Find Happiness
Part of my personal and professional growth centers around seeking out, listening to, and learning from those that lead in a way worth replicating. From business leaders to educators, to artists, and innovators. I love the way individuals stories help shape who they are, then learning from their experiences as well as sharing mine.
It's no accident that I continue to connect with one in particular. He is retired, inspired, and still guiding others toward leadership magic. Lee Cockerell has a knack for being known as the “Time Management” guy, but his expertise is truly endless. Not because he claims to know it all; because he knows the value of connecting, listening, and learning. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities for great conversation with him.
Fall 2006 Disney College Program Campus Recruiting Event
For those that don’t know, I worked as a Cast Member at the Walt Disney World Resort shortly before Lee retired from his position as Executive VP of Operations. He has an incredibly unpredictable journey to his role at The Walt Disney Company {spoiler alert: unlike many would assume, he did not complete any college education and did not grow up working in the company}. In his book Career Magic he wrote all about his sheltered youth, his nearly 20 year journey with Marriott, some notable bumps in the road that ultimately lead to why he leads the way he does, and what brought him to his first role with Disney to support the opening of Disneyland Paris.. However, as I’ve had more time to talk to Lee I continue to learn far more pivotal, yet simplistic nuggets that continue to help drive my focus.
About a year after I ended my time working at Walt Disney World I was working as a Campus Rep for the Disney College Program. I was lucky enough to meet Lee for the first time when we hosted him to speak to local college students. His authenticity had me hooked then and is why I still love connecting today.
Fun lesson in growth: that first time meeting Lee was my first black tie event. As a young, Midwestern gal I had no clue what that meant. So I went searching for my finest white button down shirt {used for choir competitions} and a simple black skirt, panicked because I didn’t have a black tie. Literal translation at its finest. Thank goodness we now have the availability of Google! While nowadays I do love a good gala, I more so enjoy that this has evolved to coffee conversations. Over the years I’ve listened to his podcast Creating Disney Magic, heard him speak and do a live Q&A recording, and read his books. However, no meeting was as impactful as the one in November of 2019.
My professional passion and joy was rapidly plummeting, which was bleeding into personal happiness. My passion for work was snuffed out by individuals that suddenly reverted to small town visions after hiring me to support big system and cultural growth. For several other reasons it became the type of environment I would tell anyone to walk from. Yet I continued to fight through because I was letting my pride get the best of me. How could I fail at something I feel so strongly about and saw such opportunity for? Yet I knew in my heart it really wasn’t me…it was them. And I had to be ok with that. I spoke with Lee about my challenges in implementing these needed changes when leadership was even more hesitant to make necessary changes to long standing roadblocks. We shared wonderful conversation about his experiences and he reminded me that my value is still there; they just aren’t in a place to accept it. That is never a reflection of our ability.
What came next was so insanely minor, but was the straw that broke the camels back. I sent Lee a follow up email thanking him for such great conversation. His response was simple; Find Happiness. The tears immediately came because I knew it was time to return to a life I enjoyed living, not one I was constantly running from.
The next day hope started to arise and I was given multiple reminders that my worth was more than it had been whittled down to. Or maybe it was that Lee was the outsider opinion that allowed me to start being open to recognizing where my worth was valued. That next day I was contacted by a recruiter {Fast forward 5 interviews and 3 competency tests later I got the job, but quickly realized it was not what was going to bring happiness}. Less than a month after my conversation with Lee, a pending opportunity in a position that was a means to an end more so than a passion project, and a whole lot of faith, rust, and pixie dust I resigned from my job. It wasn’t because I didn’t like the people {actually, I loved the family feel!}. It wasn’t because I didn’t enjoy the work {my customers were amazing and networking opportunities were my jam!}. It wasn’t because I failed {the task I was hired for versus what I was ultimately resorted to doing were vastly different and not allowing me to utilize the very skills they hired me for}. It was because I knew life has so much more to live and I was tired of living for work (except I wasn’t even living; I was numb). I was ready to return to finding passion in my work so I could get back to enjoying a life worth living with my family, my friends, traveling, writing, and more laughter than ever.
11/2020 One of us is retired and the other is refueled.
When I returned to consulting I was cautiously optimistic that it was going to spark that joy. After all, I had left once. Yet as I continue to learn, grow, and align with individuals that respectfully challenge my thinking, I have realized coaching up is where my energy is fueled. It’s bringing alignment. Culture. Experience. Helping people recognize that their perceived failure is actually their greatest lesson {so hold on through the sometimes tumultuous ride! It really does get better.} Confidence. Understanding the power of our voice, and that it’s okay to use it. Recognition. Knowing there are always options, and it’s okay to abandon something that doesn’t feel right. Being a gosh darn decent human being. And finding happiness.
Today I ask you to reflect on your own choices in life, as I often do after listening to Lee.
Are you speaking to and connecting with others in a way that ensures their growth as well as your own?
Are you living a life most authentic to you? Quit living to please everyone else. When you start to focus on your joys, people will flock…your kind of people. It’s the most freeing moment realizing you aren’t alone. You will feel less alone than you may have ever before.
The reward of finding your authentic happiness is far greater than the risk of assumed disappointment when walking away from pleasing the eternally unpleased. They may never “get you”. And that is okay. The right people, career, and experiences will.
As Lee always reminds us, appreciation, recognition, and encouragement go a long way. How can we make them go even further?
Stay safe. Stay curious. Find Happiness.
~K
