announcement – Disney Leadership Keynote Speaker

Scary retirement announcement?

(photo: Mid Life Celebration, LLC has been under construction for six years. Down to 12 days and counting.)

Intentionality creates better stories. Stories create culture and legacy.

Last night Mid Life Celebration went public with jeff noel’s retirement date which is only 12 days away on November 1, 2014.

Final day as a full-time Disney Leader is October 31 – Halloween.

How scary is that!

Insight: Could have picked any day. Intentionally picked Halloween as the last one. Because it is very scary to leave at 55.

And it’s part of the story.

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Before he could say anything, the other already knew

After days of facilitating transformational insights, we had a final dinner together at the Mexican restaurant below. While snapping a few pictures of the colorful decor, the other was getting caught up on work emails.

How many once-in-a-lifetime moments do we get?

The boss found out first a couple weeks ago. Then two days ago the colleague he respects immeasurably found out (second) via phone call. Yesterday everyone found out via an (earlier than expected) official email invitation from the boss.

The third person to find out was a client who would wonder why he never said anything all week. To nip that in the bud, he told her last night after the program, and asked her not to tell his colleague because he would do that himself at dinner.

Before the menus were opened, the colleague starts reading aloud the announcement from his work phone email.

It was a moment.

Oh well.

He understood after the explanation.

The next level of mid life celebration officially begins.

Napa Room

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There are moments in our lives that only happen once.

(photo: Two days ago the photo was inspired to capture the laptop cable lock, middle left. Most professional speakers don’t secure their laptop.)

There are moments in our lives that only happen once.

The gratitude from the solitude at 4:30am in this quiet Flint, Michigan Holiday Inn room is remarkable.

Pause for a moment and think about your working years, and the working years of your parents and grandparents.

Have you followed in their footsteps?

Why or why not?

Have you set an example for your children (if you’re a parent)?

Disney career officially began January 25, 1982 as a Magic Kingdom Jungle Cruise Skipper. Left later that year to ride a bicycle across the Country. Returned to Walt Disney World permanently September 1984.

Eventually we all reach the once-in-a-lifetime moment…

The official, public sharing of the impending retirement began yesterday, October 16, 2014.

Never been ~~there~~ here, nor done that before.

Exciting.

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The greatest hope is you find yourself inspired by your own

(photo: Yesterday in Grand Blanc, Michigan… working, thinking, preparing…)

The time has come to start telling people.

Right now only a handful know.

Spouse, child, boss, benefits coordinator.

Last night a dear college buddy. Also called a most trusted colleague, but got voice mail.

So today a few more calls.

Mom has known for a long time it was coming, but has not yet heard officially the date.

Mid Life Celebration is about to spread it’s wings and fly.

For those of you who read these posts and have followed along, it is the greatest hope that you find yourself inspired by your own hopes and dreams, your own small, slow, steady progress.

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How do we live intentionally while cruising through midlife?

Love sign — We all know love is important. Are we a shining example, or a great warning?

Midlife love is in the air…

Mid Life Celebration went public on Amazon Thanksgiving Day 2013 (two months ago).

The first question Donna Flanagin asked, Can I tell everyone about your desire to use the book’s proceeds to help fund a cure for Crohn’s Disease?

No, please wait, was the reply.

In a couple weeks, the announcement will go live on Valentine’s Day.

Just another example of intentionality.

Love.

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