What I Learned from Randy Pausch

A client who knows me well, recently recommended that I read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. I am fascinated with human beings being human-the subject of human potential in particular. In fact, I'm fairly certain that this will be the central focus of my future work in Counseling since I am honestly obsessed with it! I am passionate! I am consumed! How to get all the juice out of life- YES-that is the issue!

Randy Pausch, age 47, husband to Jai, father to Dylan, Logan, and Chloe, and brilliant beloved professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA,  authored an exceptional book about living life full out...while facing his own death from pancreatic cancer. In September 2007, with less than one year left to live, Randy Pausch gave a lecture at Carnegie Mellon University entitled, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams".  The "last lecture" premise is a format commonly used at colleges everywhere to allow professors to share their most sacred personal truths. Randy did this with an unforgettable style. Excerpts from that lecture are available at Youtube and are among the most viewed clips. Their popularity has been enormous! You can also find out more about the book at:

www.thelastlecture.com

Googling his name and/or the name of the book will also bring up a wealth of resources.

Here are a few of the many things I learned from reading this book:

1. Time is of the essence. It's all you really have. Don't waste it. Don't take it for granted. It could turn out that you have less of it than you think. Make the most of it. Prioritize and spend you time on what and who matters most to you.
   
2. Prepare yourself. Luck is preparation meeting opportunity. Develop your skill sets. Get really good at the things you love, the things that you are acutely interested in so that when an opportunity comes, you'll be ready!
3. Have big dreams. Thinking small will not serve you.
4. Be sincere! Cool is not nearly as important!
5. Don't be a whiner. If something isn't going your way-work harder!
6. Get away from caring so much what others think of you. Give yourself reason to be validated from within.
7. Focus on the good in people-look for the best.
8. Follow the behavior trail. Put more stock in what people do vs what they say. Talk is cheap. Many people give lipservice but do not follow through with their actions.
9. Be a person of loyalty.
10. Have gratitude. Express gratitude. Handwritten thank-you notes are a sure winner!
11. Tell the truth-all the time.
12. Never give up!
13. Ask-you have not because you ask not!
14. Do the humble jobs with enthusiasm-nothing is beneath you.
15. Value the input of others. Be generous with your help as well. Be an enabler of the dreams of others to the extent that you can. We are all profoundly related in this human community.

There were many other things contained within the pages of the book. Far too many to name here. I encourage all of you who like to read, get this book-especially if you need a lift and a boot in the butt towards becoming your best self( and who doesn't?). I would say that Randy Pausch was successful in conveying his most prized life lessons and in leaving a legacy for us to treasure.

As I finished the final chapters of the book, I learned that Randy Pausch passed away from complications of pancreatic cancer earlyJuly 25th, 2008. Deepest sympathy and prayers go out to his family, friends, colleagues, students, and all who were touched by his life. His powerful presence will be missed but his impact will linger.