6 Lessons That I Learned From The Last Lecture
It’s not about how to achieve your dreams, it’s about how to lead your life.
In 2008, my mom gave each of us – her five children and my dad – hard copies of "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. If you're not familiar, Randy Pausch was a Computer Science professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
In 2007, Randy was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer. Facing his mortality, he chose to deliver one final lecture to his students, sharing life lessons and advice on achieving personal and career goals.
The idea of the last lecture suggests a hypothetical question:
“If you knew you were going to die shortly, and you had one last lecture to give, what would you say to your students?”
Even though I was only fifteen, “The Last Lecture” really changed my perspective on life. Some of the lessons that I learned were dreaming big, overcoming challenges, adapting to our circumstances, eliminating perfection, valuing our relationships, and coming to terms with reality.
Video: I recommend watching "The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch. The speech was delivered at Carnegie Mellon University and has over 20 million views.
Also, there is a free, full transcript of the speech and a book available to purchase on Amazon with some additional commentary.
6 Lessons That I Learned From The Last Lecture
1. Dream big.
“Dream big and inspire others to dream big.” — Randy Pausch
When Randy was just a kid, he saw a man land on the moon on TV. That moment stuck with him. His dad recorded it, and when Randy watched it later, it sparked something big inside him. It made him dream big.
From then on, he was hooked on science and spent his life working to make the world better. He even started the Alice Project, a non-profit to get more women into STEM. Randy's story reminds us all to dream big and work for a better world.
2. Brick walls are there for a reason.
“The brick walls are there for a reason. They’re 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 the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” — Randy Pausch
Randy was incredibly determined to pursue his dreams. When he didn't initially get into Brown University after high school, he didn't give up.
Instead, he wrote a heartfelt letter to the department chair expressing his passion for studying there and how he could contribute to the department's success. His determination paid off, and he was eventually admitted to Brown University.
This story reminds us not to lose hope in our dreams. If we stay determined and work hard, opportunities will eventually align in our favour. So, keep pushing forward and believing in yourself. Your efforts will lead you to where you want to be.
3. We cannot change the cards we are dealt.
“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” — Randy Pausch
Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had only a few months left expected to live. He could have spent the days in misery but he decided to live every day to its fullest.
Similarly, we are faced with many challenges in life. We can either give up or face the challenges. We can’t do anything about what has happened in the past but we can always change the future.
4. Engineering is not about perfection.
“Engineering is not about the perfect solution, it’s getting the best out of the limited resources you have.” — Randy Pausch
In life, many of us chase perfection. But instead of making the most of what we have, we often focus on what we lack.
This mindset can lead to procrastination and abandoning our dreams. It's vital to begin with what we have and give it our all.
5. People are more important than things.
“After all, people will remember us when we are gone and not the things.” — Randy Pausch
When Randy got his first convertible, he didn't just enjoy its flashy appeal. He chose to use it for quality time with his niece and nephew. Despite his sister's warnings about keeping the new car clean, Randy purposely spilled soda on the back seat to illustrate that material items are replaceable.
This became important when his nephew got sick on the trip and made a mess in the car. Randy was not upset at all. What mattered most was making his nephew feel cared for and supported, especially when he wasn't feeling well.
6. Get yourself fully engaged in your life and live in the moment.
“We can’t decide how to die but we can decide how we live.” — Randy Pausch
One night Randy was driving back home playing music in his car and singing the song. One of his colleagues saw him enjoying the moment and wondered if he was the same person diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Later, he came to understand that Randy was embracing life completely. He sent Randy a thank-you note, expressing how much it meant to see him finding joy in life, even though he had only a few months left to live.
Thank you for reading!
Best,
Writer l Speaker l CEO of Living Your Greatness
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