In his commencement speech at the University of Texas-Austin, U.S. Navy Admiral William H. McRaven gives some unusual – an unusually inspirational – advice for all of us.
Some commencement speeches are dull, some are grandiose, some get made into Top 40 hits.
And some, like this, are realistic, motivational, and obviously mean a lot to the person giving them.
This is from real-life, about real-life. 10 Lessons from a Navy Seal. (list and times below the jump)
10 Lessons from a Navy Seal
1. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed. You’ll have accomplished the first task of the day. (4:40)
2. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle. You can’t do it alone. (6:13)
3. If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers. What a person looks like or where they’re from doesn’t matter. (7:20)
4. If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward. Sometimes no matter how well you perform, you won’t succeed. Move forward. (8:39)
5. But if you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses. These intense challenges make you stronger. (10:05)
6. If you want to change the world, sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first. Sometimes you have to take chances no one else has, or try something a new way. (11:30)
7. If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks. (12:51)
8. If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment. This is when you have to bring all of your calm, composure, skills, power, and inner strength to bear. (14:01)
9. So, if you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud. A little enthusiasm and hope have a lot of power. (15:39)
10. If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell. In SEAL training, if you want to quit, just ring the bell. That’s it. (17:51)
Please, everyone, stop saying “change the world.” Stop thinking it’s a good idea. Stop holding it up as the measure of worthy goals or activities. Just stop.
Want to make things better? Use your turn signals. Turn off your damn phone. Stop buying so much cheap junk. Say please more often. Don’t use any more “memes” when you’re talking to someone.
We don’t need any more innovations or revolutions from people who tried to change the world without understanding it.