Lessons learned by Randy Pausch
"Brick walls are there for a reason. They let us prove how badly we want things" - Randy Pausch
Around 2 years ago I browsed the google video site for interesting video clips that i could download to my upcoming long flight. A lecture by Randy Pausch was on the top 10 next to some MTV videos and a conspiracy video about how the 9/11-twin towers could collapse the way they did.
The title “Randy Pausch, a dying 47-year-old professor gives last lecture” scared me a bit but in the same time I was very curious about why you want to make that kind of lecture. Actually Mr. Pausch was not talking so much about his problems. He wrapped up the good things from the past with great humor and enthusiasm. As he said in an interview: “If I were a musician , I would have composed music. But I am a lecturer. So I lectured”.
Please tell them about having fun, that’s the way I remember you for.
That’s like letting a fish talk about the importance of water.I don’t know how to not having fun. . .right. . .I’m dying and I’m having fun.. And I will keep having fun every day I have left…
A wonderful inspiration and tribute to life and to being optimistic. I suggest that you give Mr. Pausch one hour of your time and listen to his very inspirational and touching lecture with the subject: How to achieve your childhood dreams… And help others to achieve theirs.
If you don’t have an hour, i recommend you the ten minutes version he made at Oprah
During this lecture Randy talked about his childhood dreams and how he achieved them. He talked about inspiring people and things that mend a lot to him. He also summarized his lessons learned.
Lessons learned
- Bricked walls let us show our dedication. They let us prove how badly we really want things.
- Don’t bail; The best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap
- Decide if you’re a Tigger or Eeyore
- Never loose the child-like wonder. That’s the thing that drives us
- Help others
- Never Give Up
- Loyalty is a two-way street
- How to get people to help you
- Tell the truth
- Be earnest
- Apologize when you screw up
- Focus on others, not yourself
- Get a feedback loop and listen to it
- Show Gratitude
- Don’t complain, just work harder
- Be good at something: it makes you valuable
- Work hard…
- Find the best in everybody; no matter how you have to wait for them to show it
- Be prepared: “luck” is where preparation meets opportunity
After the last lecture, Randy made the book “The Last Lecture“. In the book Randy goes through his life and how it changed when he got diagnosed with cancer. It is very clear that this book isn’t about death, a wrap-up or a “hey, look at me” biography. It is a tribute to the hard challenges in life, how to make impossible things or not be limited by low expectations or bricked walls. I strongly recommends this book. It is an inspiring tribute to life. Sad but uplifting in the same time.
Almost all of us have childhood dreams; for example, being an astronaut, or making movies or video games for a living,” said Pausch. “Sadly, most people don’t achieve theirs, and I think that’s a shame.
Have fun, it should never go away!
http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/
