Blog anniversary (NOT) in GNP, mind

i write five daily, differently-themed blog posts on five different sites.

dad

Today begins year 16.

Never missing a day.

Since April Fools Day, 2009.

Five daily, differently-themed blog posts.

Mind, body, spirit, work, home.

Just wanted to get writing practice to build my confidence so i could write, and publish, my first book, Mid Life Celebration: rethink • reprioritize •recommit

Note: Technically, i should be back in Glacier, however, still in Orlando recovering from emergency eye surgery.

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This website is about our MIND. To read today’s post about our BODY, click here.

Book loose ends

Book-six project, loose ends

A few storyboard topic unicorns…

List of Jeff’s Fears Throughout 30-Years At Disney

  • Couldn’t play ‘the politics game’
  • Mistaken for someone i’m not
  • Not smart enough

3 Hells

  1. Currently going through a hell no one knows about
  2. Just came out of a hell no one knew about
  3. Without notice, about to go into a hell no one will know about
  4. And some of us, myself included, may be in more than one of these

The Easy Part

The easy part is wanting to change and improve/transform.

The Hard Part

The hard part is doing the reps required to change and improve/transform.

What Matters Most?

  • Sense of purpose
  • Having fun
  • .thinking .differently
  • Leaning into discomfort
  • Growth mindset
  • Health is wealth
  • Peace and contentment
  • Career art
  • Prioritized priorities

My Hope For You

See above, ‘What matters most”.

Editorial note (not to be included in book): The above six ‘chapters’ are listed in Notes at the very beginning.

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This website is about our MIND. To read today’s post about our BODY, click here.

Why Seven Disney Business Books?

Why Seven Disney Business Books?

First, it’s important to set context for why there is such a crazy (impossible) dream to write seven Disney business books.

Secondly, who in their right mind thinks publishing seven Disney Business books is a smart move?

Do you know someone who has done this?

Ever heard of an author who’s done this?

Crazy, right?

Then why would someone dream it up?

And perhaps there could not have been a more challenging time in the last 60 years to think something this bold would work.

The economic tsunami in 2008 and 2009 was instigated when a massive and over-inflated real estate bubble burst – making most people fear for their professional future.

Once the real estate market hit bottom, many people got trapped owning a home worth far less than they owed on the mortgage – there was no way they could sell and pay off their mortgage.

It was ugly.

These unfortunate people thought they had made the greatest financial move of their life but were suddenly in an impossibly hopeless situation.

So 2008 and 2009 was not fertile ground for breakthroughs.

Which begs an interesting question.

When is it a good time to put your dreams on hold?

Do you remember what impossible dreams you were dreaming in 2008?

i do.

There was one i had, and although many years ago, that still feels like yesterday.

Here’s how it serendipitously unfolded at Disney Institute – our conversation played out randomly and innocently.

The conversation began the moment he walked by, “Jeff (James, Disney Institute’s new VP), do you have a minute?”

“Sure.”

i asked Jeff, “What percentage of an average family’s children’s movie collection is Disney?”

He said, “Probably 70-80%”

i agreed.

Which led to, “Jeff, see all those business books on Jack’s (Santiago) top shelf?”

“Yes.”

“What if we could do the same thing with Disney Business books? Think of business professionals across the globe. Any country, any industry, any level employee. What if every work bookshelf had 70-80% Disney Institute authored books? Seriously, why not?”

The riff began quickly and ended quickly. There was no need to rattle off 101 titles (yes, an intentional number from a famous Disney movie). Just a few would paint the obvious picture.

“The Disney Approach to Orientation”.

“The Disney Approach to Exceeding Customer Expectations.”

“The Disney Approach to Creating a Clear, Concise, and Compelling Vision.”

“The Disney Approach to Hiring Right-Fit Talent.”

Our conversation didn’t last long. Two busy Disney leaders. One impossible dream. A dream so far out of reach that all you could really do is smile and say, “As soon as we colonize another planet…”

So yeah, seven Disney Business books can seem audacious to anyone who’s never written a book, but to a dreamer and lifetime Disney Cast Member, seven books is really just scratching the surface.

Do you recall when Walt Disney purchased 160 acres in Anaheim and how he quickly outgrew that space?

A decade later he orchestrates the undercover purchase of 43-square miles (27, 443 acres) of snake, alligator, and mosquito-infested swampland in Central Florida and boldly proclaims we will build the Vacation Capital of the World?

Bold is part of our Disney DNA.

Knowing many will question your mental stability because the odds are so unfavorable, you must always believe one of Walt’s most famous statements, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

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Summary: Seven books seems impossible when in reality, seven books is simply the starting line.

Opportunity: Make dozens of books featuring Disney-insights for every business topic.

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This website is about our MIND. To read today’s post about our BODY, click here.

Newton’s Law Of Culture In Motion

Newton’s Law Of Culture In Motion

A culture in motion tends to stay in motion.

We can say this with confidence, every company has a culture.

And every culture has motion.

Focused motion, a culture by design.

Unfocused motion, a culture by default.

Building a culture worth defending is the most important long-term priority for a business owner and CEO.

And if it’s not, it should be.

Here’s an easy way to see the obvious yet often invisible.

Compare the organizational benefit to building a personal wellness and personal vibrancy lifestyle.

All able-bodied adults know personal health is important. How many actually live like they believe it – as if their life depends on it?

Five percent?

Less?

Now apply this analogy back to organizational health.

How many CEO’s make cultural vibrancy their number one long-term priority?

Like physical wellness, corporate Organizational Vibrancy culture must be a daily focus.

Well, it doesn’t need to be a daily focus, just like regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and adequate rest don’t need to be a daily focus.

We reap what we sow.

As surely as gravity keeps us grounded on Earth.

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This website is about our MIND. To read today’s post about our BODY, click here.

Deconstructing Disney DNA To Reconstruct It, For Your Future Enjoyment

Deconstructing Disney DNA To Reconstruct It, For Your Future Enjoyment

Culture is what people think and do without thinking.

  • Culture = habits
  • Habits = results
  • Culture = results

Your Organization has an origin story. Therein is the origin of your Organizational DNA.

My role as a Disney Keynote Speaker and business advisor is to show ‘outsiders’ the way.

The Disney Way is loaded with entertaining and impressive distractions. Outsiders call it Magic.

Insiders, Employees (Cast Members), don’t call it anything. It is simply the way we do things: The Disney Way if you will, but we don’t call it the Disney Way.

Remember, (Disney) culture is what people think and do without thinking.

i’ve deconstructed Walt (and Roy) Disney’s DNA and reconstructed it in 19 brilliantly simple architectural blueprints.

Perhaps the easiest way to think about the so-called ‘Disney Way’ is to imagine this question, “What would Walt do?”

My 19 architecture blueprints allow anyone to over-focus, and act with world-class discipline, on the core basics of Disney’s business.

Never get bored with the basics.

Ever.

Note: Disney’s 19 Business Excellence basics are everyone’s business excellence basics. Why, how? Because the 19 basic blueprints are context-neutral. The basics are just that, basic. Foundational. A must have for everyone. If you can’t explain it to a 10-year old, it’s too complicated. i can explain the 19 basics to a fifth-grader and they understand the basics. Now imagine you explaining your organization’s DNA to a 10-year old. After reading this book (and ideally the entire series), you will be able to. Easily.

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This website is about our MIND. To read today’s post about our BODY, click here.