Dumb Luck, Desktop Publishing, and Creating Theme Park Thrills |Tim Bernardi

Mar 29

"I attribute a good deal of my success to dumb luck. So that might be one of those areas where it kind of raises its head. But I also believe that when you put yourself in a situation where you are willing to show initiative and a spark, you will be blessed with the faith and support of those around you."

Tim Bernardi is an experienced writer and entrepreneur who seemingly stumbled into a role in the construction industry working on some pretty epic theme park attractions. He may also be one of the best examples of someone that has followed their passions and embraced the spark each and every time it comes.

Tim's story has as many twists and turns as some of the epic theme park projects he has been a part of. When I first Tim him I knew him as someone who worked in construction project management with Mader Southeast on some amazing theme park attractions. His construction experience has led him to projects with Universal Creative, Walt Disney Imagineering, and custom homes.

His path getting to where he is today has been anything but linear. In fact, it was a career he - almost quite literally - stumbled into after years in hospitality and selling his publishing agency. Tim’s entrepreneur spirit doesn’t just believe that people should pursue what they enjoy doing. He has seen the benefits that come when you take initiative toward those interests.

In the end, he learned that by expressing yourself and always going the extra mile, you can be rewarded with faith from your mentors and leaders.

In this episode, you discover:

the theme park attraction where his original desktop computer now resides

the “dumb luck” moment that lead to Tim’s career in commercial construction.

how Tim Bernardi used his precociousness to advance his career.

what happened when his CEO invested faith in him to plan and execute an event with no budget limit

“There are small miracles every day that sometimes aren't quite as apparent.”

Episode Highlights:

[00:04:38]
A speech class I took in high school allowed me to start to categorize my thoughts and realize the power of words. If Young Tim brought anything forward, it's the ability to use the bullet point function on Microsoft Word.

[00:07:02]
When you went to UK, what was your career vision? My career originally was going to be political science. But I didn't really start combining the skill sets from debate with writing until I got into the student paper at Valencia. Now my passion is technical writing and organizing thoughts and editing.

[00:08:34]
I was a Jungle Cruise Skipper at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in the fall of 1982. Went back to the University of Kentucky for one semester. Moved back down to Orlando in May of 83 and did some steam train work for a couple of years in the Magic Kingdom.

[00:09:48]
When I was living in Florida, I started a publishing company. The concept that on a small computer that set on my desk I could do newsletters, flyers, forms. Why did I decide to sell the agency? Someone came and offered me a bunch of money "

[00:12:53]
I still write protocols and standard operating procedures and technical writing as well. It's a lot of those skills that we just go through and do that we don't realize are marketable skills

[00:14:28]
Eventually you realize that passion is something that you can monetize.

[00:18:27]
I'm the facilitator of the Construction Safety Peer Group of Central Florida. Many of those people there are individuals who I regard as leaders. People who invested in me and who showed belief in me. That makes you feel essential and essential.

[00:27:15]

What can I do to serve others within the scope I'm qualified? And where can I maybe personally grow and help others as well? There's a selflessness to doing that to your organization or to a nonprofit. But there is also a personal return on investment on it.

[00:30:33]
Between November 2017 and January 2022, we managed 27 different construction sites on Walt Disney World property. Over those Times had some remarkable experiences. One that stands out to him was when Pandora was almost finished and ready to open.

[00:37:05]
Stop and take in the work that you have done. Enjoy what you have built out of it. I personally loved the Sorcerer's hat at Hollywood Studios. It's just a reminder that don't just rush from one project to the next.

[00:39:14]

We don't have the capacity to acknowledge every blessing that comes our way. There are small miracles every day that sometimes aren't quite as apparent.

[00:44:50]
Even the quietest and the smallest blessings that are out there that aren't easily recognized are still there.