“Whether You Think You CAN or CAN’T, You are Correct.” – Henry Ford

Early in my life and career, I learned this very famous quote by Henry Ford.  It meant a great deal to me then and continued to be meaningful throughout my career.   Even now, when I have slowed down a bit, this quote resonates in my mind constantly.   The moral and meaning of the quote seem simple while being very powerful.   It speaks truth about the power of “attitude” and how it can determine success or failure. 

You are correct to say that about me, “I CAN.”

Recently, I was looking through some old files and stumbled on a USB drive with a treasure trove of great memories from a retirement party that was held for me at Ocean Park.   The pictures and videos brought that memorable event back to life.   Over the years, I have received many compliments from my peers, superiors, staff, family, and friends about my high level of enthusiasm, optimism, and positive attitude toward my career and life.   So many have exclaimed that whatever faults I had were easily overcome by my high level of enthusiasm.   It has been even stressed that my level of enthusiasm was infectious and influenced everyone around me.   It was also said that this enthusiasm guided and led my career.    I recall many performance evaluations with the CEO where enthusiasm was always the main topic of the review.   It was a discussion that came up regularly during and outside of evaluations.

Included on the USB drive was a video that captured a 25-minute compilation of compliments from many dear people who were part of my professional and personal world.     While these comments always motivated me, it was even more powerful to see it memorialized on a video.   To see and relive compliments from so many people on video brought deep emotion to me and tears to my eyes. 

During my 15 years at Ocean Park, I devoted many, many hours to IAAPA, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.  It gave me so many opportunities to meet other members and leaders of attractions around the world and of course the team at the association whom I supported.   To see many of them on video with compliments gave me not only satisfaction but pride for my achievement in the industry.   They recognized me for my contribution to their important education programs as faculty and speaker at annual expos around the world where we shared best practices to help others.  IAAPA also gave me the encouragement and motivation to establish HKAAPA, the Hong Kong Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, in 2012.

I have tremendous gratitude and appreciation for having been able to serve Ocean Park and IAAPA.   Those memories will be with me forever and as many say, you never really leave the industry.   To this day, I am overjoyed whenever I have an opportunity as a speaker to share my experiences and help others.   One very dear colleague from the park always remarked that the last thing you want to do is give Paul a microphone because he is like the Energizer Bunny and doesn’t stop.   That eagerness to play a part in helping, training, developing, building, strengthening, and growing the industry seems to only get stronger with time.   This is the “I can” attitude.

They say in retirement, one should slow down.  However, I believe there is so much more for me to contribute.  

Give me a chance to continue on this wonderful journey and to share my experiences to help the industry.