I’ve never delivered a graduation speech, but I imagine it is pretty tough deciding exactly what morsels of wisdom that you’d like to pass along.  What is it that graduates need to know to take what they’ve learned in school and use it to lead a successful and fulfilling life?  Is there any insight you can impart in 5 to 7 seven minutes that will unlock the door to the best life has to offer?

I don’t have the answers, but I do have three questions that I’d suggest every new graduate consider.  If I had to give a graduation speech, this is what I’d base my talk around.

My three life planning questions for new graduates

As a new graduate sets out planning their life and deciding what path to follow, here are a few things I would suggest they ask themselves.  If you can figure these things out early, you will achieve a great deal more success in life.

1.  How do I make myself stand out from the crowd?

There is a lot of noise in our world.  There is also a lot of competition.  Every new graduate wants to set the world on fire.  However, many of the flames fade because we they never figure out exactly how to stand out from the crowd.  They fail to market themselves properly.  They fail to make themselves remarkable.

Standing out from the crowd and rising above the mediocrity that dominates our world is mostly about making yourself valuable.  It is not about hype and fluff, the kind that finds its way onto resumes, because that stuff gets exposed fast in the real world.

It is about discovering your unique niche.  It is like putting together a puzzle, but instead of trying to find the shapes that fit perfectly together, you are trying to figure out exactly how your talent, skills, education, life experience, personality and values gel into the ideal mold.  The faster you figure this out, the more success and happiness you will experience!

2.  How do I break free from the grip of traditional thinking?

Life is full of options.  You do not have to live yours like your parents others have lived theirs.  But, I’ll warn you now, there is an invisible tractor beam that will constantly try to pull you back to the way you should live meaning the way that others have lived their lives.  The tractor beam is called traditional thinking.

Traditional thinking tells us we should get a job, a spouse, a pet, a mortgage, 2.5 kids, a new car, a backyard and a life others approve of.  I would encourage you to challenge this way of thinking.  Do what you’ve always wanted to do right now.  If you dreamed about traveling, then do it!  Push the fear aside and go for your dream.  You’ll thank yourself later.

You can always settle down, search for a job and do the traditional thing later too.  By the way, the traditional thing isn’t all bad, not by a long shot, but you are standing in a very special time.  You have the freedom to live big and go for your dream.  Don’t miss it!

3.  What do I still have left to learn?

I know, I know you just graduated.  You’re full of education.  In fact, you’re stuffed.  You have a PhD in learning.  What else could there possibly be?  Well, you probably won’t like this, but I’ve got to tell you that your learning has really just begun.  Education is wonderful, but real life has a lot of lessons to teach you that you failed to learn in school.  Bummer, huh?

Instead of setting out to teach the world all you learned in school, open yourself up to all the world has for you.  Some of these lessons are crucial.  They are the most important things you’ll ever learn and life won’t stop teaching you until you get them.  This is where the “school of hard knocks” comes from.  Life will knock you around some if you are hard-headed about learning the lessons she has to teach you.

The faster you learn these lessons, the further down the road you’ll go.  What are these lessons?  I wished I could tell you, but they are somewhat unique for every person.  Some you’ve already picked up, but others you are still waiting to learn.  Be open and life will guide you to what you need to know.

Graduates, I welcome you to life!  Wear it well.

I think these are some of the questions I would offer to new graduates.  After all, there are a lot more questions in life than there are answers, but that’s what makes it interesting to live!  I challenge you to go out, live, love, explore and wonder at life.  Think big, but never forget that what really matters is usually found in the small things.

These life planning questions are food for thought.  I hope you’ll ponder them and use them to guide your actions over the coming days.  You are embarking on a journey that is like no other.  Wear it well.

Photo by m00by