Dr. Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture
Dr. Randy Pausch knew that he was going to die in few months when he delivered his now famous ‘Last Lecture: Really achieving your childhood dreams’. It is very difficult to not to be moved when watching Pausch talk on the stage. The fact that he was going to die did not make him feel vulnerable, he declares “I do not want to be an object of pity”. He was in great physical condition on the day he delivered this lecture.
Pausch wanted to share with the world what he learned about having childhood dreams and ‘how’ to achieve them. He also talked about how we can help others achieve their dreams.
In his lecture, Pausch talks about his childhood dreams and how he went on to achieve each of them. Talking about his dream of becoming a league player in NFL, which he was not able to achieve, he refers to his favorite quote “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want” and shares what he had learned from the Football coaches, lessons that stuck with him for rest of his life.
Giving the abridged version of ‘Last Lecture’ on the Oprah Show, Pausch says “You can choose to take your finite time and energy and effort, and spend it in complaining or spend it playing the game hard”.
Pausch never planned to give this lecture to so many people who have now benefited from his wisdom, not to mention the millions who have watched his lecture on YouTube, his plan was to tell his three kids few important lessons he learned from his life, which will serve them in their lives.
One can feel the honesty with which Pausch imparts his wisdom to the world, he also co-authored a book titled “Last Lecture” during his last days.
This story is one of a kind, an inspiration like no other and for that same reason, I am not going to spend anymore time on describing ‘Last Lecture’, instead, I want you to experience the charm from Pausch himself. This could be one of the best spent 10 minutes of our lives.
Below is the abridged version of his ‘Last Lecture’ delivered on Oprah Show. For the full lecture(s), hit ‘Last lecture’ in YouTube. For more information, visit http://www.thelastlecture.com/ (no affiliations).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ya9BXClRw
Photo credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/nimboo/1419182480/