Finding Your Expertise
“Disney leaders have an unmatched ability to balance big-picture vision with meticulous attention to the smallest details.”
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with leaders from countless industries. Time and time again the Disney leaders stand apart. They often don’t realize how special their approach is because it’s their norm. Their high standards and obsession with detail are unmatched.
I recently collaborated with three Disney leaders for a workshop. Unlike my park ranger days, where “the stage” might simply be a patch of ground between a pine tree and a rock, these leaders wanted to see the classroom in advance, know every seating arrangement, even how snacks were displayed. Every element mattered because they understood that people were coming for more than to learn. They were coming for an experience.
That level of detail translates into their personal ventures, too. When executives transition out of corporate life, especially from big names like Disney, they can no longer rely solely on their former title to open doors. Clarity is crucial, knowing exactly what problem they solve and the results they deliver.
Travel has taught me similar lessons: look deeper, beyond the obvious. Whether it’s discovering pepperoni pizza served in a completely new way in Kelso, Washington, or finding a local donut shop over a tourist hotspot, the richest experiences come from paying attention and asking the right questions.
Whether in leadership or travel, success lies in balancing the broad vision with a commitment to the smallest details and knowing how to clearly communicate your unique value.
Sometimes the best lessons come from unexpected places. For me they’ve been during a classroom walkthrough with Disney leaders, a conversation about the perfect slice of pizza, or a story about finding the park that feels like it was made just for you. In this conversation, ideas about leadership, clarity, and curiosity were so easily woven together. It reminded me how much our experiences shape the way we see the world. It’s in those small details, personal stories, and shared laughs that you begin to see the bigger picture, or our expertise, take shape.
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Notable Moments
00:00 – Wes Gay returns with three unprompted questions
00:54 – What makes Disney leaders different
02:18 – The value of high standards and detail
04:28 – Common mistakes in transitioning from corporate to personal ventures
05:19 – The need for clarity in defining your value
06:50 – Travel habits: judging communities by their pizza
08:17 – Glacier National Park and finding “your park”
09:36 – Lessons from international travel
10:52 – Donut shop recommendations
12:08 – Why locals know the best spots
13:23 – A memorable stop in Pine Mountain, Georgia
