Brief, Powerful Life Management Tips that Work Like Magic

Summary

Lee Cockerell's talk on life management emphasizes fixing past issues, prioritizing daily tasks, and embracing education, exposure, and experience for success, while also stressing the importance of treating people with appreciation and recognition.

Abstract

In a transformative talk to the Central Florida Christian Chamber, Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort, shared his insights on effective life management. His approach includes starting the day by addressing unresolved issues from the previous day and creating a prioritized list of tasks based on one's responsibilities, such as family, personal development, and faith. Cockerell advocates for tackling challenging tasks head-on, as this leads to an easier life overall. He identifies three key components for success: continuous education, exposure to diverse people and cultures, and valuable experiences. Additionally, he emphasizes the human need for frequent appreciation and recognition in all relationships, asserting that there is no benefit to treating others poorly. Cockerell also encourages individuals to take full ownership of their circumstances, suggesting that acceptance is the first step towards improvement. His bestselling books, including "Creating Magic" and "Time Management Magic," further elaborate on these principles.

Opinions

Cockerell believes in the power of addressing past issues to clear the path for a successful day.
He suggests that prioritizing tasks based on one's responsibilities is crucial for effective time management.
Cockerell is a proponent of doing the hard things first, as

A new spin on old-time management ideas

Image by Jerry D Clement; used with permission

If you’ve read a book or taken a course on time management, you know the standard advice: Make lists, set goals, prioritize, keep a schedule, and so on.

When Lee Cockerell spoke to the Central Florida Christian Chamber, he put a new spin on those old ideas. Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort, a bestselling author, consultant, speaker, and founder of Cockerell Academy. Here are my notes from his talk:

If you’re going to have a successful day, you need to be focused on the right things. So do these two things first:

1. Fix yesterday. Think about what happened yesterday and if there’s anything you need to fix, do it first.

2. Make a list of what you need to do to meet your responsibilities today. Under responsibilities, Cockerell includes your spouse/partner; children; parents/grandparents; your development/education; faith; and other responsibilities. Then set priorities.

Get in the habit of doing the hard things — the things you don’t want to do but know you should. If you can’t do them by yourself, get someone to help you. Cockerell says, “Do the hard things and life gets easier.”

Cockerell says we need three things to be successful:

1. Education 2. Exposure (to different people and cultures) 3. Experience

He says it’s important to remember that people need appreciation, recognition, and encouragement — and they need it frequently. Apply this to all your relationships, personal and professional. “There’s no upside to treating people poorly,” he says.

Finally, he says, don’t blame anyone else for your situation.

“Whatever you’ve got, own it.”

Thanks for reading. I originally published this article on my site at CreateTeachInspire.com. You can reach me there or email me at [email protected].

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