The “Last Lecture” is a common tradition for retiring university professors. It’s their last chance to “impart wisdom” to their students and an opportunity to stray from the regular curriculum and talk about what they’ve learned about life.
On September 18, 2007, Carnegie Mellon University computer science professor Randy Pausch delivered his last lecture to a live audience of 400 people. What made this lecture particularly poignant was 47-year-old Pausch, while looking and feeling physically strong, was suffering from pancreatic cancer and only had a few months to live.
Pausch’s “last lecture” was neither morose nor sad – it wasn’t about death and dying at all. Instead it was humorous, hopeful and inspirational. Titled “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”, Pausch’s last lecture was his prescription for living.
Early in the lecture he says, “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand”. And while he was dealt some particularly harsh cards, he wasn’t planning on wasting time whining about it. He was going to play the cards he had the best he can.
Afterwards a recording of the lecture was posted to YouTube and rapidly became one of the most popular videos on the site. Between September 2007 when he gave his “last lecture” and his death in July 2008, Pausch made the most of the cards he had left. An appearance on Ophrah, co-authoring a book based on his lecture, achieving many childhood dreams, plus spending valuable time with his young family, Pausch really lived his last months.
Last week I had a chance to see a television interview with Jeffrey Zaslow who co-wrote the book The Last Lecture with Pausch. He commented how he and Pausch received many letters and emails from people who were inspired by the speech and the book to give up things in their life that weren’t working and to reach for their dreams. Everyone who wrote agreed that life is too short to accept anything less than wonderful.
If you knew you only had a few months to live, what would you do that you’re not doing today? Would you worry about being perfect, or would you just give it a shot because it might be your last chance?
I’ve seen too many entrepreneurs struggling because they’re afraid to step outside their comfort zone and try something they’re not good. They’re afraid of looking foolish, of failing, of getting it wrong. Whether it’s cold calling, public speaking, podcasting, or whatever, too many people let fear hold them back.
If this sounds even slightly familiar, please watch the Last Lecture. Then pick something you’ve been putting off or avoiding and give it a shot. Really, worrying about it is probably far worse than the worst case scenario. And even if you fall flat on your face, so what? You’ll live. And it will be easier next time.
Andrea J. Stenberg
Really folks, I’m serious. What new thing are you going to try? Be brave. Leave a comment telling us what you plan to change then report back and tell us how it went. Me? I’m planning to approach some “big name” people about appearing on my podcast. These are people who I’ve been afraid to contact. But what’s the worst they can do? Say no.
