your future, you're crazy. Nobody cares about you like you do. You are responsible for your own personal training developments. Relying on others, such as employers or government agencies, for training is not a reliable strategy for success. During this conversation Jody and I talk about why it is important to take ownership of your own training. Anyone that wants to do well at work should actively seek opportunities for growth. Whether you are an entrepreneur or work for a company, it is important to have the mindset that professional development is solely your responsibility. These days there are many ways to get good training. You can attending workshops, take online courses, and listen to podcasts like ours. Creating Disney Magic podcast always provides valuable insights on leadership, management, and customer service. Becoming an expert in a particular area increases your value and relevancy in the workforce. By continually learning and staying up to date with industry trends, you can stand out from other professionals. That will enhance credibility and make you the go-to person in your field. Make sure to take a listen to this episode to learn more about how to take control of your own professional development. Remember, no one cares about your career more than you do. By investing in your own training, you are investing in your future success. Ready to take a break from training? Make sure you reach out to Magical Vacation Planners. Let them plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.  

Jody Maberry is a former park ranger who became the happiest podcaster on earth. In this podcast, he shares his story of how he went from working as a financial analyst to park ranger, to becoming a full-time podcaster.  He talks about the challenges he faced along the way, the lessons he learned, and the rewards of following his passion. He has produced and/or starred on almost 2000 podcast episodes over the last 10 years and he believes that every business person should have their own podcast and he explains why in this episode. He also shares the secret to success in life in asking more and offering more and gives great examples on how this opened doors for him in life. He produces and stars on several podcast shows including the Jody Maberry Show, Creating Disney Magic with Lee Cockerell, and World at Work. Check out these shows and learn about Jody by going to his website: https://jodymaberry.com/ This episode is especially for you if you're interested in learning more about the world of podcasting, or if you're simply looking for some inspiration to follow your dreams. Stay connected with Jody on socials: Instagram: @Sugarjmaberry Twitter: @jodymaberry   Learn more about IncrediPaul and sign up for the IncrediPaul Student Community by going to incredipaul.org/community, schedule your free coaching discovery  call to see if I'm the right coach for you by going to www.incredipaul.org/coaching. Pick up IncrediPaul merch and stay connected on all things IncrediPaul by checking out my website: incredipaul.org or linktree: www.linktr.ee/incredipaul Follow me on Threads. TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @imincredipaul. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/incredipaul/message

  "People want to know they matter" During this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Jody and I answer a listener question about employee development.  Investing in employee development leads to higher retention rate and boosts productivity.  Many managers and business leaders make the mistake of overlooking employee development as an essential factor in their success.  Want to know the secret to higher productivity, less sick days, and a good attitude?  Offer development opportunities and treat your team members right.  In this episode, you will: Uncover the powerful link between employee development, business success, and talent retention Realize how supporting the growth of your team members remains essential even without promotions on offer Embrace the advantages of providing unified training to everyone in your organization Delve into the significance of making training and development a key aspect of employee retention efforts Find out how online courses, regular book discussions, and targeted seminars can transform the growth of your organization's team members When employees don't get the chance to grow or advance they can become stagnant, uninterested and eventually leave. Avoid disengaged employees by creating a positive company culture. One way to do that is by investing in your people. Another is by paying attention to them to develop trusting relationships.  Any time you prioritize the development of your people, your business will reap the benefits of a loyal and engaged workforce. One team that is very invested in the growth of their team is Magical Vacation Planners. Make sure you reach out to them for help planning your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader  

In case you're not familiar with Lee Cockerell, here's a quick snippet from his bio: Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort. “As the Senior Operating Executive for ten years Lee led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one vacation destination in the world.” When it comes to team-building and leadership techniques, Lee has one of the best resumés on the planet. A few weeks ago, I received a note from Lee saying that he had read my new book, Read This Or Die, and enjoyed it so much that he purchased multiple copies to send to friends and family. To receive a note like that from someone I respect and admire was both humbling, and inspiring.  Lee also extended me the honor of being a guest on his Creating Disney Magic podcast (linked below), which is where this week's audio comes from. [00:00] Intro/explanation [00:14] Welcome back to the show [00:45] How Read This Or Die impacted Lee [02:39] The missing chapter [04:11] It's about the reader's challenges...not Ray's [05:44] Changing your input/output [06:55] Your wife's review (The Cranial-Rectral Extraction Method) [10:04] No need to wait for disaster [12:42] A lesson in brain science [13:48] A trip to Galaxy's Edge [15:25] More about "The letter" Links Creating Disney Magic Podcast - Lee Cockerell shares his wisdom and experience from his time as the Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World. Along with host Jody Maberry, Lee discusses how you can apply lessons in leadership, management, and customer service to create magic in your organization. LeeCockerell.com - The best place to get in touch with Lee. Learn more about his training, speaking, and mastermind group. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. Questions or comments? Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

"Build the relationship before you need it." In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Jody and I discuss the significance of tackling problems promptly. It's the best way to reduce stress and improve relationships. Recognizing mistakes and apologizing immediately helps you manage your emotions and build trust with others. There is a difference between stress and distress. Distress causes issues due to a lack of control in situations. Make sure you take control and responsibility for your actions. That way you can set a positive example and promote mutual respect. It's the best way to foster better relationships in your personal and professional life. Other ways to get ahead of the problem: Develop swift problem-solving abilities to diminish stress and fortify connections. Understand the value of apologies in maintaining trust and respect. Differentiate stress from distress for tailored management solutions. Turn mistakes into chances to display moral fiber and dependability. Read The Main Street Leader newsletter for tips on advancing your profession. I know I get tired of being told the same ineffective solutions for reducing stress and improving relationships. If you want results it is important to discover new approaches. Jody and I know one of the best tools that will make a lasting impact is the Main Street Leader. Make sure to sign up to receive the newsletter so you don't miss out on more tips like what we share in this episode. And if you are looking to relax as a way to improve relationships, then make sure to call Magical Vacation Planners. Let them plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694. . "You can be right or you can have a relationship." Episode Highlights: 00:00:08 - Introduction,  Lee Cockerell and Jody Mayberry introduce the podcast and discuss Lee's current 00:03:05 – manage your emotions and getting ahead of problems by apologizing quickly when you make a mistake. Build trust and relationships by taking responsibility for your actions.  00:07:19 – stress can help us grow, but distress, when we feel like we don't have control over a situation, can be harmful. Deal with problems quickly to avoid distress and maintain your mental health.  00:09:32 – sometimes it's worth having a relationship over being right. Apologizing and taking responsibility, even if you're right, can help maintain relationships and build trust.  00:13:16 - The Main Street Leader newsletter has been released in Portuguese and Spanish, in addition to English. The newsletter is designed to be implemented, and readers can learn from it to improve their business practices. It is available for less than $10 per month and offers a money-back guarantee.  00:15:53 - readers have reached out saying that implementing one lesson from The Main Street Leader has made a significant impact on their business practices. Resources The Cockerell Academy About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader  

"The secret to my success has been that I ask more and I offer more." After a recent webinar I received an email with great questions about taking a professional leap. They were interested in how I got started working with Lee Cockerell and asked if I could share advice for people looking to make a leap. While Cassie and I have out own unique perspective of what it means to take a leap, it lead to a great conversation addressing things that many people often wonder during a career change. I was able to establish a working relationship with Lee Cockerell by reaching out with a specific offer. That specific offer eventually led to the creation of various projects, including the Creating Disney Magic podcast and Cockerell Academy. The key is recognizing the importance of being specific in your offer, testing the waters before committing, and maintaining good relationships with past employers and organizations. Cassie and I both are no stranger to taking calculated risks. Don't be afraid to ask for help or advice. And when you are reaching out to help someone else, remember that you are also going to help yourself. For example, my reaching out to Lee and making and offer I was ultimately benefiting from the insights shared in the podcast. Take the time to craft tailored messages when you are reaching out to respected professionals. When you find the courage to take calculated risks and explore new horizons you will start uncovering unexpected lessons about the power of specificity and resilience. "A no usually is a not right now, it doesn't mean no forever." Episode Highlights 00:01:18 Jody shares how he ended up working with Lee Cockerell, which led to the creation of the Creating Disney Magic podcast, the Cockerell Academy, live events, and courses. 00:03:23 taking the leap has different contexts, including leaving a job or reaching out to someone influential. Know the importance of being specific and offering something of value to increase the chances of success. 00:07:48 Do not be afraid to ask for what you want, even if you fear rejection. They also discuss the importance of building relationships, following up, and maintaining a genuine connection. 00:11:45 Talk to people who have successfully made the leap in the same industry or field, and test the waters before making a full-time commitment to entrepreneurship. Connect with Jody www.jodymaberry.com About Jody - https://jodymaberry.com/about-jody-maberry/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sugarjmaberry LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodymaberry/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sugarjmaberry/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodymaberry  

In this class, Lee Cockerell, joins us again to discuss the news that Bob Iger returned as CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and the lessons that can be learned from the current situation. Video of this visit is available at https://youtu.be/lREsvMSgD-U. It is always great talking to Lee and learning from his vast experience. You can engage with Lee via www.LeeCockerell.com and listen to his podcast Creating Disney Magic. This was a great visit and I hope you enjoy! You can follow along with the class, podcast, Take 1 episodes, and interviews/visits by following me on Twitter @chavardphd. You can keep up with the class by joining the Facebook public group @BeingaFanofDisney. Thank you for listening and please let me know your thoughts on this and other shows. And... Please come along with us on our adventure!

We discuss what it means to outgrow a friendship, our favorite apps for productivity, and ways we destress. Also get ready to kick a soccer ball and go on a date with your daughter cause we are celebrating girl dads and boy moms. Show notes: How do you handle outgrowing a friendship? #RandoSpeaks, What are a few things you do to destress? Friends puzzle reference https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/993e1a26-8895-4464-98e6-490860a7bbfd, Kool & The Gang- Celebration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M What are the two most productive apps on your phone? SuperSoul https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oprahs-super-soul/id1264843400, Dadville, The Holderness Family https://theholdernessfamily.com/podcast/, Daigle Bites https://laurendaigle.com/podcast/, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happy-hour-with-jamie-ivey/id880741976, Annie F. Down- That Sounds Fun Network https://www.thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/, Imagine, Faith, Talk, Trials To Triumph https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trials-to-triumphs/id1618812391 Kelsea Ballerini https://www.kelseaballerini.com/#! Motiversity https://www.motiversity.com/, Eric Thomas https://www.youtube.com/c/etthehiphoppreacher, The Secret to Success Podcast https://www.s2spodcast.com/, The Ramsey Show https://www.ramseysolutions.com/shows/the-ramsey-show, How to Talk to Kids About Anything https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-anything/id1231126178, The DisUnplugged https://disunplugged.com/, Creating Disney Magic with Lee Cockerell https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-disney-magic/id954054965, EntreLeadership https://www.ramseysolutions.com/shows/the-entreleadership-podcast, Ears of Steel https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ears-of-steel-the-podcast-w-bart-scott-corie-bluhm/id675913590, The Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast https://andystanley.com/podcast/, The Real Deal with Jason Silverman https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-real-deal-with-jason-silverman-business-life-hacks/id736738650, WDW Today https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wdw-today/id80294837, Caro First Baptist Church Messages (Caro, MI) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/caro-first-baptist-messages/id1373810097 https://www.lowes.com/, What do you like most about being a girl dad (and a boy mom)?, Couch crumbs: two friends in the hospital, sick kid and being behind on photography edits, Prop your feet up: low key date night, awarding many advanced ranks in the martial arts over eight days --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thevictorycouch/message

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 vital in moving forward. Some circumstances require patience. Maybe it isn't the right time, and if you are patient, you may still get the promotion you are looking for. Patience and persistence go together. If you like where you are and know where you want to go, hang in there. Over time, you will find a path for the promotion you are looking for. You can't just wait around; you need to start doing things to improve yourself, so people have no reason to say no when the time comes. People want things now, but the more experience and exposure you have, the more authority you possess to hold it once you get it. Everything in life, whether working out, being a parent, or even battling traffic, requires patience and persistence. Persistence asks what it will take and then puts in the work to get it. Patience keeps you anchored and rooted while you work towards your goal. Outside forces can make traveling require extra patience and perseverance. Magical Vacation Planners can take the stress out of waiting for you. They can help you plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694. Resources 3 P's of Getting a Promotion About Lee Cockerell Mainstreet Leader Cockerell Academy Ron Logan Tribute Episode

You can learn so much about how to improve your own business by studying and following what other successful businesses do. One the biggest and most impressive businesses out there is Disney. I think we can all agree that no one quite does it like Disney. Today we'll look at what makes Disney so special and how you can model some of what they have done to create some magic in your own business. 

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 perfect way of connecting with individuals who may benefit from my other products. I have some great courses, resources and even do some public speaking. It amazes me how the more you explain, the more you understand. Teaching feeds your brain with knowledge. My biggest take away is asking more often. Ask for what you want. The worst people can do is say no. But they may say yes. Ask more and offer more. The more you help people, the more you get out of it. It has been a pleasure to work with Magical Vacation Planners over the duration of the show. Make sure you contact Magical Vacation Planners about your next trip. You can reach them at 407-442-2694. Resources Using Habits to Overcome Depression Exceeding Expectations Through Innovation

After retiring from his role as Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Lee Cockerell has worked to help others create magic in their leadership and life. His less than traditional upbringing inspires many as he shows the lengths you can go with a bit of hard work.  After meeting Lee in 2006 I was hooked to his "low key" leadership style. He makes it known that it wasn't always that way. And now, he openly shares his lessons in leadership, management, and customer service.    Love this episode? Make sure to rate, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Want to hear more of Lee? Listen to his podcast, Creating Disney Magic, or connect at: https://www.leecockerell.com/ Get his books: https://www.leecockerell.com/books/ Take his online courses: https://www.cockerellacademy.com/ Looking to ignite a spark in your purpose? Request information about having Katie at your event: https://www.onesparksolutions.com/contact-me/  Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/ Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/ Follw the Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OneSparkStories/  

This week, we're continuing our series exploring the things that set Disney Parks apart from other theme parks. For this show, the focus will be on the people that day in and day out bring the magic to every Disney visit and vacation. That's right, it's our Creating Disney Magic - Disney Cast Members episode. We'll explore the subtle, and not-so-subtle, ways these wonderful, hard-working people go out of their way to make every trip special! Once we wrap up our look at Creating Disney Magic - Disney Cast Members, it's time for the Disney Stories of the Week. In this episode, we share the details of a reimagined, guest-favorite show that is set to make its return to the Walt Disney World resort. We, also, tell you about one of our favorite exclusive lounges that is set to reopen soon. Then, it's time for the moment we've been teasing all week. Our Very Special Announcement. You're not going to want to miss our big news that we'll be revealing that will affect both our show and our lives personally. (Note: You can skip ahead to 59:04 if you're impatient and just want to get right to the Big News) As always, we wrap it all up with tips that might help you on your next vacation. Thanks for listening! Cheers!

This week, we're continuing our series exploring the many things that set Disney Parks apart from other theme parks. For this installment, we're focusing on yet another aspect that builds the ambiance of each park and land you visit. Yet, you may not even notice it. It's our Creating Disney Magic - Disney Parks Background Music episode. We'll explore much of the subtle, yet magical, music that permeates every portion of the parks. Find out how Disney uses these songs to tell the story and set the mood for each segment of the park that you visit. So, get ready to hum along to some of your favorites! Once we wrap up our segment on Creating Disney Magic - Disney Parks Background Music, it's time to take a look and see which songs advanced to the Elite 8 round in our Hyperion Adventures Podcast Disney Songs Madness competition. So, grab your brackets and follow along to see if your picks have moved on in the tournament. Next, it's time for the Disney Stories of the Week. This episode those include the announcement of a new Disney Vacation Club location coming to the Walt Disney World Resort. We also share news of an exciting new docuseries coming to Disney+ that will help you if you've ever wanted to learn how to draw some of your favorite characters. And we share details behind some of the interesting dining experiences that will be aboard Disney Cruise Line's newest ship when it debuts this Summer. As always, we wrap it all up with tips that might help you on your next vacation. Thanks for listening! Cheers!

This week, we're kicking off a new series that will explore many of the things that set Disney apart from other theme parks. We're starting it all off with Creating Disney Magic - Disney Parks Landscapes. Michelle, once again, brings her always amazing research to the table as she shares the several obvious, and not so obvious, ways Disney enhances your park visits with meticulous landscaping. Since Tom happens to be traveling this week, we recorded this episode a week ago. So, once we wrap up our look at Creating Disney Magic - Disney Parks Landscapes, we won't have our usual Disney Stories of the Week. However, we never leave you without passing along some tips that might help you on your next vacation. And this show will be no different. Thanks for listening! Cheers!

What do a Podcaster, Park Ranger, Executive Coach, and Financial Analyst have in common? The name Jody Maberry! Today we welcome the one that was ultimately behind the final push I needed to get this podcast live, Jody Maberry. Jody is a former park ranger who became the happiest podcaster on earth. With more than 1,600 podcast episodes across several shows, his podcasts have been listened to more than 4 million times. Jody has been heard around the world on shows such as The Park Leaders Show, Creating Disney Magic, Come Rain or Shine, and Great Escape Radio among many others.  Jody's reputation in podcasting has led him to be featured in INC, Entrepreneur, The Business Journals, and Bizable TV. Along with Lee Cockerell, he was nominated for Best Business Podcast and the People's Choice Awards for the popular Creating Disney Magic podcast.  He has become a trusted voice for executives leaving the corporate world from well-known companies like Disney, government officials, and professional athletes serving as a guide in the wilderness of personal branding. Whether he is behind a podcast microphone, on the stage, or sitting at a conference table, Jody has connected with countless audiences and individuals through his storytelling and unique outside perspective.  And today, it's our turn.  jodymaberry.com instagram.com/sugarjmaberry Looking to ignite a spark in your purpose? Request information about having Katie at your event: https://www.onesparksolutions.com/contact-me/  Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecurrens/ Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onesparkstories/

I'm honored today to be talking with Lee Cockrell about creating Disney magic for your organization. Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort. As the Senior Operating Executive for ten years, Lee led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village, and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one vacation destination in the world.  One of Lee's major and lasting legacies was the creation of Disney Great Leader Strategies which was used to train and develop the 7,000 leaders at Walt Disney World. Lee has held various executive positions in the hospitality and entertainment business with Hilton Hotels for 8 years and the Marriott Corporation for 17 years before joining Disney. Lee has also launched the Cockerell Academy designed to fill in the blanks and give you the tools you need to focus on being the kind of leader people admire, doing the right things to manage your organization, and serving people in a way that sets you apart. We'll dive deeper into these concepts: Some mindset changes between the corporate life and independent work  Crafting your value proposition as an independent practitioner How to seek out your early clients/customers Thoughts on leadership Now, for some action steps: Download the free worksheet: Three Steps You Need for a More Productive Workday Resources: Lee Cockerell's website: https://www.leecockerell.com/  The Cockerell Academy: https://www.cockerellacademy.com/  Lee's latest books: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney Time Management Magic: How to Get More Done Every Day and Move from Surviving to Thriving Career Magic: How To Stay On Track To Achieve A Stellar Career Connect with Me: LinkedIn Facebook Please leave a Rating and Review: Since this podcast is new, I'm asking for Apple Podcasts reviews. Reviews help others discover and learn what Creating Your Encore Career is all about. If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://www.lynnfriesth.com/podcast to download it. I thank you so much for being here and I'll see ya next time on Creating Your Encore Career. — Lynn *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

If you feel bored with your own story, bored with life, or feel like your life is a story you are not enjoying right now, you need to hear this episode.  Donald Miller returns to Creating Disney Magic to talk about his new book, Hero on a Mission.  Don shares the three stories he is living with his life. When you are know what story you are living, you know what you won't do. You get more clarity in your life. You have a filter to help you make decisions.  Many people struggle when one story in their life ends and they don't start a new story. When there is a void in your mind about your story, it becomes hard to know what to do next.  "Meaning is only experienced in motion," Don says. In order to feel fulfilled, you have to take action to feel you are doing something worthwhile.  Every morning, Don reads his eulogy to remind him of what he will regret not doing. It keeps him actively involved in his story.  At one point during my career, I realized what my reputation was. People called me "Doberman" because of how I treated people. My mother and grandmother would have not been proud of me. It led to me changing my approach towards people. Using Hero on a Mission, you can write a eulogy worth living up to. You won't need an incident to shock you into a change. Here on a Mission could be Donald Miller's best book yet. You can get it here.  Donald Miller Resources: Instagram Facebook Website

Podcaster: Jody Maberry, Host of The Jody Maberry Show Tell us about your podcast The main one is The Jody Maberry Show. Another one is from Creating Disney Magic with Lee Cockerel who was the Executive Vice President of Walt Disney for 10 years.  I have 7 public shows right now which are all active.  What Podcast Rain has happened because of your podcast shows? I started this show for park rangers and then within a year, I teamed up with the Executive Vice President of Walt Disney. I had him as a guest on the park leader show, had no idea his sister-in-law had been a park ranger for 30 years and we just hit it off and decided to do a show together. Having been a former park ranger, I got the opportunity in 2019 to speak to all of the state park directors in the United States. They invited me to come to Arkansas and speak to them so that, as a former park ranger, that was one of the biggest honors I've had and it all came from podcasting. What things have you done over the years to get better at the craft of podcasting? If I take that out and look at what else I have done to help me become a better podcaster, part of it has been talking with other podcasters. Just hearing how other people interview their guests. Sometimes I just listen to how they ask questions or talk directly to listeners, and talk to guests.  Just finding what other people do and say and how does that apply to me. Maybe the answer is it doesn't, but can I learn anything from it? How do you grow your audience? Probably the best that I have experienced is to do what we're doing right now. If you're a guest on someone else's show, then the audience can listen to your podcasts or they wouldn't hear you. Find a place where people are talking about the topics your show is about and, if it's relevant, it gives you a chance to mention your podcast.  How do you get value from your show? I have found the best thing I've gotten from my show is the challenge of showing up every week and having something which has helped me grow so much.  Now I understand my thinking a little more clearly and I can shape it out a little more. I've used podcast episodes to branch out into presentations I would give on stage or blog posts.  Let's Connect Jody Maberry https://jodymaberry.com/ (https://jodymaberry.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodymaberry/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodymaberry/) https://www.podcasttown.net/perfect-podcast-launch (Launch or Grow Your Show!) Wanna Stay Connected? https://zc.vg/CFpdb (Join the Mailing List) Got Questions? Elzie Flenard - The Mayor hello@podcasttown.net http://www.podcasttown.net/ (www.podcasttown.net) https://meet.zoho.com/mCv3bhwe8T (Attend The Boost Your Business Webinar)

We're back! After what seems like an age (it has been 5 weeks!) Me and Todd are back in front of the microphones bringing you another episode of The Take Care Men - A Mental Health Podcast. This week we have quite a guest. Lee Cockerell went from college dropout to joining the US Army and eventually becoming Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney Resort. He's one of the leading voices in leadership, management and customer service and is backed by a 43 year career which culminated in leading 40,000 cast members and the operations for 20 resort hotels, four theme parks, 2 water parks, the shopping and entertainment village and the sports and recreation complex at one of the most well known and magical places in the world. He's wrote 4 books, goes all over the world delivering courses and seminars on leadership, management, customer service and time management, records a regular podcast called Creating Disney Magic and helps people be the best they can. Make sure you listen out for the year Lee started at Disney and let us know in the comments here, or via Instagram and we will pick a winner before the next episode. If you've got any specific questions that you want to ask, anything you want us to discuss, or even if you want to come on the pod as a guest then let us know. Details of how you can get in touch are below. The podcast will also be on Spotify, iTunes and all the main hosting platforms. Send us any questions, comments, or thoughts to the below thetakecaremenpod@gmail.com DISCLAIMER Welcome to the Take Care Men Podcast! The podcast is intended for educational purposes and not intended to be personal medical, therapeutic, or counseling advice from us or any guests to you. Watching or listening to the podcast or getting answers to questions does not establish a therapist-patient relationship and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Perhaps these videos or podcasts episodes can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor or therapist. If you are in need of immediate help, please consult the resources at takecareman.com/help. Thank you and enjoy the podcast! If you've got any specific questions that you want to ask, anything you want us to discuss, or even if you want to come on the pod as a guest then let us know. Details of how you can get in touch are below. T Send us any questions, comments, or thoughts to the below: thetakecaremenpod@gmail.com If you need support you can get help at the following places in the UK. Todd will link to the US sites. Veterans UK helpline Freephone (UK only): 0808 1914 2 18 Telephone (overseas): +44 1253 866 043 Email: veterans-uk@mod.gov.uk Normal service 8.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Friday When the helpline is closed, callers will be given the option to be re-routed to The Samaritans 24 hour helpline. Combat Stress is the UK's leading mental health charity for veterans offering free treatment and support to ex-servicemen and women of the UK Armed Forces. Call us on 0800 138 1619, text us on 07537 404 719 or email helpline@combatstress.org.uk. The Veterans' Gateway is for any ex-service personnel and their families looking for advice or support – whatever they're dealing with. They provide the first point of contact to a network of military and non-military partner organisation's to help you find exactly what you need, when you need it - whether you're in the UK or overseas. For 24-hour support go to Veterans' Gateway, or call 0808 802 1212. Big White Wall offers online mental wellbeing support 24/7 where you can share your concerns with others who feel like you. It's safe, anonymous and has Wall Guides (counsellors) available 24/7. This service is free to veterans. Samaritans. To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org or visit some branches in person. You can also call the Samaritans Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day). SANEline. If you're experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day). The Mix. If you're under 25, you can call The Mix on 0808 808 4994 (Sunday-Friday 2pm–11pm), request support by email using this form on The Mix website or use their crisis text messenger service. Papyrus HOPELINEUK. If you're under 35 and struggling with suicidal feelings, or concerned about a young person who might be struggling, you can call Papyrus HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (weekdays 10am-10pm, weekends 2pm-10pm and bank holidays 2pm–10pm), email pat@papyrus-uk.org or text 07786 209 697. Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). If you identify as male, you can call the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) or use their webchat service. Nightline. If you're a student, you can look on the Nightline website to see if your university or college offers a night-time listening service. Nightline phone operators are all students too. Switchboard. If you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you can call Switchboard on 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm every day), email chris@switchboard.lgbt or use their webchat service. Phone operators all identify as LGBT+. C.A.L.L. If you live in Wales, you can call the Community Advice and Listening Line (C.A.L.L.)on 0800 132 737 (open 24/7) or you can text 'help' followed by a question to 81066. Helplines Partnership. For more options, visit the Helplines Partnership website for a directory of UK helplines.

Hoy tenemos un episodio de manos a la obra. Trabajaremos junto a Ilse Castillo (https://www.instagram.com/ilsecastillocx/), Account Manager Senior de Comunidad en Victoria147, para conocer cómo nos está yendo en nuestra experiencia de clientes, cómo estamos creando comunidad o fidelidad y con qué herramientas podemos irnos para seguir mejorando. Cuando termines de escucharla, compártenos tu dibujo vía cualquiera de nuestras redes sociales. Nos encuentras como @Victoria147org. Recomendaciones: Todos los libros de Lee Cockerell (https://g.co/kgs/afy5Hy), Creating Disney Magic (https://www.leecockerell.com/podcast/), Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Costumer Service (https://g.co/kgs/JKZDK4), Brené Brown (https://g.co/kgs/LgvJUC), Hacking Communities (https://hackingcommunities.com/) y vista Medium. (https://medium.com/). Visita nuestra Academia Online (https://victoria147.org/academia-online/).

Catie Harris, the founder of Nursepreneurs, joins Creating Disney Magic to talk about nurses and healthcare.  Hospitals can be a tough environment for nurses. Many nurses prefer to take a holistic approach to patient care, but it doesn't always work that way in a hospital. Often, this leads to nurses getting out of healthcare.  Nursepreneurs helps nurses start their own businesses, so they can still care for patients. Many nurses don't believe they can start their own business since most healthcare careers are tied to hospitals.  Catie offers insight into why nurses feel burnout and why some hospitals are struggling to keep enough on staff.  The problems with culture in hospitals and turnover are the same many organizations are dealing with. When staff is stressed out, it is hard to maintain a vibrant culture. 

Jody and I are doing something a little different today. We are an in-person recording from Rosen College of Hospitality. Today is a milestone for us, as we record episode 350. After almost seven years, if there is something I have learned about digital communication, it is that it is a great tool and it is here to stay. Take podcasts for example. Podcasts are not just for talking about one topic anymore. They can be used by an organization for internal communication. It is a powerful medium that you can use to share wins, updates and help reinforce company culture in short, but powerful episodes. You can use it to connect weekly with your team. Another tool that we have learned to use, especially over the last 18 months, is video messaging tools like Zoom or Skype. They may take a while to get used to, but their potential is impressive. Whether it is a meeting with your team or a presentation for a conference, these video conferencing tools allow you to connect with many people in a way that can feel very personal. I find some of my most useful best practices for video conferencing are the simplest. If you want to be effective, make sure you are honest. Cover the real issues. Don't just have meetings for the sake of meetings. Make sure your team or audience is learning something. Utilize the chat features and invite people to participate and ask questions. Avoid being too structured. When you are communicating digitally, being too prepared and formal can make it feel sterile and forced. Have fun with it. Keep it casual, and you will keep people engaged. Another way you can be effective by keeping it casual is by handing your vacation planning over to Magical Vacation Planners. Be honest about what you are looking for and watch them run with all the heavy lifting. You can reach them at 407-442-2694. And if Creating Disney Magic has been impactful to you, you may want to jump into the Cockerell Academy. We are categorizing all of our episodes for easy navigation, and all of our Cockerell Academy members will have access.

I'm honored today to be talking with Lee Cockrell about creating Disney magic for your organization. Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort. As the Senior Operating Executive for ten years, Lee led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village, and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations which supported the number one vacation destination in the world.  One of Lee’s major and lasting legacies was the creation of Disney Great Leader Strategies which was used to train and develop the 7,000 leaders at Walt Disney World. Lee has held various executive positions in the hospitality and entertainment business with Hilton Hotels for 8 years and the Marriott Corporation for 17 years before joining Disney. Lee has also launched the Cockerell Academy designed to fill in the blanks and give you the tools you need to focus on being the kind of leader people admire, doing the right things to manage your organization, and serving people in a way to set you apart. We'll dive deeper into these concepts: Some mindset changes between the corporate life and independent work  Crafting your value proposition as an independent practitioner How to seek out your early clients/customers? Thoughts on Leadership Now, for some action steps: Download the free worksheet: Three Steps You Need for a More Productive Workday Resources: Lee Cockerell’s website: https://www.leecockerell.com/  The Cockerell Academy: https://www.cockerellacademy.com/  Lee’s latest books: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney Time Management Magic: How to Get More Done Every Day and Move from Surviving to Thriving Career Magic: How To Stay On Track To Achieve A Stellar Career Connect with Me: LinkedIn Facebook Please leave a Rating and Review: Since this podcast is new, I’m asking for Apple Podcasts reviews. Reviews help others discover and learn what Leading the Factory Forward is all about. If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://www.lynnfriesth.com/podcast to download it. I thank you so much for being here and I’ll see ya next time on Leading the Factory Forward. — Lynn *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com

Let's spend a day together. This episode of The Jody Maberry Show documents a day of recording podcasts, videos, and other content.  People often ask me how I get so much done with 7 active podcasts and the other work I do. To answer the question, I spent a day and documented it.  Throughout the episode, you will get to join me as I record podcasts and have some conversations with some of the people I work with regularly. In our time together, we will be joined by: Jeff Noel: We record 3 episode of If Disney Ran Your Life.  Lee Cockerell: We recorded some promotional videos for the Cockerell Academy and recorded one episode of Creating Disney Magic.  Andy Storch: We record a couple of episodes of The Jody Maberry Show.  Dan Cockerell: We had a call about promoting The Perch Community.  Mike Simmons: We recorded an episode of the Catalyst Sale Podcast.  You will hear some behind the scenes conversation about what goes into each of the shows and projects we are working on. 

Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort. Over the span of ten years, Lee and a team of over 40,000 cast members were responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations tied to Walt Disney World® Resort. Lee also opened Disneyland Paris. Prior to Disney, Lee held leadership positions at Hilton and Marriott, as well as served in the U.S. Army. Since retiring, Lee has been busy helping organizations and individuals all over the world become better leaders. In addition to his full schedule of speaking and consulting, Lee has also authored three bestselling books and hosts a highly-rated leadership podcast and blog. Recently, Lee launched Cockrell Academy, an online platform that provides training on leadership, customer service, and time management. In this episode, Lee shares best practices in using customer feedback to improve your business, how to always be steps ahead of your competition, and keys to leading amid crises. Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business. For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-35. Copyright 2020 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com

Are you required to put in enough time on the job to get respect or have influence? Someone who listens to the Creating Disney Magic said they have been given a responsibility that is higher than their experience. However, they’re confident about their knowledge. Sometimes, they feel like their colleagues don’t take them seriously because they’re underage for their role and asked for tips on how to develop tact, influence, and authority in everyday leadership while being welcoming, caring, and nice. This is a problem all over the world. Young people are entering the workforce while the older generation is in the middle of their careers or on their way out. There is a pervasive mentality that you have to pay your dues before you get your shot. However, the world doesn’t work that way. I didn’t finish college myself but took on highly responsible positions from a young age. I had people from Harvard, Stanford, and other big schools reporting to me. It was clear that they were annoyed, but it wasn’t my fault. All you can do in this position is to continue to do your job with excellence. Performance outweighs all else. Be professional and do your job every day the best you can. If you do your thing and do it well, people will eventually come around. If they don’t, there’s something in their wiring or some other issue they need to work through that’s the cause. Just smile and do the best you can to work through it. You can control your performance, but you can’t control what others will do or think or say about you. Even when you’re the same age as people, some will still not like working with you. They might think you didn’t go to the right school, didn’t work for the right company before, or didn’t take the right courses. All you can do is stay focused and responsible. No matter your age or position, you can become a better leader by what you will learn in the Cockerell Academy.   

In a past episode of Creating Disney Magic, I said it was a mistake to try to live two separate lives; one at home and one at work.  Since we have never discussed it in a full episode, a listener wrote in asking us to talk more about it. So in this episode, we get right into it.  The truth is, you don’t get to live two lives. You have to get everything done in the one life you are given. The way to do this is through time-management. This isn’t a skill that’s only applicable to work. You need to implement good time management at home, too. List out everything you need to do in a planner, then go through and prioritize it. If the two most important things you have to get done today are personal, that’s okay. If you need to finish up a work project after supper, that’s okay, too. Management is all about control. All the stuff you have to do isn’t business or personal--it’s just life. Your personal issues affect your work and vise-versa. So, keep all aspects of your life under control. Additionally, it’s a mistake to keep your personal life from your staff. If you act like a robot and never share, people won’t be as open or trusting with you. It’s all about making connections. You never know who you will help by sharing something you’re going through or who will be able to help you. To learn more about time management and to keep up with the best work we’re doing right now, check out the Cockerell Academy at www.cockerellacademy.com.

Many people are struggling with the job search right now, so on this episode of Creating Disney Magic we and a listener question. She asked, “How do I reenter the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom for 17 years?” In this episode, I explain how to sell yourself through your resume, even if you don’t have directly relevant experience for the position for which you’re applying. It’s all about the story you tell with your resume. Take what you’ve done and tell a story with it. Be authentic and truthful, because the employer wants to hear who you are more they want to hear what you’ve done. That’s what people are looking for long-term. So, write about who you are. Write about any experiences you’ve had that have developed leadership, organization, or management traits within you. Write about the things you’ve dealt with as a mom or in whatever situation you’ve previously found yourself in. Most importantly, show them that you’re a good gamble. If you tell them that you’re willing to take on an entry-level role and prove that you deserve a full-time position, you will create a win-win situation. They have nothing to lose by hiring you. You’re coming in to get experience and an opportunity, so be willing to take any position that gets your foot in the door. Another thing that impresses employers is the preparation you’ve done and the training you’ve received. For example, going through Cockerell Academy helps you think about the things you need to know and prepares you for elements of an interview you may not have known to think about. You can find it at www.cockerellacademy.com.

On this episode of Creating Disney Magic, I answer two listener questions. Both about looking for or starting new jobs.  Here are some tips; Applying for jobs online is tough. It is better to know someone. Be recommendable and have someone who can recommend you.  Use a resume as a way for people to find out who you are, not just what you have done.  My career didn't take off until my mid-forties. By the time I had an opportunity with Disney, I was ready. Don't be afraid to start over or make a big shift in your 30s or 40s.  One thing valuable to employers is experience, which you have after you have worked for a while.  Your greatest assets are your attitude, and what other people are saying about you.  Be flexible, volunteer for assignments, work the tough shifts, keep learning, have a great attitude, and stick out like a sore thumb. Get a reputation where people notice you and are talking about you.  To get more career advice and training you won't find anywhere else, join us in the Cockerell Academy.     

On this episode of Creating Disney Magic, I want to talk about the importance of continuous training for leaders and employees. When should you redo formal training? The training interval will vary depending on what field you’re in. For example, if you are in the medical field, you would need to stay current on pathogens, policy, and procedures for illness and infections. Where if you are in the food industry, then staying current on food handling, proper cleaning procedures, and food safety would be paramount. It would also be necessary to redo training after a leave of absence since policies and procedures can often change rapidly. Why should you train continuously? If not trained and retrained, people will shortcut and not apply the formal training the way it was intended, the consequences of this could be deadly. Great leaders continuously train themselves and then coach their staff so they can all be the best example of safety, customer service, and leadership possible. When we continuously coach the team, not only does it keeps the training information fresh at the front of our minds, it also allows coaching on specific situations that need to be addressed. Using a daily coaching strategy can implement changes as needed rather than waiting for something to happen before we handle a situation. If your company or business is not paying for training, coaching, or continuing education, it is your responsibility to invest in yourself to become the best leader you can be. Are you interested in continuing your education and growing your leadership skills? Visit https://www.cockerellacademy.com for more information.

On this episode of Creating Disney Magic, we have an anonymous listener question that strikes a chord with a lot of people including myself.  “What do you do when someone takes credit for your ideas?”  It is really tough when someone takes an idea you shared, possibly in confidence with them, and presents it as their own idea. What this really indicates is that the person, claiming it as their own idea, is insecure in some way. Insecurity could come from a number of reasons like fear of being passed over for promotion, trying to impress the boss, feeling out of place or it could be because they don’t care who they step on in order to move up. Depending on the underlying reason the way you handle it will vary. This may be as simple as talking to them in private and letting them know that as a team we share ideas without claiming credit by the individual person. It could also be something they are not aware they are even doing and when brought to their attention they will stop doing it immediately. There are also times it will require intervention by upper management so that claiming credit by the individual doesn’t dissolve the camaraderie of the team. Having hard conversations isn’t easy and though they may be uncomfortable, they are necessary to create a strong team.  Always look for ways to improve your leadership skills. You can start by checking out https://www.cockerellacademy.com. It is never too late to get better. 

Dan Cockerell returns to Creating Disney Magic to talk about his new book, How's the Culture in Your Kingdom. Four stages to building a healthy culture; Leading Self, Leading Teams, Leading an Organization, Leading Change. A leader understands they have to take care of themself before they can take care of other people. Taking care of yourself is probably the hardest thing a leader has to do. Dan explains there is more to taking care of yourself than physical fitness. You also need to tend to your mental and moral fitness, too. How you take care of yourself flows into how you lead a team. Few organizations have a leadership strategy. How's the Culture in Your Kingdom will help you develop a deliberate strategy for leadership. Don't leave leadership to be a byproduct of the work you are doing. Be deliberate about building a culture. It's all about people. In this episode, Dan will walk you through how to develop a clear leadership strategy. Don't miss out on the new book, How's the Culture In Your Kingdom.

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is  Kelly Molson, MD of Rubber Cheese.Download our free ebook The Ultimate Guide to Doubling Your Visitor NumbersIf you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website rubbercheese.com/podcastIf you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this episode.Competition ends October 31st 2020. The winner will be contacted via Twitter.Show references:www.LeeCockerell.comwww.linkedin.com/in/leecockerell/www.leecockerell.com/bookswww.leecockerell.com/podcast/www.leecockerell.com/courses/  Transcription:Kelly Molson:Welcome to Skip the Queue, a podcast for people working in or working with visitor attractions. I'm your host, Kelly Molson. Each episode, I speak with industry experts from the attractions world. These chats are fun, informative, and hopefully always interesting. If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue. In today's episode, I speak with Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice-president of Operations for the Walt Disney World Resort. We discuss day-to-day challenges running a large operation, the legendary Disney customer service, and Lee's biggest piece of advice to anyone operating a visitor attraction right now.Kelly Molson:So, Lee, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast.Lee Cockerell:Yeah, I'm happy to. We're missing all the UK people here in Florida.Kelly Molson:Oh, I know. We're really missing traveling as well. Everyone that I'm speaking to is really missing going to all the amazing places that we're not able to go to at the moment. So it's such a shame. It must be strange there, it must be really quiet for you in Florida.Lee Cockerell:It is. We don't even have much traffic, which is amazing. Yeah. It's very strange times.Kelly Molson:That's maybe not a bad thing, less traffic though. Less traffic, better weather apparently.Lee Cockerell:But there's no place to go. So that's the bigger problem.Kelly Molson:No, well look, we haven't spoken before and I normally like to find out a few things about you, personal things upfront. So I wondered if you'd mind answering a few icebreaker questions for me?Lee Cockerell:Yeah. Go ahead. Sure. No problem.Kelly Molson:Okay. So, Lee, do you prefer cats or dogs?Lee Cockerell:Well, I had a dog the whole time I was growing up from first grade until I left home and I loved that dog more than anything. We had a cat once too, but it was not as friendly as the dog, so I would have to go with dog.Kelly Molson:Okay. That's a good answer. That means that we can definitely be friends because I'm a dog person too. I've got one of them sitting down here on the floor next to me as we speak.Lee Cockerell:Oh, good.Kelly Molson:What's your hobby? What's your favorite hobby?Lee Cockerell:You know my hobby, I quit playing golf because I was so bad at it. I gave my golf clubs to my son because nobody claps when I play golf. So public speaking is kind of really my hobby because people clap and I'm a very insecure person, so I need that kind of feedback from people.Kelly Molson:Oh, I love that. That's very honest, Lee. Thank you. Okay. And so, tell me something, you are very good at many things, but tell me one thing that you're not very good at, apart from golf.Lee Cockerell:You know, I was in business for 42 years and I hate the finance department. So I always had to have a good finance person around me because somehow the numbers bored me and I never worked very hard to understand them. So I had somebody explain them to me every month.Kelly Molson:Lee, you sound so much like me. I think there's a lot of business people that do not like the numbers and they just need someone to take over that side of the things.Lee Cockerell:Yeah, exactly.Kelly Molson:Listen, I would love to just hear a little bit about your background and how you came to be the VP of Disney World. How did that come about?Lee Cockerell:I think it was magic. It's a miracle actually. I grew up in Oklahoma on a little farm. We were as poor as could be. We didn't even have indoor plumbing. And later on, we moved to the bigger city, and my mother was married five times. That's kind of interesting. She was a busy woman.Kelly Molson:Whoa.Lee Cockerell:I've been adopted twice. I got my name Cockerell when I was 16, by husband number four. So I'm already really screwed up. Then I got to go to college because the doctor had money, she started making better choices, but I didn't go to class. I just had fun and I flunked out and I went in the Army. When I got out of the Army, I went to the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. that's where John Hinckley shot President Reagan back in the eighties, coming out of the hotel.Lee Cockerell:I was a waiter there and I got into a management training program, and I worked for Hilton for eight years in Washington, Chicago, and New York City at the Waldorf, Los Angeles. I joined Marriott Hotels, worked for them for 17 years. Since I had focused on food and beverage, I became the vice-president of food and beverage operations for Marriott.Lee Cockerell:Then I got recruited by Disney in 1990 to go to France and open Disneyland Paris, which we did. Then I came back to Orlando in let's see, '93. I stayed there 13 years and I was in charge of all operations there. So I don't know how it happened. I think I had them fooled for all those years. People thought I knew what I was doing, but then I decided that nobody knows what they're doing so I was in good company.Kelly Molson:You absolutely are. What an amazing story. What an incredible story.Lee Cockerell:Yeah.Kelly Molson:When you were at Disney, I mean, this blows my mind anyway. So you led a team of 40,000 cast members and you were responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, four theme parks, two water parks, the shopping and entertainment village, and the sports and recreation complex. I mean, it's not like you had enough to juggle on a daily basis.Lee Cockerell:Yeah. I didn't have any idea what was going on, but I surrounded myself by incredible people. They knew what was going on and that's pretty much how I stay out of trouble, I get experts around me.Kelly Molson:That's the key is it, surround yourself with good people?Lee Cockerell:Absolutely.Kelly Molson:What was the biggest day-to-day challenge that you had when you were running such a large operation?Lee Cockerell:Getting everybody to behave themselves and be professional, and not do inappropriate things, and come to work on time. So basic human problems. People are always the problem. It's never anything else.Kelly Molson:Yeah. Yeah. I hear you. Whatever size your business is, that's always the challenge, isn't it?Lee Cockerell:Yeah. It's the only problem you'll have in your life are people.Kelly Molson:What about the customer service side? Because I mean, you wrote a great book on customer service called The Customer Rules, and in my eyes and in many people's eyes, Disney, they are just the best at customer service. They are the pinnacle of customer service in so many people's eyes. How do they keep the standards so constantly high?Lee Cockerell:Well, it's pretty simple and any of your listeners can do the same thing. It's a matter of, I would say we do three things better than anybody else. Number one, we hire better. We're very careful. We have high expectations for performance and we explain those to anybody that wants to work for the company so that there's no misunderstandings about being professional and doing your job the way we train you.Lee Cockerell:Second thing is training. We train you and test you and we enforce the training, and we're very serious about that. It's like we're putting on a show. It's just like on Broadway, you got to be able to do your job on the stage or you won't be on the stage. So we audition you. We train you. We rehearse you. Then we create a culture where I would say most people that work at Disney wake up in the morning and are excited to come to work because of the way we treat them, out of respecting them.Lee Cockerell:They have opportunity to get promoted. They have opportunity to get development and learn and move up and get promotions. And so, I always say, "Hire them right. Train them right, and treat them right, and it'll work just fine in any company." That's just one of the things I think the problem is, people get bored with the basics. They don't realize it's about people and there's no upside to not treating people really well.Lee Cockerell:I always tell people, "If you think there is, try it on your wife, and then you'll find out." And so, no upside, there's only a downside. So we're very respectful. We're very professional. We care about people having success. When they have that environment, they go out and take care of the guest because they want to, not because they have to. That's the difference, I think. When we want to do something, we just do it no matter what, if the boss is around or not. When people make us do things we only do it when somebody is watching you and we want it that way all the time. It's a pretty simple formula. That's how we think about it.Kelly Molson:I mean, that's so true, isn't it? So keep your team happy and then they keep your customers happy. Disney has a real ... I mean, I've been to Disney on a number of times and I love it. I told a story this morning on LinkedIn about visiting the Magic Kingdom for the first time when I was a 10-year-old girl and walking through the gates and walking down Main Street, U.S.A. and seeing Cinderella's castle and being just so blown away and in complete awe of the kind of the spectacle of it. But the thing that really makes that Disney experience is the people and it's the cast members. And so, I wondered what's the most elaborate thing that you've ever witnessed or seen in terms of customer service at Disney, for cast members really going out of their way to make people feel special?Lee Cockerell:Yeah, well, I saw it so often because it's not an unusual thing that cast members do things that you don't expect. I mean, after 9/11 we had one of our people that worked in the hotel, a bellman, give his car to a guest who needed to get back to New York and told him he'd pick it up later. There were no rental cars left. You couldn't fly out after 9/11. This guy said, "Hey, take my car. I'll come and get it later."Lee Cockerell:I mean, I see this all the time. I mean, a cast member, you lose your phone charger and they go to Walmart and get one for you. It's just an amazing thing. It's not because we train them to do that. We train them to take care of the guests. So we allow them to do whatever they decide is something that would be really appropriate and helpful to every customer. So if a little girl gets her dress wet or dirty or falls down, the cast member can give her a new dress, no [inaudible 00:10:15]. So they have authority, our people have authority to do the right thing.Kelly Molson:Yeah. You've empowered them to make their own decisions about the level of customer service and what they can do to help people.Lee Cockerell:Sure. I mean, if you hire the right people, you train them and you're very clear with your expectations, they'll do a great job. If you don't trust your people, then you've probably hired the wrong person or you personally have some kind of control problem. I always tell people, "Maybe you need to see a psychiatrist," but other than that, that's what we do. We expect people to do their job, not have to have somebody watching over them every minute, they're adults and your people are your brand. Let me tell you what, at the end of the day, your people are your brand.Kelly Molson:Yeah, I hear you.Lee Cockerell:It's always the people, the rides they know are going to be good, the attractions, the shows, but the people are so different and people compare from other places they've been. The comparison is why we are rated so high, we just are better.Kelly Molson:How do you think that with the COVID-19 situation, that we've all been part of, how do you think that Disney magic is going to be with the kind of safety precautions that Disney will have had to put in place now that they're starting to open up and people will be allowed to come back? Do you think it's going to change it at all?Lee Cockerell:Well, I think that's going to be an every different guest's point of view. I mean, it's going to be rough. It's going to be tough. I do worry about it because if you're comparing from your visit last year, it's going to be totally different and it's not going to be as individualized as it was before where your kids can get close to the characters on all those sites. So it's a worry, no question about it.Lee Cockerell:I think the attitude of the cast members will be great. I think Disney will do a good job of enforcing the safety policies, but yeah, it's an issue. Wearing a mask in July and August in Florida. It's so hot here now it's already a problem. So it's just a matter of what kind of attitude the guest has about understanding what's going on.Lee Cockerell:A lot of guests right now around the world are not being very cooperative. So I don't know, I hope it'll be fine. I think it'll be good when you're in the show and it's air-conditioned and you're watching it, or you're doing your rides, or in the evening when it gets cooler, but there's challenges and we've never been through anything this extreme. And so, it's hard to say, unless we'll just have to see, and I'm sure there'll be adjustments every day to policies, procedures, operating guidelines, rules, regulations, as we learn more. And so, I'm pretty glad I'm retired.Kelly Molson:Yeah. You've swerved that one.Lee Cockerell:Oh, yeah. Timing is everything.Kelly Molson:Well, yeah, definitely. I guess that that's a challenge for Disney as well, isn't it? Because all eyes are on them. So, you know, the world of attractions, I guess, looks at Disney to see how they do things and then follows. So there's a lot of people that are watching at the moment to see how they operate and what the guest experience is like.Lee Cockerell:Yeah, and the other problem is trying to get halfway productive. So many countries where there's blockage about people being able to come. A lot of people are older that grandparents used to come with their kids and their grandkids. If you're in the older age group, you're worried about getting this. And so, there's going to be multiple complications.Lee Cockerell:As I always say, "All they can do is do their best and just work through it and see where this thing ends up." It's really crazy right now around the world, actually, it's just too bad. But then there are Disney people who, God, they would fly to the Moon to go to Disney. So they may love it, the only thing I will say.Kelly Molson:No, but that's true, isn't it? Because Disney fans are really ... there are a big contingency of them that are really hardcore Disney fans and they'll go back over and over again. They've been on the rides, hundreds and hundreds of times.Lee Cockerell:Yeah.Kelly Molson:I can't see that that's going to deter them so much.Lee Cockerell:Oh no, it's not going to deter a lot of people. But on the other hand, Disney needs a lot of people to pay for all that overhead expenses. You know, if you've got one person or a hundred thousand at night, the fireworks cost the same amount. So keeping it safe, keeping it halfway profitable, keeping the guests happy, keeping the cast members safe, and making money, that's like a dilemma.Kelly Molson:So now you've taken ... Well, I mean, you say you've retired from Disney, but I mean, you haven't actually retired at all, have you? So you are public speaking. You're an author. You have a brilliant podcast, Creating Disney Magic, which I listen to frequently. What else is keeping you busy at the moment, Lee? Do you advise other attractions on operations and customer service?Lee Cockerell:Sure. I advise anybody who'll pay me. I tell people, "I know things you don't know and if you pay me I'll tell them to you." But I just have been working on a new product coming out in the next couple of weeks called Cockerell Academy. It'll start out with eight to 10 courses on leadership management, customer service, videos and audios for students who are trying to get in the workforce now. Advice for them. A course on decision making. A course on time management.Lee Cockerell:Those will all be rolling out where it's going to be a subscription, it'll be $249 a year for the access to the library. It'll be updated every month with more stuff, new stuff. I just did that because I've wanted to do it for a long time, but I always had a good excuse. I didn't have time. Now I don't have an excuse anymore.Kelly Molson:No, that's it. You've got all the time now.Lee Cockerell:Yeah, and I need to go up to my office and work so my wife doesn't leave me, you know? So this is how we figured it out.Kelly Molson:So with the fact that ... so you advise attractions, you advise, as you've said, anyone that pays you. I know that you work in other sectors as well, but if there was one piece of advice you could give to anyone who operates an attraction at the moment, what do you think that would be?Lee Cockerell:Well, the key to leadership in my mind and getting people feeling good about trusting you. Every job I had at Hilton, Marriott and Disney, I'm out in the operation, everybody knows me. They know I'm available. They know I will solve their problem. I will deal with their issue and they know I'll tell them the truth. I'll be like their mother, I might love them and tell him, I love them, but I might kick their rear end too if they don't do what they're supposed to do because I want them to be successful.Lee Cockerell:I think that's the problem with most organizations, they're not taking a personal interest in the training development of people and improving their self-confidence, their belief in themselves. I really focus on getting the people right. I don't really want to know how to run the ride. I could care less. I just focus on the people and then I know that they will do a great job.Lee Cockerell:So it goes back to this, anybody out there in business, hire them right, train them right. When you train people right they actually get that feeling that you care about them. You know, there's only two things parents worry about in the world, and if you apply these in business, you'll be successful.Lee Cockerell:Parents worry only about two things, safety and education. That's it. There's nothing else. So don't get confused, make it a safe place. I mean, emotionally too, not just physically. So a place where you're appreciated, your opinion counts, people care about you. Everybody wants to be in a place where they matter. That's all, that's what everybody wants. Your wife, your husband, your kid, everybody wants to matter.Lee Cockerell:Leaders can pay attention to that and make sure people know they matter. If you do that every day, you'll be amazed. Your productivity will go up 50%. Your turnover will go down. People will be nicer. They'll have less anxiety, less depression. I mean, create an environment and a culture where people wake up in the morning want to come to work, not have to come.Kelly Molson:Great advice. I think we all want that.Lee Cockerell:Yeah. I mean, it's basics. This is the basics in life. It's not hard. Your mother taught you this already.Kelly Molson:She did. It's very true. She's a clever woman, my mum.Lee Cockerell:Of course.Kelly Molson:But that's right, isn't it? A lot of people don't focus on the basics and then that's where they make the mistakes.Lee Cockerell:Exactly. That's why all these politicians are getting in trouble. They did not focus on 100% safety. When people don't feel safe, they don't trust you, and when they don't trust you, they won't do what you tell them to do. You know, trust is the number one thing in the world. You know who you trust. It's probably very few people. You probably trust your mom, maybe your dad, your grandmother, but think of all the people that have let you down, or they don't do what they're supposed to do. It's unbelievable. I work hard always to make sure people trust me, and if they trust me, they'll do anything I want them to do and I'll do anything for them, and the next thing you know we are happily married.Kelly Molson:How do you build that trust? How did you build that trust when you had so many people that you were managing? I mean, I have a small team. There's six of us. We all trust each other, but we're all together a lot of the time. So how do you build that trust when there's 40,000 cast members that you need to build that with?Lee Cockerell:Well, first I scheduled a lot of time out in the operations every week, walking, talking to the cast members, checking in. My calendar put me out on the face-to-face with people. I published a newsletter every Friday, encouraging people, telling them what my expectations were, what I needed them to do. Today, I would do a podcast for every employee, like this. They would be hearing this every Friday for five or six, seven minutes.Lee Cockerell:They knew that my reputation was that anybody who wants to see me can come and see me. When I started, that the manager started doing it because they didn't want their people coming to see me. So they started taking care of the problems. I got a reputation for being somebody that followed through. I had a confidential voicemail. People could leave me a message about something that needed to be fixed or was being ignored or wasn't safe, or their manager was doing something inappropriate. All of our executives had that.Lee Cockerell:So I had many, many ways to make sure I knew the truth. Second, that when I learned the truth, that I took care of it and made it right. So over time, even if I've never met with people, they had heard about me. Other employees had told them, other cast members told them, "Hey, you can trust Lee. He's on top of this." All of a sudden your reputation grows because people say good things about you behind your back, not the kinds of things most people say about their manager.Lee Cockerell:Somebody says, "You want to be trusted, you've got to be trustworthy." That's it, you know? You got to do the right thing even if it's hard. A lot of people don't want to do the hard thing, they want to do easy things because hard things are hard. I tell people, "If you can't make hard decisions and you can't have hard conversations with people, don't have children and don't be a leader."Kelly Molson:Good advice.Lee Cockerell:That's all you do. That's your life.Kelly Molson:I love that you do a podcast with your team now. I love that you've embraced technology and that would be the way that you'd keep in touch with everyone. That's great.Lee Cockerell:Hey, I'm on TikTok every morning.Kelly Molson:Even I'm not on TikTok. You're way ahead of me.Lee Cockerell:I know, you know why you should be? You'll understand the young people like a thousand times better.Kelly Molson:I'm sorry.Lee Cockerell:It's a little scary.Kelly Molson:It is a bit scary.Lee Cockerell:But I give them messages every morning and I'm slowly getting people's writing me say, "Oh, I liked it." I only do 30 seconds, maybe a minute. There are a lot of videos on there about police brutality and all. I've been recommending to police chiefs and enforcement, start watching TikTok and you'll see the attitude of young people around the world. You need to understand where they're coming from and you don't because you're too isolated. And so, I'm on all the social sites every day.Kelly Molson:I love that. Do you know what? I'm going to download TikTok tonight and I'm going to follow you. You're going to be my first follower, Lee.Lee Cockerell:Like now, I gave advice yesterday for everybody to vote and get Trump out of office.Kelly Molson:Whoa. Okay.Lee Cockerell:Because the young people don't like this and they're the ones. There's going to be four million people turn 18 before the election to vote. And so, I can reach them that way.Kelly Molson:Yeah. That's good. It's good that you're using your platform for good, Lee.Lee Cockerell:Yeah, I am. Also, I'm promoting my work. So you got to be out there and it changes, you know, you got to really be on top of watching where people are getting their information. If you're on Facebook, like I am, you're getting people that are about to die anyway. So I mean, LinkedIn is great, professional. I did a post the other day about something, I've had over 20,000 views on it.Kelly Molson:Wow.Lee Cockerell:That sells books. That sell speeches. That gets me be known who I am. And so, each one has a different audience and you got to stay on top of that because it's changing rapidly.Kelly Molson:Yes.Lee Cockerell:You know, right now the US government's trying to stop TikTok because that's owned by the Chinese. As soon as they do, somebody else will open another one. You can't stop it. People are going to give their opinion.Kelly Molson:No, you can't stop free speech, Lee, for sure.Lee Cockerell:Yeah.Kelly Molson:What I'd like to do is ask you ... well, actually I've got two more questions to ask you. One I'm not sure about, because I spoke to a friend just before I came on here and he wanted me to ask you this and I don't actually know if you like rides, but he's asked, "If you could only go to one Disney park in the whole world and ride one ride, what would it be and why?"Lee Cockerell:It's not so much the rides for me, but I like to go to Epcot around four o'clock in the afternoon. After it's starting to get a little cooler, I like to go to the French pavilion, the UK pavilion. My wife loves to go to the UK pavilion and shop, and French pavilion for perfume. Then around 5:00 or 5:30, we have a little cocktail, and then we have dinner at one of the pavilions. Then we watch the fireworks and go home. So we're there for like four hours and one of them were five hours. That's my favorite thing to do. Rides, you know, they're okay. I mean, I've been on all of them so many times, the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, I kind of like it.Kelly Molson:Yeah, that's my favorite one. That's my favorite one. I love that.Lee Cockerell:I think that's incredible and it goes off at a million miles an hour. So yeah, that's fun. I've been on every ride so many times because when my grandkids were growing up they lived in Orlando, the three of them, and I used to take them all the time.Kelly Molson:Oh, that must have been an amazing experience to share that with them.Lee Cockerell:Well, I had to ride the rides they liked, not the ones I liked.Kelly Molson:Did they like a Small World though? Because that's a bit repetitive, isn't it?Lee Cockerell:I think they might have until they could speak, talk, listen and talk. I don't think so. No, not really. They like Buzz Lightyear.Kelly Molson:Okay. Good choices. Well, look, Lee, we're coming to the end of the podcast and I really want to ask you the last question and it's, is there a book that you recommend that's helped shaped your career in any way?Lee Cockerell:Oh yeah. You know, I was not a big reader when I got out of school. I personally learn best by doing, so experience is a big deal to me. Then one day I started reading and I found out, "Wow, I'm learning a lot here." Reading, looking at websites, reading the newspaper every day. But I would say one that struck me was The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.Kelly Molson:Yeah.Lee Cockerell:Because it was very basic and it's all focused on people. I started thinking about my own behavior, my own communication, my own reaction to things, and that book helped me a lot. I've had it on my desk for, oh God, I think it came out in '89 and that's 30, 31 years ago. So yeah, that had an impact. I read now every day. I read a lot. And so, there's so much to learn and to understand, and if you don't read, you're probably not going to get the truth because half the people in the world don't know the truth. All they know are rumors or what their parents told them. I tell people, "Half to stuff in your brain's not even true, so be careful."Kelly Molson:Well, I mean, that's a great book recommendation. Just remember listeners, we always give away a copy of the book recommendation from our guest. So if you would like to win a copy of this book, then just head over to our Twitter account that's Skip the Queue and retweet this episode announcement with the comment, "I want Lee's book," and you will be in a chance of winning it.Kelly Molson:Lee, thank you so much for being on today. It's been such a pleasure to speak to you. I have been so excited about this all week. It's been brilliant to hear about your leadership skills and customer service experience. And so, thank you.Lee Cockerell:Okay. I'm going to work on Congress here. You work on parliament and we'll try to straighten out the world.Kelly Molson:Tag team, Lee. We've got it covered between the two of us, for sure.Kelly Molson:Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five-star review. It really helps others find us. Remember to follow us on Twitter for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned. Skip the Queue is brought to you byRubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcriptions from this episode and more over on our website, rubbercheese.com/podcast.

@justloumurrell's Top Ten  content list of 2020 (so far).  The list: #10-A: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, YouTube, & the rest of the streaming services. #10-B: Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, and the rest of the streaming services.#10-C: Online classes... if you haven't learned anything during the pandemic, what have you been doing? #9: A Tale of Three Cities by Brian Melican (an article in The Statesman)#8: The Pitch by Gimlet Media, season 7 ( Podcast on Apple) Ep. 89.#7: Creating Disney Magic w/Lee Cockerell (Podcast on Apple) check out his books.#6: Team Deakins Sir Roger Deakins and James Deakins (Podcast on Apple).#5: 25 Essential Black Voices on Mental Health and Wellness by RELEVANT (article from Relevant magazine.)#4: Praying w/ Confidence by Jeff Leake. The first 5 chapters changed my life. Learn to pray. (Book)#3: Simple Church by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger. Simple is in. (Book)#2: Dream Big by Bob Goff (Book) #1: The Bible (ESV and TPT translations have been dropping bombs on my life.) (THE BOOK)

The 300th episode of Creating Disney Magic.  After recording 300 episodes over 6 years, here are the biggest things I have learned: The power of hearing your voice. Nothing else can compare to people hearing your voice.  Keeping episodes short have allowed us to deliver content quickly.  Listener questions have allowed me to know what people are thinking and what topics are important.  A Podcast can help you learn more about yourself and polish the way you talk about what you believe.  This episode includes a few special messages from people with congratulations on reaching 300 episodes.  One thing I want you to remember is don't underestimate the power of your voice. We all need to stand up and speak out loud about what we believe in. 

When you learn something new, it is only entertainment if you don't use it.  On this episode of Creating Disney Magic, Chris Jaskiewicz joins us to explain how he used what he learned to improve his organization.  Chris is the President and CEO of Icon Park in Orlando.  Icon Park was the first attraction in Orlando to open as the city began open again after the Covid-19 lockdown. Chris explains how they used story, not facts, to present the case why Icon was ready to open again.  Chris also explains how he used what he learned from me to improve his organization. With the improvements to Icon Park, they have been acknowledged by Forbes and USA Today.  Whether you learn from me or someone else, you need to find a way to use the new information to improve. Don't go through the motions and then claim you are better. Apply what you learn and actually get better.

Jody Maberry has many roles including marketing consultant, copywriter, customer experience strategist, and podcast host and producer. He is the owner of Maberica, Inc. Jody found another passion, helping businesses deliver their message to their customers, after pivoting from former roles such as being a financial analyst and a park ranger. Jody works with a variety of corporations, including Disney, and hosts “Creating Disney Magic” with Lee Cockerell, former VP of Walt Disney World. In this episode, Jody discusses how vital customer experience is in business, how to be extremely thorough in creating a consistent, clear message for your customers, and the importance of creating a healthy environment for both internal and external feedback. Be sure to subscribe to "How That Happened" to receive our latest episodes, learn more about our guests, and collect resources on how to better manage your business. For bonus content and additional show notes, visit http://www.hogantaylor.com/how-that-happened-episode-26. Copyright 2019 HoganTaylor LLP. All Rights Reserved. To view the HoganTaylor general terms & conditions, visit www.hogantaylor.com

At every business, you are going to disappoint some customers.  On this episode of Creating Disney Magic, we answer a listener question about customers getting upset or disappointed.  The question is about how the narrative told at a historical president's home causes disappointment and tension with visitors. Sometimes they don't treat staff well when they get upset.  From this situation, there are some things you can learn to use in situations with difficult subject matter. Be committed to telling the truth. Stick with the facts, whether people like them or not. Although the subject matter may be unique to the location, all organizations deal with disappointed and upset customers.  If a customer gets so negative it impacts the experience of other customers, you have to step in. Start with empathy, and see what you can do to help the situation. If needed, escalate your response to remove the customer.  Always remain professional. Keep cool. The upset customer does not know you. It is not personal.   

On this episode of Creating Disney Magic, I answer a listener question that may seem unique, but it is more common than you may think.  A listener told me she is 28 and people think she is a teenager. It creates a challenge at work because people think she is young and therefore inexperienced.  Although you may not have this problem of looking like a teenager, you do have something in common with this listener.  You have a challenge that gets in the way. You hope people don't notice, but they probably will.  Maybe you try to get around it by not talking about it.  Hiding your challenge is not the right approach.  For this podcast listener, people treat her differently because they think she is young. It's not uncommon for people to discriminate against someone for being too young.  Or too old.  People shouldn't focus on age. Young or old. What matters is experience and knowledge.  But sometimes it is to your advantage to bring it up right from the start.  Call out your challenge from the beginning. Deal with it as soon as you can.  When I was younger, I thought people would question my ability because I did not have a college degree. So I brought it out front in the beginning. It allowed me to draw attention to my experience and the positions I held during my career.  If you don't address what people may already be thinking, you may not get the opportunity you are after.  Bringing out the issue upfront will also show people you are not afraid to have a difficult conversation.  Use the situation to help create a personal story of perseverance and overcoming a challenge. 

Jeff Noel joins us as a special guest on this episode of Creating Disney Magic.  Jeff is a 30 year Disney veteran. For the last 15 years of his Disney Career, Jeff taught at the Disney Institute.  Now, Jeff is a keynote speaker and helps businesses operate with a little more magic.  Jeff has his own podcast If Disney Ran Your Life. On his podcast, Jeff explains how if Disney ran your life, you would have higher standards and not settle.  Both Jeff and I give examples of what it will be like if you apply Disney principles to your own life.  If you want a great life, you can't ignore anything. At Disney, everything matters. That is how we create magic. It is an attitude.  There is no finish line. You are never done taking care of yourself and improving your life.  Make sure you check out Jeff's podcast and visit Jeff at his website. 

Whether you use a paper planner or a digital planner, you are going to have notes and other items you will need to keep that don't go into your planner.  It can be a challenge to keep all of your notes in order and organized so you have them when you need them.  In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, I offer some suggestions and ideas on how you can keep your notes and other vital information managed and organized so you have them where you need them when you need them.  As with any system, you have to work it until it works for you.  You can also find additional tools like Dropbox, Google Calendar, Slack, Trello, Evernote or others to help find the right processes for your system. 

How do you create a truly “magical” experience for the people you lead and those you serve? My guest on this episode has the answer! His name is Lee Cockerell, and he is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World Resort. Today, Lee dedicates his time to public speaking, writing, and consulting. Get ready to hear Lee's wisdom on time management, writing, leadership, and some secrets to creating a truly magical life! You can find the full show notes here: https://kentsanders.net/146. Need a ghostwriter for your next project? Learn more here: https://inkwellghostwriting.com.

This episode is now at jakeacarlson.com/fbf109 The post FBF109 – Creating Disney Magic with Lee Cockerell appeared first on Family Before Fortune.

Foster love, a kind stranger and bailing out a dog from the pound. 

Guest Name: Lee Cockerell - Creating Magic Guest Intro: Lee Cockerell is the retired Executive Vice President of Disney World Operations. Before joining Disney in 1990, Lee held executive positions with Hilton Hotels for 8 years and Marriott Hotels for 17 years. Topics We Discuss: An overview of the size and magnitude of operations at Disney: A city in itself Lee being the "mayor" at Disney Hiring for greatness: Stamina, attitude, discipline Hiring leaders: Leadership, strategic thinking, management skills, good relationships with people Balancing new projects and operations: Time management, hiring the right people, training, culture Lee's three-pronged foundational approach: Right people, right training, great culture Focusing on the "people" side over the technical stuff Observing performance: Managers spending 80% of their time with the employees The power of clarity Common struggles of businesses: Bureaucracy, guest-friendly and employee-friendly rules and regulations, policies, procedures, and operating guidelines Three things to consider when making decisions: Customers, employees, profit Key metrics: Guest satisfaction scores, analyzing finances, watching labor everyday Learning and gaining wisdom through travel and experience Books, People, & Resources: Visit www.LeeCockerell.com Lee Cockerell's books: Creating Magic: 10 Common Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney The Customer Rules: The 39 Essential Rules for Delivering Sensational Service Time Management Magic: How to Get More Done Everyday and Move from Surviving to Thriving Career Magic: How to Stay on Track to Achieve a Stellar Career and Survive and Thrive the Ups and Downs Check out Lee's podcast, Creating Disney Magic to get snippets of advice on how to behave yourself, how to do a better job, and how to be a better Lee Cockerell's Leadership Thoughts Creating Magic - Leadership & Coaching on the Go! iPhone app Book recommendations: Peter Drucker books The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey Zero to One by Blake Masters and Peter Thiel