Creating Disney Magic

Latest Episodes:

Creating Magic with Gratitude Apr 10, 2018

Show notes

Want to create a magic environment around you? Start with gratitude.

When you are around someone who is grateful, you can feel it, can't you?

I used to think about what I didn't have and complain about it. At some point in my career, I became more grateful for what I do have. You know what, life became more enjoyable.

When you are grateful for what you have, you begin to treat people better. People around you seem to be happier. It is like taking magic with you everywhere you go.

Gratitude is not limited to individuals. Organizations can be grateful, too. At Disney and Marriott, leaders go out of their way to make sure people matter and know they matter. Disney is the cast members. We appreciate them and in turn, cast members appreciate Disney.

Gratitude in your organization begins with you. Even if you are not at the top of the organizational chart, you can intervene and make the environment around you better.

Facing the Truth About Bad Hires Apr 03, 2018

Show notes

Too often, when we have a bad employee, we assume we made a great hire and something then went wrong with the employee. The truth is, you made a bad hire.

It is hard to admit, but it is true.

In this episode of Creating Disney Magic, we talk candidly about hiring and firing.

If you want to build a great culture, you have to face the truth about bad hires and put an end to it.

In this episode, we reference Carol Quinn and her book, Don't Hire Anyone Without Me.

To go deeper in this topic, listen to this interview I did with Carol Quinn on the Jody Maberry Show.

If you want to find out more about the upcoming event in Orlando, CLICK HERE.

Does Getting Fired Ruin Your Reputation? Mar 27, 2018

Show notes

Getting fired can feel like a big deal. It can feel like a blow to your confidence and your career.

When I was younger, I took a job I shouldn't have and it led to me getting fired.

It felt awful, of course. But it turned out to be the best thing that happened to me.

One thing you are concerned about after getting fired is if it has ruined your reputation.

After I was fired, I was hired by Marriott. They did not care I had been fired. Next, I was recruited by Disney. By then, having been fired was a non-issue.

If you have been fired, don't worry about taking the hit. Your career is long. Get up and get back at it.

When you apply for your new job, be honest. Face what happened. More people have been fired than you expect.

When I interview people, it doesn't bother me if someone has been fired or quit a job.

Is it Unrealistic to Have Big Dreams? Mar 20, 2018

Show notes

Walt Disney was a dreamer. Some would say he was unrealistic. Some would say he was unreasonable.

But without his dreams, there would be no Mickey Mouse. No Snow White. No Disneyland or Disney World.

If you have big dreams, people are going to tell you that you can't do it or you are being unrealistic.

Remember, when someone tells you something can't be done, they are talking about their limitations, not yours. Don't listen to them. Take your shot so you don't have regrets later in life.

People who create change don't listen to the negative people. Block them out and find ways to make things happen.

It's Time to Take Care of the Customer Mar 13, 2018

Show notes

On this episode of Creating Disney Magic, a listener asks what I think is the biggest opportunity for the service industry.

We've tried everything else, now let's take care of the customer.

No gimmicks. No marketing campaign. No technology. Just people taking care of people.

To make this happen, you have to stop relying on your business strategy and develop a leadership strategy.

In order to take care of the customer, you need the right people. To hire and retain the right people, you need the right leadership.

Leadership is the difference between being average and being great.

Don't Stay Where You are Not Happy Mar 06, 2018

Show notes

This week I answer two listener questions. Although the details are different, both questions are in the same line of "my boss doesn't listen".

Yes, it happens. There are some lousy bosses out there. People are insecure. Insecurity in leadership leads to some bad behavior.

If you find yourself in this position it can make your life miserable. And my advice is simple, don't stay where you are not happy.

Of course, it is simple to say and hard to act on. I understand many people are not in a position to do something about it. You have financial obligations. You have a family. You are scared. The job you hate is more secure than not knowing what will happen.

But what are you giving up by staying? If you are not respected and appreciated in the workplace and you stay, you will regret it someday.

Don't tolerate it. Can you imagine retiring after 40 years and realizing what you gave up? It happens every day. Don't let it happen to you, too.

Planning for Disruptions Feb 27, 2018

Show notes

If your organization has not experienced a major disruption in the past couple of years it is coming.

Technology changes so fast, you may not even see the disruption before it hits. Look at what Amazon and Uber did to other businesses in their industry.

The key to being ready for these disruptions is to plan for them. Even if you don't know what the disruption is, you can plan on being disrupted.

Get a group of people from your organization together. Pick a possible disruption. Work through the problem from start to finish. How will it impact your business? Let everyone share as you uncover unintended consequences. Talk about what could cause people to no longer do business with you.

If you anticipate disruption you can prepare for it.

You can download my Morning Magic Planner for Free HERE.

How to Have A Magical Job Interview Feb 20, 2018

Show notes

In my younger days, I had trouble talking about myself. They even called me "Low Key Lee" because I kept to myself. So you might not be surprised to hear I did not interview well.

But as I became an expert and became more confident, I became better at job interviews.

Looking back on my career, I realize there are three things to help you create magic in a job interview;

Talk about what you are passionate about. There needs to be something you are so good at and so passionate about you can talk about it all day long. For example, I am passionate about Time Management. In a job interview, I would work it in as much as possible.
Know the company before the interview. Study all aspects of the company before you sit across from the hiring manager.
Talk about the human side of business. When you discuss the importance of a strong culture and the value of proper training it will show what you value most, which is the people in the organization.

Here is a bonus tip...you get the job before you have the interview.

At Disney, we often knew who we were going to promote when the job came open. Reputation and results are what gets you from one job to the next.

Build connections and a strong body of work long before you go for the next big job.

Incremental Sales Can Boost Your Bottom Line Feb 13, 2018

Show notes

Many businesses are missing a big opportunity by not finding the right time to make incremental sales.

Or you could call it situational selling. In the right situation, you offer an additional service or product to the customer.

It is what we do in the hotel and restaurant business. We encouraged it and sometimes would create a friendly competition.

Some people call it upselling, but it is more like upserving because you are finding a small way to serve the customer even better.

At Disney World, guests will listen when a cast member makes a suggestion. If you use the situation to sell additional services or products that will help a customer, you are not serving them well.

If I visit your store to buy a shirt and also come out with three ties, you served me well because now I have the exact ties to look good in my shirt. It saves me the trouble of looking for the proper tie later.

Incremental sales through situational selling will add a boost to your bottom line. All those little additional sales add up. If only 10% of the people say yes to your offer it adds up to big sales over time.

Why Are Routines Important? Feb 06, 2018

Show notes

Many people set resolutions to start a new year. Most of those people don't follow through.

Usually, by February, people have already given up on losing weight, reading more books, or whatever resolution they set.

They key is to do things on purpose. Or, said another way, routines.

Routines are systems to help you get done what you need to get done. Can you imagine FedEx or IBM or Disney doing what they do without systems?

Your life is no different. You need the routines to keep your life under control and moving in the right direction.

Routine may feel boring. But you don't want it to be exciting. You don't want fires breaking out all around you and each day to be unpredictable.

My Time Management Magic course can help you develop proper routines and get more done every day. You can find out more here.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Creating Disney Magic

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6