How fast should we drive during midlife? (a Disney flashback)

Disney Customer Experience Keynote Speaker jeff noel
Circa 2005. Illustrating the “extra inch” concept even back then.

 

A Disney flashback. How fast should we drive during midlife?

Had a Disney leader (Guy Smith) in 2000 request that at every one-on-one meeting he wanted his direct reports to share one example of how they ‘drove 65’ the previous week.

In this metaphor, we assume the speed limit is 55 mph, and his theory was we could exceed the posted speed limit if we weren’t reckless, and avoid getting pulled over.

In the spirit of continuous improvement (the DNA of Walt Disney) he wanted at least one example of how we pushed the envelope with a colleague, the audience (as a professional speaker), or our (Disney Institute) business practices.

That was 16 years ago and i still use it as a daily (weekly seems way too infrequent) personal challenge.

You are the CEO of You, Inc.

Your growth, development, and attitude is your responsibility.

Wow, the things that are so easy to take for granted.

Next Blog

The changes are imperceptible, except for a few

April 2015 calendar
Today is just a single day.

 

A tree does not grow overnight, but it does grow.

Same with us.

It happens so slowly :

  • Learning to walk
  • Losing our virginity
  • Moving into our own place
  • The death of a parent

The days cannot teach nor prepare us like decades can.

As we age we can cast more shade, because our roots are wide and deep.

Makes sense when we think about it, but we never do.

Next Blog

DisneyRetiree.com

Disney Retiree website
This post card arrived the other day.

 

DisneyRetiree.com

Relax and enjoy the Magic?

Yes, and…

Life is good as a Disney retiree.

Many think i’m astonishingly lucky and have no idea…

  • It was six years in the making.
  • It was remarkably intentional.
  • It was a ton of work.

Still working as hard as ever, but only at one full-time job – Mid Life Celebration.

Next Blog

The genius and risk of human shortcuts

Disney Speaker with Mary Poppins
Much of life is based on fairy tale imprinting.

 

Heuristics, defined here, may be getting in our way.

Or, they may be what leads to our breakthrough.

Alas, life is tough.

Much of our life is based on fairy tale imprinting.

Our brain compensates by accepting prevailing thoughts or concepts that may no longer be true – and may have never been true.

Heuristics are human shortcuts that allow busy, distracted humans to quickly process things and reach conclusions.

Or maybe we just make it tough because we aren’t willing to buck the heuristics.

Buck the heuristics. Double entendre intended.

Next Blog

Wi-fi and the meaning of midlife

Disneyland landmark

 

Wi-fi and the meaning of midlife. Critics and advocates have their opinions about unlimited Internet accessibility, even while on vacation.

Here’s a thought, not everyone on vacation is on vacation.

Standing at the epicenter of the Disneyland resort (above), Mid Life Celebration is here working.

This is one of the glorious Internet benefits. You can literally work from anywhere, anytime.

Do what you love and you’ll never have to work another day in your life?

Next Blog