Nine New Lessons from the Creating Magic Mastermind
“Forget about yourself and make everyone around you better.”
One of the things I appreciate most about hosting events is how often I’m the one who walks away changed. At the most recent Creating Magic Mastermind, I had the chance to sit in a room full of remarkable people, including my friend Vincent Pugliese. The mix of conversation taught me more than I expected.
During one conversation Lee Cockrell said, “forget about yourself and make everyone around you better.” I watched that play out in the room as people offered open, honest feedback to complete strangers. Vincent and I talked about how unusual it is to see that kind of generosity among a group that diverse. We had healthcare leaders, a book publisher, a dentist, a Disney executive, even a Major League ballplayer.
A moment that caught the attention of everyone was when a Disney leader suggested to design your “window on Main Street.” It’s a powerful exercise that is a nod to Disney’s tradition of window décor as a nod to someone’s leadership in the company. Ask yourself what your legacy would say if you actually believed you could create it. That took me back to when I was pinned with my park ranger badge and told I’d be a director someday. I believed it and acted like it. That kind of belief shapes how you lead.
Another lesson came from Vincent’s hot seat. He said growth isn’t always the right answer. Sometimes you don’t need to scale. Sometimes you just need to get organized and work on excellence. I’ve seen so many people chase speed before they’re ready. Vincent reminded all of us that clarity beats complexity every time.
We also spent time talking about how innovation gets derailed. Fear is the far enemy. Success is the near one. Once something starts working, we cling to it. This room pushed me to think about where I’ve been clinging a little too tightly.
As I look back at all the events, I’ve been part of there is one common lesson. The right room will stretch you. It will make you reconsider your excuses, rethink your systems, and reopen your imagination. Real leadership isn’t loud. It’s the quiet work of making everyone around you better.
Connect with Vincent
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Notable Moments
00:06:24 – “Forget about yourself and make everyone around you better.”
00:07:59 – Designing your “window on Main Street” as a vision exercise.
00:09:44 – Innovation’s two enemies: fear and success.
00:10:48 – Expedition leadership and removing excuses.
00:15:25 – “Do it when you see it.”
00:17:53 – Person vs. persona in leadership and identity.
00:20:29 – “Growth is not always the right answer”—scale vs. excellence.
00:23:27 – The power of the pause.
00:27:46 – Committed vs. loyal staff.
00:30:47 – Money as time—and why that matters.
