5/9/07

Flip the tassel, YOSOHK '07


Tri'Os
Oddities, observations & opinions
BY Herb Kandel

Thank you, Ye Olde School of Hard Knocks Class of 2007 for inviting me once again to address your commencement exercises. Every effort will be made to keep you awake and make brief the forthcoming, slightly acerbic, pearls of whim and wisdom.

As you know, your class is the one where the average age is mid-40s, or there about. You have made life experiences count toward the credits earned for the conferred degree of Bachelor of Survival. Your alma mater boasts the likes of nine presidents ( Washington, Jackson, Van Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Cleveland and Truman), John D. Rockefeller Sr. and Bill Gates, Ralph Lauren, Julie Andrews, Agatha Christie, Davy Crockett, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Ray Kroc and Claude Monet, to name a few. In addition, let us not forget Eminem and Yogi Bera who once said, “You can hear a lot just by watching.” None of the aforementioned received a formal college degree, and some were dropouts. Alas, even Albert Einstein was a high school dropout who taught himself calculus and had to retake special exams to get into college, having failed the first attempt. You are in good company, relatively speaking.

You all have risen to this plateau despite, or in some cases, because of the hardships encountered during the way. You adapted and prevailed over the surly boss or the family situation, which might have brought you down.

Most of you here know of the recent best selling book “The Secret,” by Rhonda Byrne endorsed by Oprah. However, long before “The Secret” was “The Strangest Secret.” You, dear graduates, were putting into practice “The Strangest Secret,” as set forth by Earl Nightingale.

Nightingale had a radio show, “Our Changing World.” It was the most highly syndicated radio program of its time, spanning more than 40 years up until his retirement. He was heard daily, across the United States and 38 other countries. Some of you may remember him. He was an inspirational speaker, a motivator, and a philosopher (well before Tony Robbins, Depak Chopra, and dare I mention — Donald Trump?). He had a deep somewhat gravelly voice, which resonated confidence. In 1957, he intoned six magical words that formed a blueprint for living and obtaining desired success, those words became a defining moment in many lives.

He said, “We become what we think about.”

This thought was culled from a book by Napoleon Hill, and embellished, almost to a mantra, by Nightingale. Again, “We become what we think about.” Think about it.

He called it “The Strangest Secret”because of its‚ irony — “that this truth of why we become, whatever it is we become, is no “secret” at all, and therefore, it’s “strange” that we don’t all know about it!”

He went on to say, “Our attitude towards others determines their attitude towards us.”

You new graduates have mastered this positive attitude because you had direction, focus, and knew where you were going. Despite obstacles, this inner compass combined with courage, advanced you to your destination. You discovered that even though you may not be the next “American Idol” or win the lottery, you don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy or successful. You already know that your success is based upon the realization of a worthy goal or ideal attained in a steadfast manner (remember the tortoise and hare race).

As for the future: define what is most important to you. Ask yourself two questions then answer them, “Self, what do I enjoy doing? Can I, and will I, be content and enjoy doing it every day, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and beyond?”

When you have your answers and put them into practice, you will then have become what you think about, be it merchant, mogul, meanderer, or the best ________ (you fill in the blank).

There is a short Chinese poem : This one makes the net — This one stands and wishes — Would you like to bet — Which one gets the fishes?

In closing, the words of Earl Nightingale, “Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career!”

— And from me: “Remember to floss.”

Congratulations Class of ‘07.