Christine: You are listening to the Your Empty Nest Coach podcast, with Coach Christine, episode number 48: Putting on a Show While Simmering. … Today’s topic is Putting on a Show While Simmering. Let me tell you how this episode came about. I’ve always wanted to work at Walt Disney World.
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Christine: You are listening to the Your Empty Nest Coach podcast, with Coach Christine, episode number 48: Putting on a Show While Simmering. Hi, I am excited to share with you that I have a new membership program, “GPS Execs.” This will allow you to become an executive producer of my podcast. I am not kidding. I’m so excited about this. You will become my inner circle. You’ll get bragging rights. You’ll have two Zoom calls available, with me, every month that you are a GPS Exec. We’ll do periodic book clubs, periodic giveaways, just for my GPS Execs. I’m so excited. If you’re interested, go to my website: youremptynestcoach.com and click on “Executive Producers.” All the information is there. Thanks! See you there.
00:00:50
This podcast is for you, a mother who years ago walked away from a career to raise your child. Sure, you’ve been busy volunteering, car pools, maybe part-time work and taking care of everyone. But your main gig, that has been your child. Now, that they are in their later years of high school, the empty nest looms ahead for you and it is freaking you out. I’ve been there and I get it. Together, we’ll turn our freaking out energy into freaking awesome energy.
00:01:20
Hello, lovely lady. I’m sending you a tremendous amount of positive energy. I want you to have authority in your life. It is your life. Yours. May the story you have of your life bring you joy and peace, my friend. Before we get started, a quick reminder that all of my episodes are brought to you by my free seven day program, “The Empty Nest: A Guide to Uncovering My Future.” And to be clear, we are talking about your future, not mine. Hop on over to my website: youremptynestcoach.com and sign up today. Look for the link that says, “Uncover Your Future.”
00:02:00
Today’s topic is Putting on a Show While Simmering. Let me tell you how this episode came about. I’ve always wanted to work at Walt Disney World. I think this stems from the fact that I’ve had amazing customer service while on property, including our trip on 9/11 when they closed the park. And, in my younger days, I spent a summer working a season at the theme park Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, in their entertainment division. I had so much fun there, which always made me want to work with the best of the best in theme parks. That has stayed with me over the years. I joke that I plan to retire and be the oldest Jungle Cruise captain. Nothing like seeing Ginger Snap and the backside of water over and over and over again, and that is for my Jungle Cruise fans.
00:02:47
One concept that has always intrigued me about Disney is that they call all of their employees cast members. They are “on stage” when they are on the job. I had, a few days earlier in the year, where I was processing the idea that working for an employer, who views all of their members as cast members. It would be amazing, even if not Disney. I found myself wondering, “Why don’t more employers do this?” It then dawned on me that I don’t have to wait for my employer to do this for me to do it.
00:03:16
From that moment of realization, I began wearing my name tag all the time, at work. Where I work, that is typically held for large events that happen on site and there is always an undercurrent of comments when this happens that go along the lines of, “I have no idea where I put my nametag. Have you seen my name tag? I lost that years ago. I can’t find it.” Seriously.
00:03:42
Anyway, I don’t know what it is, but for me, something about wearing the name tag bumps everything up a notch. I’ve had people ask me why I do it. I don’t usually have the time to be completely honest. I guess now I can say, “Listen to episode 48 of my podcast, if you want to know why.” How about that? The power of podcasting. Anyway, when I leave at the end of the day, I leave my nametag right where I will see it when I come in, as a reminder that I’m there for a job to do and it is time to play that part. By doing this, I decided to live now, in a way that I was waiting for external circumstances to force me to do. How silly is this really, when I can do it right where I am?
00:04:25
Why did I think I must work for Walt Disney World to begin treating my job like a performance? I didn’t. I also didn’t need my employer to tell me to start putting on my name tag. I have way more control over my life than I choose to accept most days, and so do you. And guess what, I have no doubt that I’ll make a better Disney employee now, because in twenty years, I can direct them to episode 48 of this podcast. Oh my gosh, too freaking funny.
00:04:57
All of our life choices lead to consequences, of course. Some things you can do easily, like me with my nametag, and some might not be do-able, or may take a little bit more work. But I challenge you, the next time you think that something about somewhere else will be different and will make you feel differently about your life, to see how you can begin to act like you are already there, and well, play the part. It is a ton of fun.
00:05:22
A really funny story, when I first started wearing my nametag regularly, the look of concern from others, when they saw me, was real. Some flat out said, “Is there an event today?” So, maybe you’ll at least gain some entertainment out of that. I’m not saying to just put on a name tag. I’m saying find your name tag equivalent in your life. If it is that you want to live in a tiny house, well, you can take one of your rooms and not use the others and see how you do. If it is you want to walk the appalachian trail, you can start with walking to somewhere you wouldn’t normally walk to. Get the idea? This is meant to be fun. It also, in a way, will help you to refine your GPS.
00:06:06
Now that I think about it, maybe I need an Empty Nest Coach nametag to wear everywhere I go. Wow, and I think the looks I get at my day job are fun. I think I just figured out how to bump it up a notch.
00:06:19
Before I wrap up, I want to give a shout out to one of my favorite podcasts, Creating Disney Magic with Lee Cockerell. I’ve been learning how to implement more than just name tag power, in my life, through Lee’s helpful customer service driven podcast. Thanks, Lee, and thanks to Jody Maeberry his host and producer.
00:06:38
Alright, my lovely friend, life is one amazing journey, and some days it is just plain fun to put on a show wherever you are. What role will you play? If you are ready to begin the journey to find future you, and use her as your GPS, definitely sign up for my free program: “The Empty Nest: A Guide to Uncovering My Future.” Episode 13 covers the high-level concepts of that program, if you would like to check it out. To dive deep into the concepts, take my free program, as I provide videos and worksheets to assist you on your journey.
00:07:08
The questions I have for you in this episode are: Does anything come to mind for you, in your life, as you listen to this episode? Do you have any items that help you put on a show? I invite you to fly on over to our Facebook Group to share your answers to these questions with our amazing flock. Our name is Green Popsicle Sticks. Want to know why? Listen to episode number 17. Or head to my website: youremptynestcoach.com/community for links to join our flock.
00:07:39
I know that the adjustment to not having your kiddos at home full-time isn’t always easy, but it sure can be a ton more fun with a flock of friends. We look forward to seeing you there. Oh, my goodness, did you hear? I have an online program: “The Empty Nest: First Steps Towards Success.” I now offer GPS Reset Weekend Retreats, Unplugged and Charged Up, and I am available for speaking engagements. Seriously! What are you waiting for? Visit my website or see this episode’s full show notes. As always, I provide content to make you think, my empty nest friend. My hope is that I am able to provide you with thoughts that positively impact your life. You’ll find the show notes for this, and every episode, on my website.
00:08:25
My next episode’s title is: The Power of Laughter. Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast, it is free, and you’ll be notified when I post a new episode every Friday. If my show has helped you in any way, please share it with one other person, or five, you think it will help, too. You’ll be giving them a free gift.
Thanks for your time and energy with that and thanks so much for listening, my empty nest friend. Remember, you are amazing!
