“Life is about service. When you help people, they don’t forget.”

Notable Moments

00:50 – Staying grounded when your title changes

02:29 – Why relevance is fleeting and what matters more

03:55 – The power of knowing people’s names and stories

05:59 – Fame is short; service is lasting

08:10 – People remember how you helped, not your title

11:30 – Traits of a leader who earns lasting respect

14:33 – Upcoming October Mastermind event info

In this episode, Lee Cockerell explores what it means to stay relevant as a leader and why lasting influence comes from service, not titles. With personal stories and wisdom from decades in leadership, Lee offers a heartfelt reminder: it’s not about being the star, it’s about being someone others can count on. If you want to create a lasting legacy, start with humility, consistency, and helping others grow.

Read my blog for more from this episode.

Resources

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 be afraid of tough questions. They bring out the last 20% of truth that everyone needs to hear."

Notable Moments

00:01:24 The importance of answering any question
00:03:14 Why tough questions build trust
00:07:00 How to tackle big problems as a team
00:10:21 Roundtables over rectangular tables
00:13:02 Living your values in real time

Lee Cockerell, retired Disney executive and leadership expert, shares why leaders must welcome hard questions and answer them truthfully. He recounts a leadership session where every question was fair game and explains how this builds trust and unlocks the last 20% of truth people usually withhold. He discusses practical ways to create psychological safety, handle big issues like AI, and why getting everyone in the same room beats endless meetings. Lee reminds leaders to know what they stand for. After all, your reputation depends on it.

Read the blog for more from this episode on answering the hard questions.

Resources

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 either going to deal with it now or deal with it later. That’s how time works.”

Have you ever noticed how easily we get used to things that aren’t working the way they should? It happens at home, like my garage door that only works if I hold the button, and even more often at work.

Fixing what’s broken, no matter how small, sends a message. It reinforces standards, builds morale, and improves the guest and employee experience. You don’t need to do it all at once, but you do need to start noticing again.

Read my blog for more from this episode on why you don't want to get accustomed to average.

Notable Moments:

[00:03:30] — "It’s amazing what we get used to and think is okay"

[00:06:00] — How we set emotional priorities

[00:07:40] — Importance of walking the floor and modeling high standards at work

[00:13:00] — The small details that matter

[00:15:38] — Creating habits by giving teams clarity and preparation

Resources

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.