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I Stumbled upon a moving presentation on the web yesterday, ironically from a seminar series entitled ‘the last lecture’. It is ironic because for Randy Pausch, a professor at a US university, this could truly be his last lecture because Randy has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His presentation provided some powerful lessons and a timely reminder to be grateful for everyday. Some of his thoughts are paraphrased here. One of his thoughts that particularly struck me was the idea associated with achieving your goals and that is, the walls we come against are there to test our determination, as he says they are ‘for the other people’ to ‘keep them out’. He looks like a man that has set out to achieve certain things and then went through, over, around or under the walls to make it happen. He spoke about one of his boyhood coaches; this coach taught him about the importance of fundamentals; a common theme that we all need reminding. He used a curious term he called the ‘head fake’ I understood this to be learning something when you are unaware you are learning it because you are distracted by the fun you are having. Another lesson I liked was the idea that if you give people long enough they will impress you, you sometimes just have to give them long enough. I’m reminded of a friend and client of mine Steve Mitchinson. Steve tells of an employee reported for having inappropriate material on his work computer, this employee said to Steve, give me a chance and I’ll never let you down again. Some ten years later the employee was not only still with him but also had risen up to a very senior and responsible role; ‘give people long enough and they will impress you’.

Beware of your language… always sage advice. Fact is, there are good and bad ways of saying the same thing. ‘I expect more from you’ is better than ‘you’ve stuffed up again’ in essence they are the same thing, one motivates, the other derides.

Don’t set the bar for people let them set the bar for themselves, often they will surprise you and themselves. If we set it we risk placing it too high or too low.

Find someone better than you to take over your role. Another way of saying this is develop leadership qualities in others and then give them the reigns. Do this in such a way they don’t even realise they are being groomed for the role. For them it should be fun a ‘head fake’ what Glenn Capelli would call ‘hard fun’

Randy talked about the metaphor of ‘cirque du soleil’ I took this to mean that we should strive to be so good that to the observer it looks effortless yet it is really supported by years of dedication and discipline.

We should listen to feedback was another of his comments, to my way of thinking I think this needs qualification; that is, I think we should only listen to feedback that we value. What I mean by that is, there are teems of people only to happy to give you ‘feedback’ on a myriad of topics to which they have no expertise, nothing of value and no right to be giving. Ignore them. Accept feedback that you have solicited, that you value and you will act upon. That feedback is worthwhile.

More pithy ideas:

Respect authority but always be prepared to question it.

Never lose the child-like wonder and love of curiosity what Glenn calls ‘Neoteny’

Learn to help others

Remember loyalty is a two way street

Never give up

Believe in Karma that is; what you give you get

Tell the truth, be earnest, learn to apologise for your mistakes, and focus on others

When you do the right thing good stuff has a way of happening

Don’t complain; just work harder

Show gratitude

Be good at something; it makes you valuable

Be prepared; luck is where opportunity meets preparedness

It’s not really about how to achieve your dreams; it’s about how to live your life