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Creating Disney Magic

Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President of Operations for Walt Disney World, shares his wisdom and experience from his time with Disney, Marriott, and Hilton. Lee joins show host Jody Maberry to discuss how you can apply lessons in leadership, management, and customer service to create magic in your organization.
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Creating Disney Magic
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Archives
Now displaying: April, 2026
Apr 28, 2026

“Resiliency is what separates dreams from results.”

Episode Chapters

[00:02:15] From Professor to Speaker: Jeff Barnes’ Journey
[00:05:16] Walt Disney’s Resiliency and Early Failures
[00:07:28] The Power of Going All-In on Your Goals
[00:08:16] Why Most Ideas Never Turn Into Action
[00:09:50] Turning Thought into Action and Momentum

What can leaders learn from Walt Disney? In this episode, Lee Cockerell and guest Jeff Barnes explore the power of resiliency, purpose, and action. From Walt’s early failures to his bold vision for Disneyland, the conversation highlights why belief, persistence, and acting on ideas are essential to leadership and success.

Read my blog for more from this episode. 

Connect with Jeff Barnes

TheWisdomofWalt.com

Instagram @drdisneyland

Facebook Jeff Barnes

Resources

CockerellStore.com

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

Apr 21, 2026

“Leadership is not about a title. It’s about your influence.”

Episode Chapters

[00:02:22] Why Leadership Starts with Influence, Not Title
[00:03:00] Giving Teams Purpose and Explaining the Why
[00:04:17] Why Presence Builds Trust and Credibility
[00:07:54] The Importance of Candor and Difficult Conversations
[00:10:33] Staying Calm and Leading Under Pressure

If your team doesn’t understand why their work matters, they won’t fully commit. Strong leaders create clarity, build trust, and show up consistently. These leaders know that leadership isn’t defined by a title. It’s defined by influence, clarity, and consistency. In this episode, Lee Cockerell,  retired Executive VP of Operations at Walt Disney World, and guest Greg Archbold discuss how purpose, presence, and honest communication shape strong leadership. They also explore why standards matter, how leaders respond under pressure, and what it takes to build trust with a team.

Read the blog for more from this episode. 

Connect with Gregory

Website GregoryArchbold.com

LinkedIn Linkedin.com/gregory-archbold

Resources

CockerellStore.com

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

Apr 14, 2026

“Getting better is not easy, but it’s the only way to be successful.”

Notable Moments

[00:02:52] Why Longstanding Employees Resist Change
[00:03:36] Leading Change with Clarity and Purpose
[00:05:29] Why Timing Matters When Improving Service
[00:06:58] Communicating Change and Gaining Buy-In
[00:12:32] Why Persistence Wins Over Resistance

Improving customer service often requires changing long-standing habits. Even when people want change, acting on it is where resistance shows up. In this episode, Lee Cockerell explains why employees push back on change. He shares how leaders can communicate clearly, involve their teams, and stay persistent to gain buy-in and elevate service standards.

Read my blog for more from this episode. 

Resources

CockerellStore.com

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

Apr 8, 2026

“Your path doesn’t have to be traditional to be successful.”

Notable Moments

[02:12] Reflecting on 600 Episodes and Global Impact

[07:51] Public Resume vs. Real Resume

[16:19] Why Attitude and Reliability Matter More Than Path

[23:09] Why You’re Not Behind—You’re Just Getting Started

[28:43] The Power of Mentors and Being Teachable

In this special 600th episode, Lee Cockerell reflects on the journey behind his career and the lessons learned along the way. Even though there have been setbacks and failures, his work has also allowed him growth and opportunity. In this episode, Lee shares how your resume is also built through your attitude, reliability, and exposure. Those matter more than what one people see.

The journey is never perfect, but it’s always building something. It's never too late to move forward. 

Read my blog for more from this episode. 

Resources

CockerellStore.com

The Cockerell Academy

About Lee Cockerell

Mainstreet Leader

Jody Maberry

Travel Guidance

Magical Vacation Planners are my preferred travel advisors. Reach out to have them help plan your next vacation. You can reach them at 407-442-2694.

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