When you believe in something, says Martin Sklar, believe in it all the way. Sklar should know what he's talking about. The 78-year-old is a Disney legend.
He even worked side by side with Walt Disney himself, and he has designed many of the best Disney theme parks all over the world for the past 50 years.
'I've seen lots of dreams come true in my career,' says Sklar. He joined Disney a month before the first Disneyland opened in California in 1955.
He was in Hong Kong earlier this month to speak at the 2012 Hong Kong Design Year, organised by the Hong Kong Design Centre. While he understands that young Hongkongers face a lot of pressure in their studies, he says they need to look beyond that.
'You don't have to spend all your time on one exam. It's all about time management. You must find out what interests you and pursue it,' he says. When he was a student at the University of California, he discovered his passion for writing. He served as the editor of the campus newspaper and that is how he had the chance to work for Disney. 'I was hired to create a 1890-themed newspaper, The Disneyland News, to be sold on Main Street during the park's debut year,' he recalls. Working for Walt, he says, was the 'greatest training by fire'. He has learned many things from Walt, but one thing has stayed with him all his life.
'When you believe in something, believe in it all the way. Have confidence in your ability to do it right, and work hard to do the best possible job - this is what Walt told me.' Sklar believes that is how the Disney company keeps breaking new ground in the business.