Find Your People and Take Care of Them
Creating Disney Magic
“People like to go where they’re happy to be seen.” Notable Moments [01:19] Why people want to go where they feel welcome [04:29] Making your people the brand [06:49] Reliability as a leadership advantage [10:28] Reducing turnover by focusing on how people feel [15:49] The responsibility that comes with caring deeply Great leaders don’t try to serve everyone. They find their people and take care of them. In this episode, Lee Cockerell and returning guest Liz Wilcox, an entrepreneur and email marketing educator known for building a people-first business. They explore how knowing your...
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Knowledge is Currency
Creating Disney Magic
“Knowledge is the key that opens all the doors ahead of you.” Notable Moments [03:55] Why making people feel important changes everything [06:42] The emotional root of most leadership problems [09:20] How exposure reshapes perspective and confidence [12:29] Reputation and the danger of untold stories [15:06] Why intentionality separates leaders from managers Knowledge is more than information. It’s influence, credibility, and trust. In this episode, Lee Cockerell, retired Executive VP of Walt Disney World, explores how learning shapes leadership in high-pressure environments, why...
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Being Nice is Good For Your Career
Creating Disney Magic
“There’s no upside for not being nice.” Notable Moments [02:32] What “being nice” actually means in leadership and daily interactions [03:20] Why raising your voice causes you to lose respect [04:12] How organization and stress management affect how you treat people [07:12] Handling tough conversations while still being respectful [09:47] The influence leaders have, even when they don’t realize it Being nice is often misunderstood in leadership. In this conversation, Lee explains why kindness is not weakness, how respect builds long-term influence, and why managing your emotions...
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Make it About Experience Not Price
Creating Disney Magic
“Every decision comes down to one question: is it worth it?” Notable Moments [00:01:19] Examples of shifting customer value [00:04:11] Industries where customers feel “stuck” with rising prices [00:05:11] What Lee learned by switching grocery chains [00:07:17] The three-legged stool of pricing decisions: customer, employees, bottom line [00:10:26] The importance of awareness and knowing what things really cost [00:17:18] Inflation, habits, and the slow creep of change In this conversation, Lee Cockerell shares practical stories about rising prices, customer expectations, and how...
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Get Your Opportunity Through Persistence
Creating Disney Magic
“Anytime you can do more than everybody else, you’ll stand out.” Notable Moments [01:20] Persistence pays off [03:34] Creative ways people get noticed [04:45] Why showing up still matters today [07:23] Networking as a strategy, not luck [13:59] How persistence shapes careers over time This episode explores the power of persistence and how small, consistent actions can open opportunities others miss. Lee Cockerell shares stories of people who refused to give up and ultimately built successful careers. The conversation also touches on practical strategies for standing out, networking with...
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Train for Anticipated Problems
Creating Disney Magic
“Training is useless if it’s not enforced.” Notable Moments [05:32] Anticipating problems is the foundation of training. [07:31] Enforcement matters just as much as teaching the standard. [08:58] Customer expectations reveal what training should cover. [13:31] Frontline experience exposes blind spots leaders miss. [15:29] Standards create consistency across every location. Great service comes from anticipation, clarity, and consistent training. Lee Cockerell shares practical lessons on how organizations can prepare for the problems they know are coming, learn from customers and...
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Serve Customers By Saving Time
Creating Disney Magic
“When you respect time, you build trust and your reputation grows.” Notable Moments [03:30] Time is not the new issue; it’s always mattered [05:10] How Disney engineers measure time and efficiency [09:20] Coffee shop story and customer decision-making [15:00] Why leaders must observe operations firsthand This episode explores why time is one of the most important factors in leadership, service, and personal credibility. Lee explains how poor systems cost businesses trust, money, and customers, even when no one complains. He shares how organization, discipline, and time-awareness shape...
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A Good Manager is an Auditor
Creating Disney Magic
“Every leader’s job is to inspect what they expect.” Notable Moments [03:39] Seeing management as part auditing, part leadership [05:57] Why clarity prevents most workplace problems [07:48] The real issue behind poor communication [09:22] How clear expectations turn fear into trust [11:32] Inspect what you expect every day Lee Cockerell shares how good managers act like auditors by constantly checking for clarity, accuracy, and accountability. He explains why inspection builds trust when it’s done with communication and transparency. Learn how leaders can prevent most problems simply...
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Creating Your Own Mastermind
Creating Disney Magic
“When you surround yourself with people who think differently, you see your blind spots.” Notable Moments [01:38] Becoming an expert and why it matters [04:34] The value of solving problems together [09:09] How to form a mastermind with variety and trust [11:20] The importance of psychological safety and honesty [17:15] Why encouragement and recognition matter Discover how to create your own mastermind and why diversity of experience leads to better problem-solving. Lee Cockerell shares lessons from Disney and beyond about gathering people with different perspectives, creating...
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The Disney College Program
Creating Disney Magic
“When you invest in people, they remember how you made them better.” Notable Moments 03:51 Why Disney invests heavily in the College Program even when most students don’t stay. 05:24 How early work experience builds discipline and long-term skills. 07:51 College students earn real-world credits and lessons that last a lifetime. 10:58 How any company can build its own version of the Disney College Program. 12:42 Why a Disney experience, or any great training, opens career doors. for more from this episode. Resources Travel Guidance are my preferred travel...
info_outline"I define creativity as the ability to have an idea. Everyone has a thousand ideas a day. I define innovation as the ability to get the idea done."
Notable Moments
01:02 Career Built on Audacious Ideas
04:57 NASA Sends Buzz Lightyear to Space
06:46 Toolkit for Post-Pandemic Innovation
09:41 Future-Proof Skills Include Creativity & Empathy
19:35 Empathy Insights from Frontline Workers
23:03 Transformative Workshop Experiences
Creativity is not bound by job titles. It thrives where it is allowed to breathe. Duncan Wardle spent over 25 years at Disney, including as former Head of Innovation and Creativity. He believes creativity and innovation are within everyone’s reach, you just have to let them happen. Take a listen to hear how he turned his concept of creativity into a toolkit, making it accessible to every level of an organization. Read my blog for more on how magic is created when everyone is invited to the dream-building process.
Connect with Duncan
Resources
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.