Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Lessons from the Last Lecture

Randy Pausch gave this moving last lecture. It is a must watch.



Some lessons I captured from this lecture:
  • Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you wanted.
  • We cannot change the cards we are dealt with. Just how we play the hand.
  • Have something to bring to the table. That will make you more welcome.
  • You've got to get the fundamentals down. Otherwise, the fancy stuff won't work.
  • When you see yourself doing something badly, and no one is bothering to correct you anymore, that's a very bad place to be. That means, people have given up on you.
  • Brick walls: They are there for a reason. They are not there to keep you out. They are there to see how badly you want something.
  • Wait long enough and people will surprise/impress you. Give people time to show their good side.
  • It is very important to know that you are in a pissing match. And, it is very important to get out of it as soon as possible.
  • Never ever underestimate the importance of having fun.
  • Work and play well with people.
  • If you live your life the right way, your dreams will come true.
  • If you are going to do anything pioneering you will get arrows in the back, and you just have to put up with it.
  • You just have to decide if you are going to be a Tigger or an Eeyore.
  • Loyalty is a two way street.
  • You can't get there alone. People have to help you. I do believe in karma and paybacks. You get people to hepl you by telling the truth.
  • I'll take an earnest person over a hip person every day, because hip is short term and earnest is long term.
  • Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people.
  • Say you are sorry that you screwed up.
  • Say that it is your fault.
  • Ask how you can correct it.
  • Don’t complain. Just work harder.
  • Be good at something. That makes you valuable.
  • Be prepared. Luck is truly where preparation meets opportunity.

Monday, November 07, 2011

ROL

Here is an interesting HBR blog on managing luck. The premise of this blog entry is that everyone has 'good' as well as 'bad' luck almost equally. But, what sets winners apart from also-rans is the Return on Luck. What you do with an opportunity (good luck) that is presented to you defines how lucky you are.

Morten lays out 4 simple steps to managing luck:
1. View life as a flow of luck events
2. Prepare for bad-luck events
3. Spot good-luck events when they come
4. Execute brilliantly on good-luck events

These steps will allow you to maximize your ROL.