Rest in peace, Randy. Your lecture was an inspiration.
"I knew what I was doing that day," he wrote in the introduction of his best-selling book, also titled The Last Lecture. "Under the ruse of giving an academic lecture, I was trying to put myself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children." [USA Today]
Here's his video -- it's long but amazing and inspiring. Well worth a sit down for an hour with a cup of cocoa and an open mind.
Summary of lessons learned:
- Loyalty is a two-way street.
- Never give up.
- You get people to help you by telling thetruth. Being earnest.I'll take an earnest person over a hipperson every day, becausehip is short term. Earnest is longterm.
- Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people,not onyourself.
- Get a feedback loop and listen to it. ...Anybody can get chewedout. It's the rare person who says, ohmy god, you were right.... When people give you feedback, cherishit and use it.
- Show gratitude.
- Don't complain. Just workharder.
- Be good at something, it makes you valuable.
- Workhard.
- Find the best in everybody. ... No one is all evil.Everybodyhas a good side; just keep waiting, it will come out.
- And be prepared. Luck is truly where preparation meets opportunity.
Hat tip to Kavit