I picked this book up as soon as I saw it in the book store.  Though I haven’t been to Disney World since I was 7, I’ve heard enough about how they run things to recognize that I need to read it. The book is by Lee Cockerell who was the Executive Vice President of Operations for Disney for over ten years.

This is one of the most practical leadership books I’ve ever read. Lee provides a ton of examples of how they’ve implemented the principles he teaches at Disney. I know I’m going to change a lot of things I do in my role as a result of this book. If you’re a leader – you need to read this book and make a list of things to implement with your ministry, organization, or personal life.

Key Takeaway: “It’s not the magic that makes it work; it’s the way we work that makes it magic.”

Final Grade: 9/10     Buy it here!

Here are the 10 Strategies Lee Covers in the Book:

• Remember, Everyone is Important
• Break the Mold
• Make Your People Your Brand
• Create Magic through Training
• Eliminate Hassles
• Learn the Truth
• Burn the Free Fuel
• Stay Ahead of the Pack
• Be Careful What You Do and Say
• Develop Character

8 Months ago I picked up a side job being a sever at Houlihans. When my manager interviewed me he said, “I believe everyone needs to work as a server at some point in their lives.” 8 months later . . . I’m not sure I’d say everyone needs to, but I will say that as a server, you can definitely learn a lot of lessons about life. Here are some I’ve learned:

6 Things Servers Wish People Knew

• We Make $2.83 an hour and depend on Tips for the rest of our income – When I was in High School, I didn’t tip people. I was totally ignorant how dependent servers are on tips. Be a blessing to your server!

• We Make Mistakes, Be Understanding – We do our best to create an excellent experience for you, if we mess something up, it wasn’t intentional, it was accidental. How do you want to be treated when you mess up?

• 20% is the New 15% - This could be wrong, but I’ve noticed that anything less than a 20% is disappointing! (I recognize that the server should deserve it though!)

• Don’t Stay at Your Table for 5 Hours – Servers make money by moving tables. We want you come to and enjoy yourself and have a great experience, but keep in mind that the average server will have 3-4 tables. If you occupy one for 4 hours, that’s 3-4 tables that could have come and went and left us with tips. Be mindful!

• Christians Rarely Represent God – you can pray at your table, speak blessings over your server, and a handful of other things, but IF YOU LEAVE A BAD TIP – you discredit anything you’ve done or said. You end up pointing people away from God.

• Servers are People with Real Lives - this does not excuse poor service on the servers part, but most people think servers are just someone they can devalue. Please keep in mind that they have a personal life to and could be having the worst day of their life – be an encouraging customer, not one who will tear a server down.

Any servers out there? What are some things you wish people knew about you?

This book was a recommendation from one of my mentors, Jeanne Mayo. She recommends it to everyone she knows, she’s read it more than any other book she’s read, and she gives this book out more than any other book. Obviously – I had to read it.

It was a great book that really focuses on getting your mind in tune with the Word of God. The book is based on Phil. 4:8 which tells you what your mind should be thinking about all the time. I found this book to be very practical. It provides a lot of questions to ask yourself and a lot of exercised to get your headed in the right direction when it comes to your thought life. We all have a battles going on in our minds – thoughts fighting for our focus and attention. This book will help you focus on the right ones. An excellent read, and a must for a leaders bookshelf.

Final Grade: 9/10     Buy it here

Some Highlights:

• All lasting change is preceded by changed thinking
• The secret conversations you hold in the privacy of your mind are shaping your destiny little by little
• Right thinking is a choice you have to make for yourself the rest of your life
• Your life here on earth is your special, unrepeatable opportunity to fulfill God’s vision for your life and to magnify the joy He has placed within you.
• Live each hour as if your full potential has already materialized
• Emotions don’t reveal the quality of your life; they reveal the quality of your thinking at any particular moment
• Do not affirm what you do not want in your life
• When you allow God’s word to permanently occupy your heart and mint, in inevitably shapes your desires and goals.
• Worry is when you trust your fears more than you trust God