"By virtue of being a kid and on the receiving end of mothering, you have learned you know what works and what doesn't work." - Valerie Cockerell
This conversation brought me an all new perspective around the ways that motherhood can serve as a powerful foundation for effective leadership in any organization. Valerie Cockerell is joining to discuss her new book, "Manage Like a Mother," where she explores the intersection of motherhood and leadership. Valerie's message is simple yet impactful: leaders should manage like a mother.
Valerie Cockerell is a French American former Disney leader who was part of the opening team of Disneyland Paris. She pursued her career at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida and facilitated programs for the Disney Institute. She is now a consultant in Leadership and Customer service excellence for organizations around the world. Today, she is the proud mother of 3 and lives near Boulder, Colorado.
During our conversation, Valerie shares her goal of encouraging men to become advocates for women by reflecting on the impact of their own mothers. She draws parallels between the instinctive thinking and planning that mothers do for their children's futures and the long-term vision that leaders should have for their organizations. There is also value in the different approaches and strengths that women bring to the table.
Many organizations recognize the need for diverse skills and perspectives in leadership roles. Valerie does a great job of explaining that while there are imperfections of mothers, the lessons we take away - good and bad - provide value. By recognizing the unique contributions that mothers make, she hopes to bridge the gender gap in the workplace and inspire men to support and advocate for women. Valerie encourages organizations to shift their focus from experience to a skills-based approach, providing women with a fair chance to compete on an equal basis.
Connect with Valerie
Connect with Jody
About Jody - https://jodymaberry.com/about-jody-maberry/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sugarjmaberry
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodymaberry/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sugarjmaberry/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodymaberry
Episode Highlights
[00:02:33] Women rely on love, anticipate danger, notice details.
[00:06:23] Diversity in skills important; men value it.
[00:07:17] Mothers aren't always perfect, but they teach valuable lessons.
[00:10:35] Mothers' instinct can be transferred to leaders.
[00:15:02] Men supporting women in the workplace.
[00:18:54] Managing like a mother, teaching with workshops.
[00:22:59] Underestimated contribution of women in workplace.
[00:25:27] Be cautious of deliberate competence, strategic incompetence.
[00:28:33] Get men to advocate for women.
"Data can be turned into a story. When you present numbers without a story, people just glaze over."— Alice Fairfax
As is customary on the show, Alice Fairfax returns to ask three unscripted questions. Considering she is the author of "Tell Your Story: Tools to Take You from a Tweet to a TED Talk,” it makes sense that her questions would dive deeper into of storytelling. Much of our conversation revolves around the importance of learned and earned stories. Both play a significant role in connecting with audiences on a universal and specific level.
Alice makes an interesting connection between inviting an audience into a story and the significance of telling a good story. It is important to recognize the distinction between learned stories, which focus on information provided by companies, and earned stories, which are born out of personal experiences consumers have with a brand. When I think about my experience as a park ranger I feel that learned stories are like the informative signs, brochures, and videos encountered at parks. On the other hand, earned stories, exemplified by experiences at Disney parks, are the stories people go home and tell because they personally interacted with the brand. For a story to be remarkable, it needs to be both universal and specific. If a learned story lacks these vital elements, people are unlikely to relate to it or remember it, and therefore, they won't share it.
For businesses to truly connect with their customers they need to know the importance of understanding both learned and earned stories. It is not to say it’s easy. There are challenges faced by businesses like drug stores, where earned stories may be harder to create. In those situations it is best to focus on delivering outstanding learned stories that are both universal and specific.
Ultimately, Alice's story formula, which focuses on making stories relatable and engaging, perfectly complements the concept of learned and earned stories. There is no denying the power of storytelling and how businesses can effectively connect with their audience through learned and earned stories. By offering memorable and remarkable experiences, brands can foster deep connections and inspire customers to share their stories, creating a lasting impact. Storytelling plays a fundamental role in engaging audiences and creating meaningful connections.
Connect with Alice
Order the book Tell Your Story
Connect with Jody
About Jody - https://jodymaberry.com/about-jody-maberry/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sugarjmaberry
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodymaberry/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sugarjmaberry/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodymaberry
Episode Highlights
[00:02:22] Businesses should offer universal or specific stories to be remarkable.
[00:04:23] Understanding and utilizing learned and earned stories
[00:09:13] Developing a storytelling formula.
[00:12:33] Disney and national parks both rely on storytelling to engage visitors.
[00:15:38] Universal and specific elements create memorable experiences.
In business, we are telling a story whether we know it or not. Evaluate what story you are telling and how you want people to participate. Own that story and create an incredible experience that exceeds expectations. - Alice Fairfax
In this episode I welcome Alice Fairfax, author of the book Tell Your Story, to share her expertise on the importance of storytelling in creating memorable experiences. With over 20 years of experience as an actor and storyteller at Disney, Alice understands the power of storytelling to captivate audiences and engage customers. We dive into many of the ways it can be used to create memorable and engaging experiences.
Her journey into storytelling began with listening to tales from her father during long cross-country drives. Alice Fairfax's journey into storytelling began with listening to tales from her father during long cross-country drives. She was just a child then, but the stories of the wild west, woven by her father, left a lasting impression.
Throughout our conversation, Alice emphasizes the need for businesses to recognize that they are telling a story, whether they realize it or not. She provides examples of how framing a message as an invitation rather than a demand can enhance the overall narrative and make customers feel special. Alice discusses the role of leaders as storytellers, highlighting the impact of authentic and personal stories on inspiring and motivating teams.
Alice's book, Tell Your Story, is focused around the Story Formula, a tool to help craft compelling narratives. By incorporating universality and specificity into stories, individuals and organizations can create connections that resonate with audiences. This is such a great tool for anyone that is wanting to enhance customer engagement and create lasting connections through memorable experiences.
This is a great conversation around the art of audience engagement. Make sure to take a listen and share this episode with anyone that is looking for more wants to make your audience, or customers, a part of the story.
Connect with Alice
Order the book Tell Your Story
Connect with Jody
About Jody - https://jodymaberry.com/about-jody-maberry/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sugarjmaberry
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodymaberry/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sugarjmaberry/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodymaberry
Episode Highlights
00:00:48 - Alice's Disney Career
00:03:20 - Learning to Tell a Great Story
00:06:07 - Engaging the Audience
00:12:23 - The Power of Invitation
00:14:39 - Importance of Communicating and Owning the Story
00:16:55 - The Power of Inviting Guests into a Story
00:19:42 - The Impact of Leadership and Storytelling
00:22:08 - Transition from Disney to Becoming an Author
00:24:53 - The Story Formula for Compelling Stories
Start with a mirror - true leadership begins with self-reflection. - Mike Simmons
During my recent trip to Alaska I was intrigued by the innovative sales tactics used in high-end jewelry stores on the cruise. It only make sense to welcome Mike Simmons back to use his sales expertise to break down this tactic. His expertise in simplifying problem-solving and decision-making makes him the perfect person to talk about my observations on selling.
Thankfully Mike has familiarity with the sales strategies based on his own experience on a cruise. The tactics used onboard are a perfect example of the importance of designing experiences to engage customers and gather feedback. They had well-orchestrated incentives and engaging experiences that keep people coming back for more throughout the sailing.
The same principles used by the jewelry store sales team can be applied to simplify and streamline decision-making processes in business. Their meticulous attention to detail, strategic incentives, and structured sales approach highlights the power of isolating variables and taking action to achieve results. As Mike says, it is important to achieve results rather than just focus on execution.
If you're a professional trying to to simplify problem-solving and decision-making, this episode is full of valuable insights and practical tips from Mike's experiences. Tune in to learn how to isolate variables, take action, and streamline your decision-making process to achieve the results you desire.
Connect with Mike Simmons
Mike Simmons on LinkedIn
Connect with Jody
About Jody - https://jodymaberry.com/about-jody-maberry/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sugarjmaberry
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodymaberry/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sugarjmaberry/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodymaberry
Episode Highlights
00:00:28 - Alaska Experience
00:06:28 - Building Sales into the Experience
00:09:21 - Scavenger Hunts and Trade Shows
00:11:33 - Scarcity and Urgency
00:12:41 - Additional Purchasing Options
00:14:20 - The Power of Copywriting
00:15:34 - Becoming an Extension of the Sales Team
00:16:46 - The Value of Scripts
00:18:32 - Making it Easy to Pay,
00:21:44 - Creating Your Own Laboratory
00:27:56 - The Need for Leadership and Culture Building
00:28:51 - Shifting the Focus to "Axe"
00:29:59 - Simplifying Approach and Embracing Continuous Learning
00:31:40 - Positive Feedback and Excitement for the Future