[May 9, 2025] The most forgettable speeches ever heard are from college commencement speakers. Whether it is from the alcohol hangover from the night before, the cell phone texting, or just the fun of being with your friends and doing something important, those speeches never seem to do us any good.
Many are, however, full of very useful information on how to be a good leader, how to succeed in business, and how to have a full and rewarding life. Sadly, we all were simply too preoccupied at the time to notice, much less to take written notes. Maybe our mother paid attention when she was in college. I know that I certainly did not. I was just happy to say … “I’m outta here.”
A recent commencement speech by Admiral William H. McRaven at the University of Texas was one of the better ones I listened to this academic year. People are surprised when I tell them that I listen to those speeches; there is plenty of truly good information on leadership and how that leader’s personal life made them a better person. Admiral McRaven passes along 10 lessons from his time in basic SEAL training1.
The best part of his message to those thousands of young UT graduates was that life was not fair, you will fail often if you take risks, but never give up – staying the course is what will make a difference and will help insure the next generation lives in a better world than us.
Hook ’em horns.
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I watched the whole video of his speech and was impressed. I hope those dumb, woke graduates paid at least some attention to what he has to say.
I hate to bring this up but this ADM is a leftist looney tune. He has the right stuff as a young man, but went off the reservation once they get seniority. Good words but I’m happy he’s out.
Really? I’m surprised.
Spot on Gen. Satterfield about college in general. Not much worth going there any more.
“ Don’t Go to College”
https://www.theleadermaker.com/dont-go-to-college/
“ Growing up in America’s Deep South in the 1950s and 60s, I was told the way to a good life, to be a real man, and contribute to our community, was to get a respectable job out of High School. Go to work! Be respectable! My dad said that college is not worth the expense and takes you away from us. And while I do not agree with most of this thinking, I do agree that going to college today does not benefit the community. My advice is don’t go to college.”
University of Texas ….. hook ‘em horns. 🤘
Too long ago for me to remember and I was completely sober. Obviously, just someone blathering along and not connecting to us.
Most of old fogies are thinking the same thing. Maybe if the colleges actually got someone who is a real leader, they would have an interesting and enticing commencement speech, rather than some forgettable moron that got paid to talk on some boilerplate speech they copied off the Internet. Now, how would that go over? Much better, I suspect.
Fogies / Foggies whatever. Good point Desert Cactus. Yeah, I too believe that a good commencement speech is in the delivery. A great commencement speech also pulls you in.
He He He … me too. I just wanted the ceremony to be over. I only went because my parents wanted to see me graduate.