A Good Manager is an Auditor

"When you respect time, you build trust and your reputation grows." Notable Moments [03:30] Time is not the new issue; it's always mattered [05:10] How Disney engineers measure time and efficiency [09:20] Coffee shop story and customer decision-making [15:00] Why leaders must observe operations firsthand This episode explores why time is one of the most important factors in leadership, service, and personal credibility. Lee explains how poor systems cost businesses trust, money, and customers, even when no one complains. He shares how organization, discipline, and time-awareness shape reputation and performance. Practical examples show how leaders can uncover bottlenecks, respect people's time, and create better experiences every day. 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.    

"Every leader's job is to inspect what they expect." Notable Moments [03:39] Seeing management as part auditing, part leadership [05:57] Why clarity prevents most workplace problems [07:48] The real issue behind poor communication [09:22] How clear expectations turn fear into trust [11:32] Inspect what you expect every day Lee Cockerell shares how good managers act like auditors by constantly checking for clarity, accuracy, and accountability. He explains why inspection builds trust when it's done with communication and transparency. Learn how leaders can prevent most problems simply by setting expectations clearly and following up with consistency and care. 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.    

"When you surround yourself with people who think differently, you see your blind spots." Notable Moments [01:38] Becoming an expert and why it matters [04:34] The value of solving problems together [09:09] How to form a mastermind with variety and trust [11:20] The importance of psychological safety and honesty [17:15] Why encouragement and recognition matter Discover how to create your own mastermind and why diversity of experience leads to better problem-solving. Lee Cockerell shares lessons from Disney and beyond about gathering people with different perspectives, creating psychological safety, and leading with honesty and encouragement. Learn why truth-telling, humility, and collaboration can transform both your leadership and your organization. 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.    

"When you invest in people, they remember how you made them better." Notable Moments 03:51  Why Disney invests heavily in the College Program even when most students don't stay. 05:24  How early work experience builds discipline and long-term skills. 07:51  College students earn real-world credits and lessons that last a lifetime. 10:58 How any company can build its own version of the Disney College Program. 12:42 Why a Disney experience, or any great training, opens career doors. 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.    

"You're not born disorganized. You become disorganized because responsibility grows faster than your systems do." Notable Moments [03:44] –Teaching time management helps employees connect with leaders and understand their own responsibilities. [05:34] – Neglecting the things that seem small can lead to big problems. [07:11] – Adopting a system can positively change your life and career trajectory. [11:23] – Handwritten planners versus digital tools and why writing strengthens memory. [15:55] – Schedule the priorities in your life or they won't get done. Lee Cockerell shares why effective time management is less about tools and more about personal accountability. He reflects on lessons from decades of leadership at Disney, the importance of maintenance in every part of life, and how to build habits that prevent chaos before it starts. Read the blog for more from this episode.  Resources Creating Magic Mastermind October 2025 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.    

"If you can't clearly explain what you bring to the table, people won't know, and if they don't know, they can't value it." Notable Moments [03:31] What employers really want to hear [04:54] "Whatever you give me, I get it done." [06:01] Reliability, attitude, and honesty over rehearsed answers. [08:09] Three rules of leadership: hire right, train right, treat right. [11:15] How repetition and focus help you become believable and recognized as an expert. In this conversation, Lee Cockerell shares how learning to talk confidently about your work can change your career. He reflects on early mistakes, practical advice for interviews, and simple habits that help you communicate value. Learn how to articulate strengths, express reliability, and build a reputation as someone who "gets it done." Read my blog for more from this episode.  Resources Creating Magic Mastermind October 2025 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.    

"When you're high quality and reliable, people will keep coming." Notable Moments [02:42] Early lessons about customer perception when raising prices. [04:53] Why transparency and education matter when costs rise. [08:41] Storytelling and facts help justify change. [11:42] Quality and reliability help businesses retain customers even after price hikes. [13:13] Predictability and peace of mind are worth paying for. Raising prices is never easy, but it's necessary for long-term business health. In this conversation, Lee Cockerell talks about the experiences he's had with price increases and the lessons he's learned. He shares how to communicate price increases with honesty and confidence based on his career in hospitality, including as Disney leadership. Take a listen to learn how to explain why, maintain trust with customers, and focus on value over cost. Read the blog for more from this episode.  Resources Creating Magic Mastermind October 2025 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.    

"Don't give your customers a chance to go try somebody else. They might not come back." Episode Highlights [03:42] Why environment and people matter more than coffee quality. [06:55] Observations on cultural diversity in different coffee shops. [09:54] The best consultants in your business are your employees and customers. [13:04] The danger of closing doors and letting customers try competitors. [15:10] Lessons learned about loyalty and value from grocery shopping. Your customers are only loyal until they find something better. In this conversation, Lee Cockerell shares personal stories and practical lessons on why people leave, how small details make the biggest difference, and what leaders can do to keep customers coming back. Read the blog for more from this episode.  Resources Creating Magic Mastermind October 2025 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.

"Everything is hard until it's easy. The only way it gets easy is practice." Episode Highlights [00:01:36] Lee recalls his first attempt at public speaking at Marriott. [00:02:45] Advice from Bill Marriott's father-in-law [00:03:55] Practice as the path to confidence. [00:06:26] How fear holds people back from trying. [00:07:39] Explain things simply to prove understanding. [00:08:33] Improvement through courses, reading, and daily study. Lee Cockerell opens up about his early struggles with public speaking and the lessons that helped him turn fear into confidence. He explains why passion and personal stories make presentations more engaging and memorable than polished scripts. Lee reminds us that practice is the only way to build true confidence, and that fear is often the biggest barrier to growth. This conversation highlights simple, practical steps anyone can take to improve their communication skills and become more effective leaders. Read the blog for more from this episode.  Resources Creating Magic Mastermind October 2025 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.    

"If you want to be average, just let it go. If you want to be world class, everything matters." Notable Moments 00:01:19 – The mindset shift of removing excuses and taking ownership 00:02:37 – How an honest conversation with Al Weiss built trust 00:04:41 – Why leaders must encourage open communication early 00:06:37 – The importance of "no surprises" in leadership 00:09:40 – Everything matters if you want to be world class Many workplace frustrations linger because we quietly allow them. In this episode, Lee Cockerell shares how change begins when you take ownership for the problems. As a leader that means speaking up early, setting clear expectations, and creating a culture of open communication. It's the honest conversations can build trust and help you lead with confidence. Read my blog for more from this episode.  Resources Creating Magic Mastermind October 2025 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.