leaders

Space Mountain ariel view — Post written 3 months ago. Photo yesterday 7am Sept 19.

Is there a silver bullet for leadership? Yes. And it has nothing to do with what we say. One small change in how we see ourselves is all it takes to see what the rest of our team sees. And one small change in our behavior – something we start doing or something we stop doing – can transform us. Learn more.

(We judge ourselves by our intentions. others judge us by our behaviors.)

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This website is about our mental attitude. To easily and safely leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s physical health website, click here.

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.

Great Disney leaders are proactive

Censorship — The worst part of anything, including leadership, is always going to divide people.

Great leaders are proactive.

Fundamentally, they act rather than react.

Profoundly simple, simply profound.

Good and very good leaders are more like managers – they’re great at (reacting) putting out fires.

Both leader categories live with deeply embedded habits.

The work leading to change rarely happens this week (or last week).

Unlikely too, that it will happen next week.

Why?

Because the work that drives change can’t happen now, or recently, or soon.

Why?

Because there are too many urgent things today. And there were too many yesterday, and if history has a way of repeating itself, urgent will prevail tomorrow (like it always does).

Urgent and change are strangers.

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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 mental attitude. To easily and safely leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s physical health website, click here.

If Disney ran your mental attitude

Dead Poet's Society — The day Robin Williams died, an email from a 1990’s Disney colleague.

If Disney ran your mental attitude, we’d ask four simple questions:

How well are your employees able to articulate your vision?
How engaged are your employees in carrying out your vision?
How clear are your employees on what they are being held accountable for?
How committed are your employees, day in and day out?

There are many more questions but these are the baseline starting points.

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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 mental attitude. To easily and safely leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s physical health website, click here.

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.

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Odds are high we like being stuck in our rut

(photo: Celebrate the fact that you are ready to change, no matter the catalyst.)

The comfort zone is a nice comfy place.

We like our rut. It’s so predictable And all our friends are miserable too. Birds of a feather flock together.

When we have had enough (which may never happen), we need someone to encourage us.

Watch and listen to what happens when you ask big-boy questions to leaders who should have ready answers, but don’t.

Now do it with yourself – ask yourself the big-girl questions you should have a ready answer to, but don’t.

We are all leaders.

You are the CEO of You, Inc.

Everything is your fault.

PS. This is exactly the kind of dialogue used in a self-imposed shut-up-or-put challenge that changed everything and led to, among several game-changing risks:

Starting an LLC
Writing five daily, differently-themed blogs in 2009
Planning for six years to take early retirement
Overcoming addiction
Overcoming disability
Etc, etc

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