• Ask People What They Learned
    Nov 19 2024

    "Teach people, they'll get better. And, if you're not learning every day, you're getting behind."

    NOTABLE MOMENTS

    02:17 Feedback and learning reinforce opportunities for improvement and growth.

    04:33 Mastermind meetings encourage openness and candid discussions.

    05:53 Reflections from Mastermind Attendees

    12:48 The Power of Sincerity and Gratitude

    After a meeting or events it is always good to ask yourself, "what did I learn?" This was put into action at the last Creating Magic Mastermind. We wrapped up by asking everyone to share one key takeaway they gained from our time together. This seemingly simple exercise turned out to be impactful for everyone in the room. Read my blog about what people shared.

    Resources

    The Cockerell Academy

    About Lee Cockerell

    Mainstreet Leader

    Jody Maberry

    Travel Guidance

    Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

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    14 mins
  • Let People Solve Their Problems
    Nov 11 2024

    "Organizations have to get to the point where everybody in the organization feels comfortable speaking up. Those people know things you don't know as the leader and as the manager."

    NOTABLE MOMENTS

    01:03 Open dialogue to enhance organizational culture

    04:56 Get culture right to boost business success

    08:55 Weekly meetings reveal issues otherwise unknown

    10:55 Trust and collaboration improve organizational culture significantly

    16:19 Wrong path often results from poor behavior

    19:58 Simplify and ease customer experience to improve

    21:49 Problems and solutions both come from people

    24:19 Event details at cockerellstore.com

    As nice as it would be, you can't solve big problems in 15 minutes. When I was leading operations at Disney, I learned the value of giving problems the time they deserve. When I read Peter Drucker's "The Effective Executive," it struck me how often we try to patch things up with quick meetings and band-aid solutions. Whenever we would do that we'd get the same result. Guess what it was? A year later, the same issues still linger.

    So, we changed the game. Read this blog about the adjustmentswe made that made our people feel more committed and involved.

    Resources

    The Cockerell Academy

    About Lee Cockerell

    Mainstreet Leader

    Jody Maberry

    Travel Guidance

    Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

    Show more Show less
    25 mins
  • Understand Your Real Competition
    Nov 5 2024

    "You gain a lot more business by improving the experience, the quality of your teams, and the training."

    When I was with Disney, people often assumed our competition was Universal, SeaWorld, or even destinations like Las Vegas. The reality is that our real competitors were the things within our control. Read my blog to learn about the things we prioritized instead of worrying about other organizations.

    NOTABLE MOMENTS

    01:01 9th Creating Magic Mastermind

    02:12 Know who your real competition is.

    04:31 Focus on improving your business, experience, and quality

    08:48 Excellence requires attention to detail

    11:55 Navigating team, corporate, owners, and finance constraints.

    13:26 Offering an exceptional experience build brand reputation and retention

    16:42 Visit Cockerellstore.com for Creating Magic Mastermind details and join the waitlist

    Resources

    The Cockerell Academy

    About Lee Cockerell

    Mainstreet Leader

    Jody Maberry

    Travel Guidance

    Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

    Show more Show less
    17 mins
  • Leaders Have Powerful Words
    Oct 29 2024

    "Be careful what you say and do because your words are going to do harm or they are going to do good."

    NOTABLE MOMENTS

    00:53 Hurricanes forced Disney to improve preparedness.

    04:40 Be mindful and prepared for crises.

    08:12 Childhood environments on personal development and leadership.

    10:38 Repeated questioning improves behavior through reflection.

    13:32 Cultural differences affect workplace behavior expectations.

    17:22 I ensured visibility to maintain my reputation.

    Words matter, especially when you’re leading a team. When I was in charge of Disney's operations, we faced numerous hurricanes in 2004. It wasn't just about managing logistics or coordinating safety measures. It was also about using the right words to keep everyone calm and informed. Read my blog for more on how words matter in moments like that.

    Resources

    The Cockerell Academy

    About Lee Cockerell

    Mainstreet Leader

    Jody Maberry

    Travel Guidance

    Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

    Show more Show less
    20 mins
  • Preparing for an Event
    Oct 22 2024

    “The value of getting grouped together at an event for a couple of days is just talking about things. That is where most of the solutions come from.”

    Notable Moments

    00:53 Delegate responsibilities such as logistics and agenda

    05:24 Masterminds should allow for collaboration since solutions can be transferable

    08:06 Reminding attendees to apply lessons and value connections from events

    12:24 Encourage actionable strategies to inspire self-motivation and implementation post event

    13:18 Impact of family attendees and discussions across generations

    When we first started the Creating Magic Mastermind events, I wasn't sure how they would turn out. There were always people asking about my years of experience from my time at Hilton, Marriott, and Disney. But bringing people together for an intensive two-day workshop was different than have conversations over a cup of coffee. Even though I was hesitant to start, I quickly learned how to help create magic through events like these. And a lot of the success comes down to how you are preparing for an event. Read more on my blog.

    Resources

    The Cockerell Academy

    About Lee Cockerell

    Mainstreet Leader

    Jody Maberry

    Travel Guidance

    Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

    Show more Show less
    17 mins
  • Why Do Leaders Feel Lonely
    Oct 15 2024

    "We don't get better when we're under stress, we get worse. We get quiet and we get isolated and nobody sees us. The success came when I changed the way I was dealing with my problems and became a more empathetic leader."

    Early in my career, I was known as “the Doberman.” I managed with an iron fist and thought fear was the way to get things done. Meanwhile I was feeling isolated, stressed out, and disconnected. I was raising my voice, intimidating staff, and constantly feeling the weight of leadership alone. It was like being lost. I was being buried by insecurity. After a while I had a realization that changed the way I lead. Read about it in my blog.

    Notable Moments

    04:24 Creating a positive, supportive work environment.

    07:23 Stress and pressure can lead to isolation and anxiety.

    10:18 Handle problems promptly to avoid overwhelming stress.

    14:58 Success grows when leaders treat people well.

    18:55 Seek help if the pressure of leadership leads to loneliness and isolation.

    22:01 Encourage conversation through engagement and resources

    Resources

    The Cockerell Academy

    About Lee Cockerell

    Mainstreet Leader

    Jody Maberry

    Travel Guidance

    Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

    Show more Show less
    23 mins
  • Leading a New Team
    Oct 8 2024

    "Get to know them. Bring them into a room, and talk about how you like to work, and what's important to you. Create an environment where people are not afraid to see you."

    NOTABLE MOMENTS

    00:37 Leading a team you inherit

    04:51 Build relationships, avoid premature changes, seek gradual improvement.

    07:55 Collaborate, communicate, and respect deadlines to succeed.

    10:34 Business insights empower employees for a better future.

    14:15 Disney prioritizes physical and mental health safety.

    When I became the Executive Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World, I took on a team that had been working together long before I arrived. It was unfamiliar territory, and I had to discover my place within an established team. Naturally, I wanted to make my mark, but I knew I had to do it thoughtfully. Read my blog to learn what I did to create magic with my team.

    Resources

    The Cockerell Academy

    About Lee Cockerell

    Mainstreet Leader

    Jody Maberry

    Travel Guidance

    Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

    Show more Show less
    16 mins
  • The Truth Matters in Leadership
    Oct 1 2024

    “We've got to know the whole truth to solve the problem, because the parts you leave out may be the problem."

    Notable Moments

    00:34 Creating a culture where honesty is respected and not punished.

    03:50 Truthfulness builds trust and credibility in leadership.

    10:12 Build integrity early; admit mistakes to supervisors.

    11:45 Always inform leaders promptly about any potential issues.

    Telling the truth is ALWAYS worth it. When I began my journey in leadership and management, there were moments where telling the whole truth felt almost impossible. Over time I learned that every challenging conversation is a step towards stronger, more authentic relationships and a thriving professional environment. For more on why the truth matters in leadership read my blog.

    Resources

    The Cockerell Academy

    About Lee Cockerell

    Mainstreet Leader

    Jody Maberry

    Travel Guidance

    Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

    Show more Show less
    15 mins