Random Thoughts

It’s been a whirlwind since getting back from Disney. This past weekend was amazing. It’s simply incredible the people that God is bring to the Albany campus, they’re finding Jesus, friendships and small groups. The Connect event was incredible… people hanging around, connecting, finding a small group and some incredible Mediterranean themed food (major props to Jill and team!).

Love having my father-in-law in town… lots of little things getting fixed around the house.

Monday night is a highlight for me personally… MNS… that’s right Monday Night Soccer! Two goals last night. Loved playing under the lights!

Love my kids! Just got some pictures back and was reminded how blessed I am!

Jennie and the kids are going applepicking this afternoon… hopefully there’s an apple pie in the deal.

Married 13 years next Tuesday. Wow! So blessed to have the wife God gave me. Definitely married up.

Really excited about going here late next week.

Things I learned from Disney (part 5)

There’s a whole lot I learned from my week on Disney (I realize it was a vacation but there’s always something to learn no matter where you go)… anyhow rounding out the week here’s a fifth thing Disney taught me…

People matter and they deserve our passionate, wholehearted attention.

The picture above is of Jeff (one of our hosts when we were staying in the castle). Jeff has a pretty important role at Disney. He’s one of a select few that takes care of VIP guests and celebrities. As I understand it (based on some conversations with fellow employees who seem to highly regard Jeff) he’s been offered multiple promotions to upper management and has turned them down because he loves what he does. He’s passionate about people and making sure they have the time of their life. I believe just ten days prior to sword fighting with my four year old he was taking care of Michael Phelps. I can’t tell you how much Jeff made our Disney experience.

If you’ve ever visited Disney, have you ever noticed how any of their cast members answers your question? You might be the twentieth person to ask them that question that day. They may have been asked that question a million times… but they answer you as if its the first time they’ve ever been asked that question.

As an organization, and I would say even at a personal level for each cast member, they are passionately committed to people and making sure they have a great experience. Jeff exemplified this for the Gilpin family. Michael Phelps to Madeline Gilpin… doesn’t matter, his focus and passion was engaged in making sure that whomever he was taking care of felt important and valued (based on what matter to the person they where serving, which happened to be sword fighting for my four yearl old) and make that person was having the time of their life. I forget who said it, but “the most important person is the one right in front of you at any given time.” They deserve our passionate, wholehearted attention.

In life, and in church life, there’s are lots of things that need to get done, tons of people to talk and engage with… but when we’re talking with people are we fully engaged or looking around for the next person or thinking about what’s next. Jeff reminded me that the people in front of us are the most important. Thanks Jeff!

Things I learned from Disney (part 4)

Understand the power of story.

There’s no doubt that one of the things that separates Disney from every other theme park in the country is the fact that they haven’t just “themed” the rides and sections of their parks they’ve told a story. Everywhere you turn there’s a story unfolding. Some of them we know well (especially the princess stories in our house), but regardless of whether it’s ToonTown, Big Thunder Mountain or Toy Story Mania there’s as much effort into developing the story that unfolds getting to the ride as there is in the actual ride. Once again a trip up the road to Great Escape and you’ll find a runaway mine roller coaster – metal track that curves and weaves, a few “props” to look at as you whiz around, metal railings as you wait in line. I get that it’s supposed to be a runaway mine car… but it’s minimal. Disney on the other hand immerses you in a story, and you’re a part of that story. As you wait to get on the runaway mine car roller coaster you walk deeper into the mine, the wooden railings are worn and aged, the train tracks are buried into a mountain, as you ascend into the mountain, the rocks shudder and the lanterns sway because of the earthquake… they developed a story and you feel it! You experience it. It’s not just a ride that get’s your heart pumping… they’ve not just gone the extra mile they invited you to be a part of a story.

I’m sure if you’re a Christ follower you’ve probably heard a lot of preachers preach… I’ve had the privilege listening to and meeting some great speakers and one of the ingredients they all seem to have in common is this incredible ability to involve their listeners in a story that unfolds as they speak. You get involved in the experience. The story of scripture comes alive and you see yourself in that story… Stories are not just a tool to illustrate a point. The story and seeing yourself in the story is the point. Disney understands the power of involving you in a story. It’s part of the Disney magic.

Things I learned from Disney (part 3)

Service isn’t a means to an end. It’s the goal.

After winning the evening Cinderella’s castle, my girls got ready for our dinner at Cinderella’s table. Dressed in their princess’ dresses, make up and sparkles with those little jewels on each cheek. Excited we take the elevator to the first floor and go into the lobby to meet Cinderella… royality, a real life princess in the mind of my little girls. The photographers where there, the girls run and hug Cinderella and then the unthinkable… one of Sophie’s jewels gets lost from her cheek. Sophie loses focus and begin to get upset about losing the jewel in the presence of Cinderella. What does Cinderella do? “Sophie come with me and let’s look for it together.” Are you kidding me? Royality, the Princess Cinderella, the owner of the castle we get to stay in that night is on the floor with my daughter looking for a cheap plastic jewel… It was in that moment that I realized service wasn’t a means to an end for Disney, it was the objective. Serve every guest and make them feel special, loved and appreciated.

The King of kings and the Prince of princes did exactly the same thing. In Matthew 20:28 He told us that He didn’t come to be served, but to serve. In John 13 He didn’t wait for the disciple to wash His feet, He washed the feet of His disciples… in verse 15 He tells us, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” Service wasn’t a means to an end… it was the end game, the goal, the objective.

Four Stitches

You know when you tell your kids not to jump on the bed, in case they bump their head… tonight my four year old bumped her eyelid on the bed post. Result: first ever set of stitches for any of our kids. Four to be exact. Mads is such a trooper… the other kids were so concerned. She was laughing as she went to the hospital, sat through everything without batting an eyelid (excuse the pun) and now just wants to get home to go to bed.

Things I learned from Disney (part 2)

Excellence Matters

Disney doesn’t do anything by half measures. The playground at the resort what swept clean of pine needles each and every morning, streets at all the parks where scrubbed and made like new every night for the following day, litter was non-existent. The costumes, the shows, the transportation systems… they’re committed to excellence, and though it may cost more and eat into profits, it’s a non negotiable, it’s a core value that’s evident and a vitual part of their vision (perhaps with the exception of their over priced plastic toys). As I walked through the parks it became increasingly obvious that excellence attracts excellence, not just amongst the employees, but even amongst the guests. If there was a cup or piece of litter laying around someone, including guests, was picking it up. Excellence was contagious. Everyone was getting in on the act. Excellence matters and excellence attracts excellence.

Things I learned from Disney (part 1)

Okay so it was a vacation and trust me I wish real life could be more like Disney… but there were lessons to be learned everywhere.

Lesson number one: Never forget you’re a part of a bigger story.

There’s a difference between going to the Great Escape (a Six Flags Park 45 minutes from our house) where teenagers understand their function (take people’s tickets or count riders) verses a Disney cast members that owns the vision. They’re a cast member, part of a larger story that unfolds throughout each park/resort. While they may have a responsibility for receiving tickets, making sure the park stays clean etc, the objective is to make sure that every guest has the time of their life. While the individual’s name might be Jeff from Orlando, FL, they’re a cast member and part of a bigger story with an important role to play. The key is to never lose sight of the vision and mission. Never forget you’re part of a bigger story. When we focus simply on function, we lose sight of the objective. I once read a great quote about how leaders keep their eyes on the horizon not just the bottomline. When we focus on simply the bottomline, the function, the how to stuff, we lose sight of the bigger picture, the vision, the objective. Disney has done a great job training every cast member to keep their eye on both the horizon and the bottomline.