Category: Professionally Speaking

Show us the money

Mickey Mouse toy in a small bowl of lime green dots
Two famous Company logos. One is obvious.
Disney name tag in small bowl of green dots
We recognize Jimmy Cricket and Fantasia Mickey, but what about the lime green dots?

.think .differently top 10 list:

Reflecting on some of the most .stupid (unconventional) choices made since launching Mid Life Celebration, LLC in 2009:

  1. Publishing first book with zero use of the word Disney.
  2. Never pursued a Disney Institute promotion, for 15 years.
  3. Privately worked six years building a business, while at Disney.
  4. Charge fees that rival the world’s best speakers.
  5. Display my Disney Keynote Speaking fees online.
  6. Insist on zero recording of any kind.
  7. Biggest lifetime speech was 1st time with zero slides.
  8. Kuwait TEDx Talk was iffy because red dot was not for me.
  9. Do not use slides.
  10. Do not wear business attire.

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This website is about our WORK. To ponder today’s post about our HOME, click here.

Future TED Talk

Walt Disney quote on a conference room wall
Some things are obvious.

Let us check for grade accountability with five questions. Each question should be answered only from the leaders you personally know. Do not use historical figures or movie characters, or people your friends work for. 

  1. Who is the most intentional leader you personally know who over-focuses on consistently demonstrating the best leadership behaviors?
  1. Who is the most intentional leader who over-focuses on operationalizing your employee culture through your organization’s heritage and traditions, traits and behaviors, language and symbols, and shared values?
  1. Who is the most intentional leader who over-focuses on continuously exceeding your customer’s expectations?
  1. Who is the most intentional leader who over-focuses on making their profession a remarkable art form?
  1. Who is the most intentional leader who over-focuses on continuously thinking inside the box?

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This website is about our WORK. To ponder today’s post about our HOME, click here.

Mindset Q&A

inspirational cards in store
Gently shake your world.

Couple years ago Mike Simmons interviewed me for his Podcast. It was a few months into the 2019 reality Covid wasn’t going away. Here’s the summary:

  1. What is mindset? Our habitual attitude.
  2. What are common mistakes we make about mindset? Not being intentional about our sources/influences. Not being present nor motivated enough to improve.
  3. Why do we make these mistakes? Entertained, distracted and medicated. Herd mentality – if everyone is this way, it must be ok.
  4. How can we avoid these mistakes? Establish a clear, concise, and compelling goal that can only be achieved by dramatically raising your standards. A goal so compelling it trumps “Why am i doing all this hard work?” Because your attitude is worth defending.
  5. How does mindset change, in the context of remote work from home? It doesn’t. Period. Of course there’s change, but change is nothing new – it’s the constant fabric of life.
  6. How does this change in Team context? Remote work highlights a focus requiring you to teach, not just through your example, but through intentional efforts to teach using VIP model – Very Individual Person model. Go the extra inch with your team(s), boss, peers.
  7. How does this change in Customer context? Now is not the time to start fawning and communicating like crazy with your customers. The time to do that was everyday before Covid-19.
  8. How does this change in Self context? Nothing changes, except this…you automatically gave yourself a grade for how prepared you are right now. You should be getting an A. If Disney Ran Your Life, operating below excellent levels would not be acceptable.
  9. Resources: Podcast, TED Talk, MLC book, LinkedIn. Twitter.

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This website is about our WORK. To ponder today’s post about our HOME, click here.

Fire starter pro-tip

Mid Life Celebration book
The drainage hole cover with the Mickey Mouse head emblem – the only place you could find Mickey Mouse when EPCOT Center opened in 1982.

Ask, “Is my leader on fire with our organization’s purpose? Does my leader set me on fire about it too?”

Pro tip: Lead yourself. Do not count on others to set you on fire with a compelling, noble purpose.

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This website is about our WORK. To ponder today’s post about our HOME, click here.

Work 2021 wins

speech placard outside conference ballroom
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa Convention Center.
Short video: June 2021. Walking past Magic Kingdom, from home, on way to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

Work 2021 wins:

  1. Maintained work vibrancy all day, every day
  2. Secured incredible 2022 nightly room rate in GNP
  3. Did a WDW first by walking from home to deliver Keynote Speech
  4. Transitioned permanently to keynote speaking without slides
  5. Significantly diversified (cashed in) on a 95% Disney stock Retirement IRA at Disney stock lifetime high price.

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This website is about our WORK. To ponder today’s post about our HOME, click here.