Esmo-isms

Mike Esmonde, aka “Esmo”, has developed some words of wisdom throughout his career that help keep him and his team focused on delivering the best and most exciting guest experiences.  Use these for your projects or perhaps in your daily life to improve the world around you!

A mockup is worth 1000 opinions

You, your health and your family are more important than the project

You are out of time when the project starts. The time wasted at the start of a project can never be recovered. Every day is important.

The photos or measurements that you don’t take now, are the ones that you’ll need later!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It is better to ask for help when your work load is too much than to get buried in the avalanche during installation and commission.

Never say, it could never happen

Never underestimate the ingenuity of a guest or an employee to defeat safety systems

Picture yourself on the witness stand being cross examined by the plaintiff’s attorney about a design or piece of equipment that you approved for use in an attraction

Picture your family on a ride or in an attraction as the design process decisions and fabrication evolves

Manage the design with the end users in mind…..if it is too difficult to get to the dipstick, the oil will seldom get changed!

Don’t be afraid to ask a question when you don’t know the answer or are unfamiliar with the terminology

Try not to self-perform a scope that can be done by a vendor. The time you spend on this scope is time not spent managing your other scopes and tasks.

You will only be as successful as your vendor is. Treat them as you would have them treat you. Be honest but firm in all of your dealings with them. Deal with scope gaps and claims objectively and keep your emotions out of the equation.

If an issue is not clear after the second e-mail, get on the phone

Be respectful of your other teammates and their workload…they are under as much pressure and scrutiny as you are

Keep the designs simple and manageable

If you think you think you need to send the one last e-mail or phone call before your day ends then do so