"Every time you're involved in a conversation with a group of people, you have the opportunity to learn something."

NOTABLE MOMENTS

00:42 In-person problem-solving beats quick Zoom meetings.

06:45 Speak less, listen more, and hear different perspectives.

07:31 Diverse professionals' benefit from multi-generational career insights.

09:40 Next Creating Magic Mastermind in April 2025

There's something valuable to learn from every interaction! I recently had the 9th Creating Magic Mastermind along with Jody Maberry, and let me tell you, it was an incredible experience. Just when I think I've seen it all, I'm blown away by the unique experiences and perspectives everyone brings to the table. Read the blog for more about the latest Creating Magic Mastermind.

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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

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.

"Find a mentor that will be honest with you. That's how you're going to learn the most."

Notable Moments

00:32 Expert advice differs distinctly from organic mentorship.

01:10 Choosing the right mentor

04:43 Knowing what to ask a mentor

08:30 Ways to build and utilize a mentor relationship

12:43.How to approach a potential mentor

If you're looking for a mentor or some solid advice, take the leap and ask. When I joined Marriott and later Disney, I didn't have mentors handed to me on a silver platter. I reached out, asked questions. Sought advice.

Do you know what I heard back?

Not now. Too busy. Maybe later. Not interested. Work harder.

It feels frustrating getting halfhearted or no responses. It didn't stop me though. You can read my blog for more about what I did next.

Resources

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

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.