The Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

There was once an academic tradition where university professors were invited to take part in a series known as The Last Lecture.

The concept?

Cue Randy Pausch…

A computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, a pioneer in virtual reality and a Disney Imagineer; helping design the rides and immersive experiences that bring theme parks to life (an experience that shaped both his teaching and his world view).

But when Randy was invited to give his last lecture in 2007, it wasn’t hypothetical. He’d just been told he had months to live.

What followed is one of the most uplifting, wonderfully beautiful talks of all time.

If you thought Steve Job’s commencement speech was good, well, you’re in for a treat…🍿

Three things Randy taught me about public speaking:

1. Always start with the elephant 🐘

   If you’re ever stuck for a way to open a talk, addressing the hardest, most uncomfortable truth first is a way of freeing your audience.
   

2. We get to set the tone 🎵
   Regardless of the circumstances. Regardless of the topic. As the speaker, we get to choose the emotion people carry away.
   

3. Every talk is a gift 🎁

   When we’re in the thick of it, it is so easy to get caught up in hitting the brief, pleasing the client, nailing the delivery. It’s not about showing how good we are, it’s about leaving your audience with something valuable enough to carry with them afterwards.

Alex