Randy Pausch’s ‘The Last Lecture’ Revisited.
April 8, 2008 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Cancer, Health, Misc., Morning News, Philosophy, Video
Remember Professor Randy Pausch’s inspiring last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University last year. Called ‘How to Live Your Childhood Dreams’, the lecture focused on his life’s journey and the lessons he learned. At the time of the lecture, he had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the lecture was his way of saying goodbye to his students and the university.
The Wall Street Journal called it ‘the lecture of a lifetime’. And having just re-watched it, I’d have to agree. Here’s a man who has just been given the equivalent of a ‘death sentence’ and he’s up on stage talking about living your dreams.
If you haven’t seen this lecture, you should.
And if you have seen it, then see it again.
So grab a coffee, wine, or beer (hey, research indicates all are good for you in moderation), sit back and watch and listen. This man has a lot to say.
Here’s just a few of the great points Randy makes…
* Never underestimate the importance of having fun. I’m dying and I’m having fun. And I’m going to keep having fun every day because there’s no other way to play it
* Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted
* No one is pure evil. Find the best in everybody. Wait long enough and people will surprise and impress you.
* Brick walls are there for a reason. They are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop people who don’t want it badly enough.
* It is not about achieving your dreams but living your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you.
* We can’t change the cards we’re dealth, just how we play the hand.
Those of you who live in the United States, check out this ABC Special – The Last Lecture: A Love Story with Your Life – airing this Wednesday (9 April) at 10/9c when Randy talks with Diana Sawyers about how things have been since The Last Lecture.
By the way, The Last Lecture has also been turned into a book (co-written with Wall Street Journal columnist Jeffery Zaslow) and was due to hit the bookstore shelves yesterday.
Powerfull stuff…
This one touched me in a big way last year; I still periodically check up on him via his website and rejoice that he is still alive, and still living.
I don’t think it had anything to do with his goodbye to the students/university; it had everything to do with his legacy for his kids. What a treasure and what a message.
Okay, so you picked up on the ‘head-fake’ – well done. That was the very last thing he said in the lecture – that the speech really was for his kids.
I love that ‘head-fake’ concept.
He’s an amazing man.
man Ive watched this SO MANY TIMES and learn something new every viewing.
makes my heart ache.
M.
I agree…a real heartbreaker…but what a great communicator…to have professors like that teaching students is a wonderful thing.
Hope you get to watch the ABC special.
How inspiring Randy Pausch is! If you liked “The Last Lecture”, another fantastic memoir I just read and highly recommend is “My Stroke of Insight” by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. Her TEDTalk video (ted.com) has been seen as many times as The Last Lecture I think, and Oprah did 4 shows on her book, so there are a lot of similarities. In My Stroke of Insight, there’s a happy ending though. It’s an incredible story! I hear they’re making it into a movie.
Hi Beverly, am planning on getting a copy of Jill’s book to read…I posted her TED interview a while ago on The Sunday Sidebar – All About Brains — it was definitely inspiring and presented with a lot of feeling and humor…an amazing person as is Randy.
Best video I’ve watched in a very long time.
The guy stands out in every respect.
He’s fun, he’s smart and very likable.
May Randy be well +_+
Wow, this lecture will go on with me forever. This is a like life changing lecture.