Kent Sanders

Reflections on Writing & Creativity

Podcast #146: Creating Disney Magic (with Lee Cockerell)

February 21, 2020 by Kent Sanders | Leave a Comment

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When I say the word “magic,” what comes to mind? Maybe you think of illusionists like David Copperfield or David Blaine. Or maybe you think of movies where magic plays a big role, like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.

For many of us, when we hear the word “magic,” we think of Disney. But what exactly is Disney magic? It’s that intangible quality that blends customer service, excellence, creativity, entertainment, and a rich legacy into one truly magical package.

I am thrilled today to have a guest who truly embodies Disney magic. His name is Lee Cockerell, and he 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 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 before joining Disney in 1990 to open the Disneyland Paris project.

Now, Lee dedicates his time to public speaking, writing, and consulting. He is the author of several fantastic books, including Creating Magic, Time Management Magic, and Career Magic. He is also the co-host of the excellent podcast Creating Disney Magic, where he shares wisdom and experience from his time at Disney.

This is one of those interviews where I honestly had a difficult time narrowing down what I wanted to ask. Lee has had such an accomplished career that it was difficult to know where to start.

So I settled on three main topics: his leadership at Disney, his thoughts on time management based on his new book, and his writing and podcast.

I could have easily talked to Lee for hours, just soaking in his wisdom. Fortunately, you’re not limited to this interview. You can hear Lee and his co-host Jody Maberry talking about his lessons from Disney on the Creating Disney Magic podcast, which is highly recommend.

You can connect with Lee at his website or on LinkedIn.

Key Takeaways

  1. The value of using a paper planner.
  2. Have a set writing schedule.
  3. Life is not fair, so don’t take things personally.

Thanks for Listening!

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