Product Description
Dedicated to those who would love to make their work environment as polished and customer-friendly as a day at Disney, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney is a celebration of great business practices that can be applied to any service organization. See it from the eyes of J. Jeff Kober, a foremost leader in the best business practices of not only Disney, but some of the best world-class organizations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Applying the magic to my business!
Jeff Kober has done an outstanding job highlighting the nuances of Disney's approach to customer service and demonstrating ways the same level of service can be applied to my small business.The personal experiences, and the historical perspective behind the design of Disney attractions and systems, made this an easy and interesting read that left me excited to go out and apply the same principles.

I have seldom read a business book that was this much fun to read and contained so much valuable information.

Excellent!!

A fun book, and easy to apply to your own business
Jeff Kober does a great job at showing the inner workings at Disney from a fans viewpoint, then explains how things work and why.The best part, though, is how he shows you how you can apply these practices to improve your own business.I highly reccomend his book.

Creating Positive Customer Interactions
In J. Jeff Kober's The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney he states in his preface, "To all who read this, may you find not only ideas, but also hope and inspiration in adapting the lessons and experiences of Disney to create magic in your own organization." That may seem like a tall order, but Kober is up to the task. If his name sounds familiar, it is probably because you have been reading his articles on MousePlanet for the past several years.

Throughout his fist book, Kober leaves no stone unturned, from animation to park warning signs, while examine what has made the success of Disney something to admire and aspire to. Yet, in doing so, he isn't simply touting the wonders of Disney, he is also discussing real-world scenarios where similar problem solving skills could be used. Similarly, while The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney covers overarching topics like philosophies and standards, it also breaks down everything from leadership, responses to customers, and the feelings of guests/clients/customers to the waiting game, guest compliance, and creating memorable (in a good way) experiences.

Perhaps one of the most useful tools Kober presents us with is the bulleted questions we can ask ourselves. As anyone who has ever worked in a customer service field can attest, there are always ways to improve our customers' experiences. Throughout the book, Kober repeatedly offers us questions that can be internalized through our own Magic Mirrors and used to relaunch our attitudes and policies. One such question that I feel anyone could ask themselves daily is, "Are there Magical Moments or Take 5s I currently provide?"

For anyone who is thinking about starting their own business, has their own business, or is looking for a way to jumpstart their, and their employees, sluggish outlook on business, I highly recommend J. Jeff Kober's The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney. For the rest of you, I also recommend this book, you'll learn something about the way in which Disney looks at and interacts with their guests. And who knows, you might just find something to spark more positive interactions in your own life.

Disney "magic"
The author captures the magic of Disney, paradoxically by showing that it isn't magic at all but the fruit of hard, focused, imaginative, persistent work and attention to minute detail. The book provides very specific steps people can take to build customer satisfaction in their organizations. The author communicates joy, delight, enthusiasm, and thorough understanding for the Disney model. The book is upbeat, positive, informed, specific, and original. Highly recommended.
--Chuck Lofy, Lofy Associates, Inc.

Pixie Dust
Behind the costumes, the fantasy and the magic, Disney World is a business like any other. And while some may think it is an unlikely business against which to benchmark, in his book, Jeff Kober has clearly demonstrated that it is clearly among the best.

Con-way learned this first hand nearly a decade ago through observation and study of the business behind the magic - and if a transportation (trucking) company can find transferable best practices from an entertainment business, anyone can find the 'golden nuggets'
that can change or enhance their business model for greater effectiveness. "The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney", is the best resource to support this journey.

Con-way's view of the role culture can play in business success was impacted by our Disney experience and our best practices have since become a model for other businesses in turn. So, whether your mission is to deliver happiness or freight, a little pixie dust can never hurt. ... Read more

Product Description
Where To Seek Job Opportunities and Funding Sources For Your Work,
If you're an artist, you intuit it. Art is there within you. This book is for those who on some level know what they truly are -- either you are trying to learn how to do this artistic life better, or you are trying to decide whether or not to do it at all. How can you take this vague idea of being an artist and make it a reality? Get clear and make a plan.

How will this book help? By pointing you in some directions, showing you where to get information you may need. By giving you the experience of others who have gone before you who may have done something you can benefit from, and who have been gracious enough to pass it on. By helping you to see what kind of a plan you need. By helping you make a plan. Bottom line, as an artist you have an even greater need to make long-term plans than other folks. Income will likely come at irregular intervals. You'll have to save money whenever you can, get good credit, maintain a fuel-efficient vehicle, and find the way to do your art. Yet we all must budget for rent, food, telephone, transportation, clothing, health insurance, gas and electric - the stuff of day-to-day living.

Inside this book are practical suggestions and ideas to help you cope with artist's life including:Housing, Telephone, Home Office, Car, Health Insurance, Finances, The Internet, Legal Assistance, Grants, MFA Programs, Theatre Companies and Artist Retreats, Working Overseas, Putting Together Your Artist Portfolio.

Art That Pays will give you ideas and practical, concrete suggestions. If you are an artist and you have decided to pursue it, this thing you are embarked upon is noble. We hope to give you some encouragement because you can never have too much support. And we hope, perhaps, to make you smile at least once or twice, if not in amusement, at least in recognition of the absurdity, joy and wonder that is this life we have. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

ALovely Work For The Emerging Artist!
As a writer starting out,I wish a source book of this level of excellence had been available to me. I highly recommend this work to anyone just beginning their career in the arts,it a valuable wealth of information that can be used again and again. Writing,painting,acting,this guide is very comprehensive in nature and scope. Slaughter and Kober have managed to put into concise form a work that not only provides reference sources,but a common sense approach for the beginner in the arts to use. In other words,how to avoid the usual pitfalls of the"starving artist". Get this book and use it! It is one purchase,that anyone in the field of the arts,will not regret!

Visual arts, dance, acting - all forms of art are surveyed along with common sources of income
If you want to make a living from your art, there's no better place to consult than ART THAT PAYS: THE EMERGING ARTIST'S GUIDE TO MAKING A LIVING WITH INTERVIEWS FROM OVER THIRTY-FIVE CELEBRATED ARTISTS. An appendix on cd-rom features hundreds of hot links to artist resources, while interviews offer new artists practical perspectives on how to make a living with art. Visual arts, dance, acting - all forms of art are surveyed along with common sources of income, from grants and funding to Internet marketing.

Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch
... Read more

Product Description
What do successful organizations do that makes them consistently successful? It is simple and yet, rare: they understand their customer s needs and expectations, and then, exceed them. With years of experience and research developed while working with Fortune 500 companies, authors Mark David Jones and J. Jeff Kober have created the World Class ExcellenceTM Model. Supported by the many years of experience the authors earned while leaders at Disney, this model builds on the core principles of values and vision, and reveals the 6-Ps primary delivery methods of world-class excellence that allows you to transform your organization s culture and brand. This proven model serves as a guiding beacon for leaders, aligning the work to bottom-line results, long-term success, and a world-class reputation. Presented in an engaging and straight forward style with many interesting case studies, this new leadership and customer service offering is a dynamite read. Section I: Establishing the Foundation for Excellence Ch. 1: Your Customer Really Is the Key Ch. 2: Leading with Your External and Internal Customers Ch. 3: Achieving Proven Leadership Excellence Ch. 4: Using the World Class Excellence Model to Transform Your Business Section II: Leading the Culture (Chapters 5-10) Section III: Leading the Brand (Chapters 11-16) Section IV: Ensuring Alignment & Integrity Ch. 17: How Service Netting Gets Results Ch. 18: Service Recovery that Really Works Ch. 19: Tips for Leading Implementation Ch. 20: Leading Forward to World-Class Excellence ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Leading to following
A good volume on the changing business climate.Marketers and Merchants have to be customer focused.Mark in person radiates good will and positive energy.The book follows to type.

What effective leaders should know
This book should be on the must "read and use" list of both new and experienced managers and leaders. I wish this book had been available when I started my own business. It would also have been an extremely effective tool as my business grew. I encourage anyone in business or thinking about starting a business to absorb the contents of this book. ... Read more