Month: April 2016

Thank goodness for life’s sucker punches

Cinderella Castle under construction
Cinderella Castle 1971. Photo source unknown, from the Internet perhaps.

 

Thank goodness for life’s sucker punches.

It was 2008-2009 at Walt Disney World and a new round of layoffs was in progress.

This time, the first time in my 24 years at Disney, it didn’t make sense.

It didn’t make sense for many people, including me. The bottomline was this: i felt vulnerable, and i had never experienced that before.

i hated it.

But then i embraced it.

It was in finding the silver lining that i was able to thrive.

And i decided the best time to create a plan b was when i didn’t need to.

That’s how my business, and early Disney retirement (after 30 incredible years) idea was born.

 

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On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

Vision

Nursing Home employee time clock
The biggest excuse is time.

 

Vision.

If you can’t see the future in a clear, concise, and compelling way, imagine how the people you lead have to squint.

This applies whether you are the CEO, a division or department head, a middle manager, or a front line leader. it also applies to every single able minded adult because we are the CEO of You, Inc.

Perhaps the best investment in your time this year is creating a clear, concise, and compelling vision of the future.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

 

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

Walt said if you can dream it you can do it

Disney Customer Service Speaker
Walking to Disney’s Magic Kingdom Theme Park.

 

Vision: Work from anywhere, anytime, with a product others will pay a premium for.

Check.

Whatever you are dreaming of as a way to make a living and to do work that matters, may 2016 be the year you take action you’ve never taken before.

Game-changing action.

We are talking quality over quantity.

For example, in late 2008, while working at Disney Institute, i went to my bank during lunch to inquire about how to start a small business. The Suntrust employee directed me to www.SunBiz.org – the rest as they say, is history.

January 1, 2009 i officially became a small business owner.

It would take the next six years before i made my first dime, and seven years to make a profit.

PS. i knew before i started that it would take years to make something happen. That’s why i didn’t leave my full-time job. At 49, i planned to retire at 55.

Six years is a long time to invest time, money, and emotional labor without seeing a dime.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

 

The email came in while driving from Spring Grove to Allentown

Spring Grove, PA fire department
Small town entertainment: bingo and meatloaf in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania.

 

The gift of an ordinary day is a leader’s greatest asset.

Time.

And then spending that magnificent asset in a balanced, powerful, and fun way.

Yesterday while in Allentown, Pennsylvania, i was able to respond to a Speakers Bureau executive with answers to important questions for him and his client.

Yes, we are on vacation. Yes, we had just arrived for a few days to stay and visit.

In the explanation to my Mother-In-Law, my wife asked me to share with her how my business model works.

Surreal to hear it come out of my mouth.

Additionally, earlier yesterday morning, we gifted a 77-year old with a MacBook Air. A hand-me-down, but new to her. It compliments her iPhone 6. With iCloud, her world become more exciting, confident, and safe.

Leadership happens all day, everyday.

And there are no boundaries for doing work that matters.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.

Taking care of things serves us well

Apple OS X El Capitan upgrade
Helping someone move from PC to Mac yesterday.

 

Taking care of things serves you well. Common knowledge, not common practice.

mind • body • spirit • work • home

Life’s five big choices.

These are the basic priorities that must be addressed daily in order to thrive.

And each of the five will have sub-priorities.

This is yours to figure out.

It is different, yet similar, for every human.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

 

This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.