Episode 270 (AI Transcript): Leaving a Dream Job at Disney to Build a Dream Life with Annie Franceschi
Links to buy both of Annie’s books (affiliate links):
Permission to Try: https://amzn.to/41BcilI
Establish Yourself: https://amzn.to/3Lr4oWZ
Meet Annie Franceschi: Disney Fan to Disney Studio Storyteller… to Entrepreneur
In this episode, I’m sitting down with the incredibly talented Annie Franceschi—a lifelong Disney fan who actually worked for The Walt Disney Company before making a bold pivot into entrepreneurship.
Annie’s story is one of those that makes you go, “Wait… she did WHAT?!” because she didn’t just love Disney from afar—she helped tell stories for major Disney films like Maleficent and Cinderella at the Walt Disney Studios.
And then she did something a lot of people only dream about doing…
She left it.
Not because it was “bad,” but because she realized something huge:
It was a dream job… but it wasn’t a dream life.
What Annie Did at Disney (and Why It’s So Cool)
Annie’s first role was at Walt Disney Animation, assisting directors and producers on a film project that ultimately didn’t get made (a movie called King of the Elves).
While that might sound like a setback, it turned out to be one of the best things that could’ve happened—because she was recruited to a brand-new team called Franchise Management.
Here’s what that team did:
Disney needs to start thinking about upcoming films years before marketing campaigns begin… but filmmakers can’t be interrupted nonstop, and marketing often can’t jump in until 12–18 months before release.
So Annie’s role became this magical bridge between story and strategy.
She would:
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read scripts early (like really early)
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understand the heart of the story
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create presentation decks that communicated the concept without giving everything away
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help executives pitch films for events like D23 and Comic-Con
She even helped turn complex scripts into compelling presentations that executives could confidently present—basically: story translation at a high level.
Yes, that’s as cool as it sounds.
Why Annie Left Disney (Even Though She Loved It)
This part of the conversation hit hard in the best way.
Annie shared that leaving wasn’t impulsive—it was a year-long internal journey.
At first she wondered:
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“Am I crazy for even thinking about leaving?”
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“What if I fail?”
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“What will people think?”
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“I told everyone this was my dream…”
But as time went on, the question shifted.
By the end of that year, she realized:
“I’d be crazy not to.”
And ten years later, she looks back with so much peace.
She didn’t leave too early.
She didn’t stay too long.
She stayed exactly the right amount of time.
And she still adores Disney (she just jokes she went from Disney paying her… to her paying Disney—same direct deposit energy 😅).
Annie’s Books: Permission to Try + Establish Yourself
Annie has written two books, and yes—they do go in order.
1) Permission to Try
This one is for anyone who’s standing at the edge of a big decision:
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leaving a job
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starting a business
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changing direction
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stepping into something new (even if it’s scary)
It’s structured around 11 things you need to hear when you’re scared to change your life—basically the internal coffee-chat pep talk we all need.
2) Establish Yourself
This is the sequel—more business-focused.
It’s built around Annie’s framework called E.S.T. and teaches you how to brand, streamline, and grow your greatest business…
Not the business everyone on the internet is telling you that you “should” have.
The Disney Business Retreat… On a Cruise Ship?! 🚢✨
Yes, we talked about it. And yes, it’s as magical as it sounds.
Annie shared that one of her most powerful business practices is taking December off for what she calls “Batch December.” She uses the time to improve her business systems and set herself up for the next year.
But then she had this thought:
“Could I do business planning at Disney?”
At first she believed the only way she could “justify” it was hosting a full retreat, selling tickets, bringing speakers, etc.
But the market research didn’t line up.
So she did something brilliant:
She went anyway—just her and her virtual assistant (who is also a business owner).
They masterminded at:
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Walt Disney World (including Epcot time!)
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The Disney Wish cruise ship
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Castaway Cay (yes… business talk while literally sitting in the ocean)
And the result?
It filled their cups personally and professionally.
Annie also talked about how being immersed in Disney is basically a masterclass in:
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customer experience
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storytelling
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standards
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consistency
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attention to detail
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creating “magic” that people want to pay for again and again
It sounds fun (because it is), but it’s also smart business.
The Biggest Branding Lesson: Stop Fixating on Frosting
Annie dropped a phrase I’m obsessed with:
Fixating on frosting.
So many business owners think they have a marketing problem…
But really, they have a foundation problem.
They’re focused on:
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social media tricks
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funnels
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templates
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“what to post”
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perfect branding aesthetics
…without being clear on the cake underneath.
Annie’s philosophy is:
You don’t start with marketing.
You start with embracing your story.
Because if you don’t know what you stand for, what you’re known for, and who you serve—marketing is just noise.
Social Media Isn’t the Bad Guy… It’s Just Not the Only Guy
Annie also shared something so refreshing:
Social media isn’t evil.
But it’s been positioned like it’s the only path to growth, and that’s just not true.
She teaches what she calls reverse revenue—focusing on:
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your current clients
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your existing network
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your relationships
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your referrals
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your client experience
Because trying to convert cold strangers on the internet is often the hardest and most expensive way to grow.
And a big truth she mentioned:
A lot of people are posting constantly… but they’re not selling anything.
They’re looking for applause, not action.
(Okay, whew. Needed that.)
Delegation + Systems for Busy Entrepreneurs
We also talked about what Annie delegates—and how she learned to do it, even as someone who can technically do everything herself.
Some tools she loves:
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Acuity for scheduling (massive time saver)
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SmarterQueue for batching and recycling social content
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a virtual assistant she meets with regularly for what she calls “sorted out sessions”
Her biggest lesson?
Just because you can do everything… doesn’t mean you should.
And delegation forced her to build processes (SOPs) so she could record something once and have her team handle the rest.
Annie’s Current Read + A Powerful Personal Development Recommendation
Right now, Annie is reading:
Speak Your Way to Cash by Ashley Kirkwood (especially helpful if you’re a speaker or want to grow your speaking income).
And one book that impacted her personally (especially as a mom) was:
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
(Yes, the title is intense, but she said it helped her understand family patterns and parent in a more intentional way.)
Rapid Fire Disney Question: Favorite Park?
After talking it out, Annie’s pick surprised even her:
Disneyland.
Because it’s the park Walt actually walked, dreamed, and built—and there’s something sacred about that kind of history and magic.
(But she loves Walt Disney World too—don’t worry.)
Where to Find Annie
Annie’s website: greateststorycreative.com
Her books:
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Permission to Try (also at permissiontotry.com)
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Establish Yourself (also at howtoestablishyourself.com)
And don’t forget: you can grab the books using the affiliate links above.
Final Thoughts
This episode is your reminder that:
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it’s okay to leave something good for something better
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you don’t need a “perfect” background to own your expertise
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marketing is easier when you know your story
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systems and support aren’t optional when you grow
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and yes… you can do business at Disney (and learn a LOT while you’re there)
If you loved this conversation, screenshot the episode while you’re listening and tag me on social so I can say thank you—and so Annie can see the love too. 💖
