Creating Magic

10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney

By: Lee Cockerell

Narrated by: Lee Cockerell

Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

It's not the magic that makes it work; it's the way we work that makes it magic.

The secret for creating magic in our careers, our organizations, and our lives is simple: outstanding leadership, the kind that inspires employees, delights customers, and achieves extraordinary business results.

No one knows more about this kind of leadership than Lee Cockerell, the man who ran Walt Disney World Resort operations for over a decade. And in Creating Magic, he shares the leadership principles that not only guided his own journey from a poor farm boy in Oklahoma to the head of operations for a multibillion dollar enterprise, but that also soon came to form the cultural bedrock of the world's number one vacation destination. But as Lee demonstrates, great leadership isn't about mastering impossibly complex management theories. We can all become outstanding leaders by following the 10 practical, common sense strategies outlined in this remarkable book. As straightforward as they are profound, these leadership lessons include:

Everyone is important.

Make your people your brand.

Burn the free fuel: appreciation, recognition, and encouragement.

Give people a purpose, not just a job.

Combining surprising business wisdom with insightful and entertaining stories from Lee's four decades on the front lines of some of the world's best-run companies, Creating Magic shows all of us, from small business owners to managers at every level, how to become better leaders by infusing quality, character, courage, enthusiasm, and integrity into our workplace and into our lives.

©2008 Lee Cockerell (P)2008 Random House Audio

Loved it!!

This book has changed the way I interact with people. Great advice in an easy to follow format.

You will learn so much on running a great organization

Common sense is not always common. Everything in this book is all about common sense business strategies. But why is no one doing it? Lee explains: it is the responsibility of everyone to be a leader and he describes many examples of how everyone can achieve this in this book.

Lee's performance of reading his book is refreshing and the pacing was just right.

This is a book every business leader and owner needs to read/listen to.

Usefull hints for every person

Not only leaders should read this book as it gives hints and experience’s story that will help in our daily lives. Just loved it! I sure wish I could be granted with a executive program in Disney, as I cant afford it yet!

Great Leadership Book For Business & Living

Excellent book on practical leadership, and communicating effectively so people can achieve their potential.

Must read for all managers.

So much great information for managers of any business. Inspiring. I can't wait to apply the management skills in this book, to create magic in my organization.

Life-changing & Career-changing Leadership Lessons

Creating Magic by Lee Cockerell has been on my TBR list for years. In an engaging and friendly style, Cockerell shares the many lessons he has learned throughout his decades in the business world. His common sense approach to leadership is easily digestible and could be implemented in any business environment. From his early days in business to Marriott and to Disney, Cockerell wisely learned from his mistakes, embraced change, and discovered how important it is to recruit, train, and encourage people at all levels of your organization. No wonder he is a highly sought after speaker. Creating Magic will definitely change your career, and it just might change your life. Highly recommended!

Simple points, well and clearly made

This is a great leadership book. The points are simple, which might trick a reader into thinking those points are 'obvious' or 'elementary.' They are, however, difficult to put into practice without focus and intentionality. I really enjoyed listening to this book. I kept pulling over in my car to write notes. The content is very outline-based. There are 10 major points and each has sub-points and sub-sub-points. At the end of every chapter are specific action steps that a leader who wants to implement these lessons can do. I can't recommend these tenets highly enough and will be gifting this book to a few fellow leaders.

Leadership with Disney

This Audio book change my world! it over delivered on its promises tenfold! It was amazing!

Loved It

Would you listen to Creating Magic again? Why?

I have already started listening again because of how much advice is offered for all parts of life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lee because he tells it like it is.

What about the narrator’s performance did you like?

Lee is the Narrator, which gives the book a more personal feel

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Some of his stories were very heartfelt and I found myself wiping a tear away here and there.

This guy is amazing

I recently got turned onto the podcast. I went back and listened to every single one of them. Then went out bought all the books. Read them now listening to them. Just finishing up creating magic. Going to rip through time management next. Thank you Lee Cockerell for changing my life. Your amazing!!!