NORTHEASTERN HAS TAUGHT MANY TO STAND TALL, TO SPEAK OUT AND INDEED TO SING TO THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. GRADUATES LEAVE HERE, READY AND EAGER TO BE HEARD, AND TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

YOU SHOULD KNOW INCIDENTALLY THAT, NORTHEASTERN HAS A REPUTATION OF MAKING VERY SOUND AND PROGRESSIVE CHOICES REGARDLESS OF THEIR JUDGEMENT IN THIS YEARS COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER. ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE WHY I WAS BESTOWED WITH THIS ESTEEMED HONOR, I AM TRULY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU TODAY.

FIRST THE DISCLAMERS:
− YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT I AM NOT A SPEAKER
− I HAVE A DAY JOB (I DESIGN AND SELL STUFF, ALL KINDS AND IN LOTS OF PLACES) ALTHOUGH, LESS OF IT THESE DAYS. IN FACT LAST YEAR MY LARGE PUBLIC COMPANY (LIKE MANY OTHER AMERICAN CORPORATIONS) BECAME A NOT-FOR-PROFIT.

SO HERE I AM, RATHER AMUSED (KNOWING WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING), LOOKING AT WHAT ALL OF US ADULTS (I USE THAT WORD LOOSELY) ARE WEARING.
SHAPELESS GOWNS (RIGHT OUT OF HARRY POTTER) (SOME TIME HONORED TRADITION, I UNDERSTAND). AND FOR YOU FLAT, POINTY, SILLY HATS (A SQUARE PEG ON A ROUND HOLE) BUT THERE IS IRONY HERE. THE ONLY THING DISTINGUISHING ALL OF US FROM EACH OTHER IS OUR INDIVIDUAL CHOICE OF WHAT WE ARE WEARING BELOW THE ANKLES. AHA, SO THAT MUST BE WHY I AM HERE.

NOW BEFORE I ADDRESS THE GRADUATES, I WANT TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE: YOUR PARENTS AND LOVED ONES. THEY PUT UP WITH YOU FOR 20 SOME ODD YEARS/HOLDING YOUR HANDS WHEN THEY WEREN'T HOLDING THEIR BREATH. I SAY TO THEM, ON YOUR BEHALF, THANK YOU.

NOW TO THE CLASS OF '09, I HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED WITH WHAT TO SAY TO YOU. THEN I REMEMBERED A SHORT PROVERB THAT WAS HELPFUL:

BEFORE YOU JUDGE SOMEONE (OR GIVE THEM ADVICE AS TO THEIR FUTURE) . . . IT IS WISE TO WALK A MILE IN THEIR SHOES . . . THEN, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM, YOU ARE A MILE AWAY AND YOU HAVE THEIR SHOES.

TO YOU GRADUATES, BEFORE I ADDRESS YOUR SITUATION, I THOUGHT I'D TELL YOU BRIEFLY ABOUT HOW I GOT WHERE I AM TODAY.

I STARTED MY BUSINESS 26 YEARS AGO (WHEN I WAS 11), IT WAS IN THE EARLY '80S AND WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF A RECESSION. I HAD LIMITED MONEY, AND VERY LITTLE TIME, AND I KNEW THAT A MAJORITY OF START UP BUSINESSES DON'T SURVIVE THEIR FIRST YEAR BECAUSE THEY RUN OUT OF CAPITAL BEFORE THEY CAN GENERATE "CASH FLOW".

I NEEDED TO GET STARTED, BUT FIRST HAD TO DECIDE ON A NAME. I NEEDED TO CREATE BUSINESS CARDS, PACKAGING, STATIONERY AND REGISTER FOR A TRADE SHOW ASAP.

I COULDN'T TAKE THE CHANCE OF REGISTERING A "MADE UP" NAME ONLY TO FIND OUT MONTHS LATER IT WASN'T VALID, SO I USED THE ONE MY PARENTS HAD COME UP WITH 20 SOME YEARS PRIOR, AS I KNEW ONE USUALLY COULD GET THEIR OWN NAME REGISTERED.

THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION FOR KENNETH COLE WAS FILED.
AFTER GOING TO ITALY AND DESIGNING A COLLECTION OF SHOES I THEN NEEDED TO MAKE PLANS TO SELL THEM.

IN THE SHOE BUSINESS, AT THE TIME, THERE WERE BASICALLY TWO OPTIONS:
DURING THE TRADE SHOW:
1) YOU COULD TAKE A ROOM AT THE HILTON HOTEL ALONG WITH ABOUT 1100 OTHER COMPANIES, WITHOUT MUCH IDENTITY, AT A COST I COULDN'T AFFORD ANYWAY.
OR
2) RENT A BIG FANCY SHOWROOM WITHIN A 2 OR 3 BLOCK RADIUS OF THE HOTEL, FOR WHICH I CLEARLY NEITHER HAD THE TIME OR THE MONEY.

SO I ASKED A FRIEND IN THE TRUCKING BUSINESS; IF I COULD GET PERMISSION TO PARK ONE OF HIS 40 FOOT TRAILERS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HILTON HOTEL, WOULD HE LEND IT TO ME?

HIS RESPONSE WAS SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT: "OF COURSE, JERK THIS IS NEW YORK, YOU CAN'T PARK A BICYCLE FOR 15 MINUTES LET ALONE A TRAILER FOR 3 DAYS, BUT, I ASKED HIM, IF I COULD, WOULD HE LEND IT TO ME" TO WHICH HE SAID, SURE, AND I'LL EVEN HELP YOU DECORATE IT.

SO I CALLED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND INQUIRED AS TO HOW ONE GOT PERMISSION TO PARK A 40 FOOT TRAILOR ON THE CORNER OF 6TH AVE AND 56TH STREET. THE ANSWER WAS "SON, THEY DON'T".

HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN, YOU CAN GET PERMISSION ONLY IF YOU ARE A UTILITY COMPANY SERVICING THE STREETS, OR IF YOU ARE A PRODUCTION COMPANY SHOOTING A FULL LENGTH MOTION PICTURE (AS NEW YORK WAS IN THE MIDST OF AN "I LOVE NEW YORK" CAMPAIGN AT THE TIME).

THAT AFTERNOON, I WENT TO A STATIONERY STORE AND CHANGED OUR LETTERHEAD TO KENNETH COLE PRODUCTIONS INC AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING, FILED FOR A PERMIT WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE TO SHOOT A FILM CALLED "THE BIRTH OF A SHOE COMPANY".

WE OPENED FOR BUSINESS A WEEK LATER, ON 6th AVE & 56TH STREET WITH TWO NY POLICEMEN AS OUR DOORMEN, (COMPLIMENTS OF MAYOR KOCH), MODELS THAT ASPIRED TO ACT, STANTIONS, KLIEG LIGHTS, AND A DIRECTOR. (SOMETIMES THERE WAS FILM IN HIS CAMERA, AND SOMETIMES THERE WASN'T.) AND IN 2-1/2 DAYS, SAW EVERY IMPORTANT STORE AND BUYER AND SOLD 40,000 PAIRS OF SHOES AND WE WERE OFF AND RUNNING.

WE HAVE KEPT THE NAME AND I CONTINUE TO TELL THE STORY, BECAUSE IT REMINDS US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF RESOURCEFULNESS, AND THAT THE BEST SOLUTIONS ARE USUALLY NOT THE MOST EXPENSIVE, BUT THE MOST CREATIVE.

THE BUSINESS GREW AND BECAME TOTALLY CONSUMING. BUT NOT THAT MUCH LATER, I STARTED STRUGGLING WITH ITS RELEVANCE. 

FASHION WAS AND IS ALL DEFINING AND A POWERFUL INDIVIDUAL FORM OF EXPRESSION. PEOPLE OFTEN DON'T GET TO KNOW ANYTHING MORE ABOUT US OTHER THAN HOW WE APPEAR, GIVING US 100% CONTROL OF HOW, WE CAN, AND WILL, LIKELY BE PERCEIVED, UNEDITED, AND ON OUR TERMS.

THAT SAID, AS MUCH AS I WOULD SOMETIMES LIKE TO THINK OTHERWISE, WHAT I DO AND SELL IS CERTAINLY DEFINING BUT QUESTIONABLY IMPORTANT LET ALONE RELEVANT. I CONTINUE TO REMIND MY ASSOCIATION THAT, NOBODY REALLY NEEDS ANY OF OUR OUR PRODUCTS... HOW HUMBLING.

IF EVERY SHOE STORE IN THIS COUNTRY CLOSED ITS DOORS TODAY AT NOON... THERE HARDLY IS AN AMERICAN THAT WOULD GO BAREFOOT FOR 14+ YEARS. NO WOMEN NEEDS ANOTHER PAIR OF BLACK SHOES. BUT I FIGURED IF I COULD MAKE WHAT I DID PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN IT WAS THEN IT WOULD BECOME IMPORTANT. SO WE PROVERBIALLY PUT OURSELVES IN OUR CUSTOMERS' SHOES AND ASK OURSELVES EVERY DAY: HOW CAN WE ADD VALUE IN REGARD TO WHAT THEY SHOULD WEAR, AS WELL AS: OF WHAT THEY SHOULD BE A-WEAR?

IN 1985 HIV WAS JUST STARTING TO CONFOUND EVERYONE, WITH ALL POTENTIALLY AT RISK.

THE PROBLEM WAS THAT NOBODY COULD SPEAK ABOUT HIV/AIDS IN THOSE DAYS (PRES. REAGAN DIDN'T MENTION IT PUBLICLY UNTIL '87 WHEN 40,000 HAD ALREADY DIED). BECAUSE IF THEY DID, THEY WOULD BE PRESUMED TO BE AT RISK, WHICH WOULD HAVE MEANT THEY WERE EITHER AN IV DRUG USER, THEY WERE GAY OR HAITIAN.

NOW BEING A SINGLE, MALE DESIGNER, I KNEW THAT IF I DID, PEOPLE WOULD JUST ASSUME I WAS PROBABLY . . . . HAITIAN.

I GUESS MAYBE BECAUSE I WASN'T A MEMBER OF ONE OF THE STIGMATIZED GROUPS, I WAS OK DOING WHAT I DID. I CREATED A PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE PERVASIVE STIGMA. I DECIDED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WASN'T BEING TALKED ABOUT, AND THE FACT THAT NOBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT IT.

USING MODELS WHO WERE NOT THE SUBJECT OF STIGMA: BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND INNOCENT CHILDREN. APPARENTLY, FEW FEEL THREATENED BY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN (AS MESSENGERS OR OTHERWISE), AND MOST LOVE ALL KIDS, (WE DON'T LEARN TO DISLIKE THEM UNTIL THEY GROW UP. OR UNTIL WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR COLLEGE TUITION.)

IN '87 I JOINED THE BOARD OF AMFAR (THE FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH) AND TODAY I AM ITS CHAIRMAN.

AND SO MY COMPANY HAD EMBARKED, NOT JUST ON A 20+ YEAR EFFORT TO:
− SPEAK TO PEOPLE ABOUT; NOT JUST WHAT IS ON THEIR BODY, BUT ALSO ON THEIR MIND. 
− AND ALSO ABOUT NOT JUST WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT WHO THEY ARE ON THE INSIDE.

IN THE PROCESS, I FOUND THAT I WASN'T JUST RUNNING A COMPANY AND TACKING ON A CONSCIENCE. IT BECAME A VITAL PART OF OUR CORPORATE CULTURE (MANIFESTED BOTH THROUGH OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR CUSTOMERS).

I HAVE OFTEN BEEN ASKED IF I REALLY THINK THAT BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ARE AND SHOULD REMAIN INDEPENDENT. TO WHICH I ANSWER BY SAYING THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY NOT INDEPENDENT, BUT I BELIEVE, IN FACT INTERDEPENDENT, AND NEVER MORE SO THAN TODAY. AS I BELIEVE, THEY ARE THE "PROVERBIAL HAND" THAT FEEDS EACH OTHER.

I BELIEVE ALL BUSINESSES WILL REALIZE THIS AND IF THEIR HEARTS DON'T GET THEM THEN THEIR BALANCE SHEET WILL (HOPEFULLY THE FORMER).   

ON THE OCCASION OF OUR COMPANY'S 25TH ANIVERSARY LAST YEAR, WE LAUNCHED A NEW INITIATIVE CALLED AWEARNESS. THE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO IDENTIFY AND THEN PROMOTE , ENCOURAGE, AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL ACTS OF SERVICE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND SOCIAL CHANGE.

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO SEEK OUT INDIVIDUAL "CHANGE AGENTS" AND TELL THEIR STORIES WITH THE HOPE THAT THEY WOULD INSPIRE OTHERS.

90 INDIVIDUALS HAVE SHARED THEIR LIFE'S EXAMPLE; THEY ARE ALL EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE USED THEIR OFTEN ORDINARY RESOURCES YIELDING EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS.

MANY ARE THOSE WHO HAVE INSPIRED ME, AND SOME WHO INSPIRED THEM. ALL HAVE HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.

EACH WERE ASKED TO RECOUNT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND ALSO ADVISE AS TO ANY REGRETS; IRONICALLY ALMOST ALL OF THEM MADE TWO POINTS IN COMMON.

THEY SAID, OFTEN WITH A SENSE OF GUILT, THAT EVEN MORE THAN THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE THEY MAY HAVE HELPED, THAT THEY WERE PROBABLY THE BIGGEST BENEFICIARIES OF ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS, AND, THAT IF THEY WERE TO DO IT OVER AGAIN, THEY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE STARTED THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE EARLIER (AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED) WISHES THEY COULD HAVE DONE MORE.


NOW AS FAR AS ADVICE TO THE GRADUATES: LET ME BEGIN BY DISPELLING A FEW MYTHS:

MYTH #1 YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVE TO CRAWL BEFORE THEY WALK. THERE IS A BELIEF THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE COFFEE FOR OTHERS BEFORE YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT FOR YOURSELF. NOT TRUE.

STEVE JOBS STARTED APPLE, BILL GATES STARTED MICROSOFT AND MICHAEL DELL STARTED DELL COMPUTERS — WHEN THEY WERE ALL ONLY 21 YEARS OLD. MARK ZUCKERBERG STARTED FACEBOOK WITH HIS COLLEGE ROOMMATES — WHILE THEY WERE STILL IN COLLEGE. AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS 26 WHEN HE LED THE CIVIL RIGHTS BUS BOYCOTT IN MONTGOMERY.

AND EVEN THOUGH MR. GATES, MR. DELL AND REV. KING NEVER GOT AROUND TO DESIGNING THEIR OWN FOOTWEAR AND ACCESSORIES, IT'S HARD NOT TO BE IMPRESSED.

MYTH #2 THAT YOUR JOB CHOICE IS CRITICAL. IT WILL DEFINE WHO YOU ARE, OR WHO YOU WANT TO BE. NOT SO.
A. YOUR JOB IS "WHAT YOU DO", NOT "WHO YOU ARE"... DON'T FORGET IT.
B. "ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET", IN THEIR FIRST 16 YEARS, THE AVERAGE AMERICAN WILL CHANGE JOBS 9.2 TIMES.
C. YOUR JOB IS MERELY A MEANS TO AN END (WHICH, IF NOT CLEAR NOW, WILL BE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT). DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND COMMIT TO WHAT YOU DO.

MYTH #3 THE ECONOMY WILL GET BETTER, IT ALWAYS DOES & THINGS WILL REVERT TO THE WAY THEY ONCE WERE. WRONG. THE GOOD AND BAD NEWS, IS THAT THINGS WILL NEVER BE THE WAY THEY WERE. CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, AND ALTHOUGH EVERYONE WANTS CHANGE, FEW REALLY WANT TO BE CHANGED. THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO ARE OPEN TO CHANGE, WHO EMBRACE IT, AND WHO LEAD IT.

MYTH #4 THIS GLOBAL CRISIS HAS "TOUCHED EVERYONE." WRONG.
IT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT MOST OF YOUR LIVES IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT IT HASN'T TOUCHED MOST PEOPLE'S LIVES. THAT'S BECAUSE YOU CAN'T LOSE A JOB IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE, AND YOU CAN'T LOSE YOUR HOME IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE TO LOSE. WHAT WE SOMETIMES FORGET IS THAT ALMOST 40% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.

I ASSURE YOU THAT YOU ARE MORE FORTUNATE THAN YOU KNOW, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU BE THANKFUL EVERY DAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE AND TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED.

WHICH BRINGS US TO OUR 5TH AND FINAL MYTH:
YOU ARE ENTERING THE WORK FORCE AT POSSIBLY THE WORST TIME TO LOOK FOR A JOB IN THE LAST 50 YEARS. ALSO WRONG.

I WILL EXPLAIN WHY I THINK THAT NOW IS PROBABLY THE BEST TIME. TO START, IN GOOD TIMES INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY TEND TO DO JUST WHAT'S WORKING (AND MORE OF IT), BUT ONLY IN TOUGH TIMES DO THEY LOOK TO REINVENT AND TRANSFORM.

I STARTED MY COMPANY IN A RECESSION. WE WERE A REFRESHING, CREATIVE ALTERNATIVE AT THE TIME, AND THE RESULTS SPOKE FOR THEMSELVES. MORE DOORS OPENED AND MORE FEET GOT IN THOSE DOORS, THEN WE HAD TO PUT SHOES ON THEM.

THESE ARE HISTORIC TIMES FOR ALL OF US. LAST NOVEMBER 4TH, WHEN WE ELECTED A NEW PRESIDENT, WE SENT A POWERFUL MESSAGE TO THE WORLD:

− FIRST WE SAID THAT WE UNDERSTOOD HOW IMPORTANT WHAT WE DID WAS; AND FOR MANY; THAT YES YOU COULD, AND YES YOU DID.
− A NEW PRESIDENT WAS ELECTED (WHILE DEFINING A NEW "PRECEDENT") NOT BECAUSE OF HIS DIFFERENCES, BUT IN SPITE OF THEM.
- AND A POWERFUL "NON-POLITICAL" MESSAGE WAS SENT TO PEOPLE, EVERYWHERE THAT "EVERYONE'S DREAMS CAN COME TRUE." (EVEN FOR THE NORTHEASTERN CLASS OF '09)

BUT BETWEEN THE SYMBOLISM OF THAT MOMENT AND REALITY OF TODAY THERE IS A GAP... A CHASM:

MILLIONS HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES, WITH MANY MORE TO FOLLOW. MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND COUNTLESS MORE ARE ABOUT TO JOIN THEM. MILLIONS OF LIVES TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.

THAT SAID; THE ECONOMY WILL GET BETTER AND WE WILL BE A BETTER, MORE EFFICIENT, AND A MORE PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE.
BUT AT WHAT COST?

A. THOSE JOBS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN LOST WILL NOT LIKELY COME BACK,
B. MOST OF THOSE RECENTLY EMPLOYED, ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR MOST OF THE NEW JOBS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING CREATED.

COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS WITH EXPERIENCE IN DERIVATIVE TRADING, INSURANCE SALES, MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES, IN HIGH-END RETAIL, OR IN ANY OF THE AUTOMOTIVE RELATED INDUSTRIES ARE NOW UNEMPLOYED. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THESE SKILLED INDIVIDUALS ARE PROBABLY NOT THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEW FRONTIERS; SUCH AS: CLEAN ENERGY, URBAN CONSTRUCTION, HEALTH CARE, SCIENCE AND SOCIAL SERVICES. HOWEVER, YOU AND YOUR PEERS, COULD AND SHOULD BE.

I BELIEVE THERE WILL SHORTLY BE FAR MORE JOBS AVAILABLE THAN WILL BE TRAINED INDIVIDUALS TO FILL THEM. AND CONCEIVABLY "HELP WANTED" SIGNS UP EVERYWHERE. MANY WILL BE ENTRY LEVEL, AND ALL ARE POTENTIALLY LUCRATIVE. (AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALLY TRANSFORMATIVE.)

A. EVERY SEASON WHEN I BEGIN WORK ON THE NEW COLLECTION, I MAKE A POINT TO WALK THE STREETS AND GO TO THE STORES TO OBSERVE WHAT PEOPLE ARE WEARING AND WHAT ARE THEIR OPTIONS. THIS WAY, I KNOW; NOT JUST WHAT ALTERNATIVES EXIST, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY; WHAT DON'T. WHAT CAN I OFFER THEM THAT THEY DON'T ALREADY HAVE?

B. WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, I THINK TO MYSELF; WHAT DO I WANT TO WEAR, AND THEN I LOOK IN MY CLOSET, AND IF IT ISN'T THERE, I GO TO WORK AND MAKE IT.

ASK YOURSELVES; WHAT DO I WANT, WHAT DO I NOT HAVE? AND THEN FINALLY WHAT DO WE NEED COLLECTIVELY. THEN I SUGGEST THAT IF YOU CAN'T BE THE SOLUTION, BE AN ACCESSORY.

I USED TO BELIEVE THAT ONE HAD TO FIRST BUILD THEIR OWN LIFE BEFORE THEY COULD AFFORD TO PLAY A ROLE IN BUILDING OTHERS.
THAT WE HAD TO DO WELL IN HIGH SCHOOL
− TO GET INTO A GOOD COLLEGE . . .
− GOOD GRADES . . .
− GOOD JOB . . .
− MAKE $ . . .
− GIVE BACK

TODAY, WE ALL KNOW THAT BUILDING OUR COMMUNITIES IS POSSIBLY THE MOST VIABLE PATH TO BUILDING OUR OWN LIFE.

IF YOU CAN MAKE IT PART OF YOUR JOURNEY, IT WILL BE MUCH MORE REWARDING (FINANCIALLY AND SPIRITUALLY) THROUGHOUT AND IN THE END. YOU NEED TO AND YOU WILL HOPEFULLY MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT IT IS IN FACT ONLY A MEANS TO A HOPEFULLY BIGGER END.

SO CLASS OF '09... IF YOU CAN RESIST BEING DETERRED BY THE PROBLEM, AND YOU CAN COMMIT TO BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION.......YOU CAN'T LOSE.

YOU CAN BE AMONG THOSE AGENTS OF CHANGE, THAT LEAD US OUT OF THE MESS, MY PEERS AND I HAVE LET HAPPEN.

BE THE SOLUTION! DRIVE IT! INSPIRE IT... AS YOU DID ON NOVEMBER 4TH.

YES YOU CAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


IN CLOSING:

THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY TIME IN HISTORY. IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR ROLE ON THIS PLANET IS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, NOT JUST IN YOUR OWN BUT IN OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES, THERE WILL NEVER BE A BETTER CHANCE THAN NOW.

NEVER BEFORE HAS THERE BEEN AS MUCH BROKEN THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. AND IF WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO BECOMING COMMUNITY BUILDERS AND COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS PATH OF DIFFERENCE-MAKING, YOU WILL BE OVERWHELMED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DRIVE PROFOUND, MEANINGFUL, AND SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL CHANGE.

AND LIKE THE CANARY THAT HAS THE POWER OF SONG WITHIN IT, SO GRADUATES IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO IDENTIFY YOUR GOD-GIVEN GIFTS. FIND YOUR VOICE AND HELP OTHERS FIND THEIRS.


MY FINAL TIP IS IN THE FORM OF A FAVORITE ANECDOTE:

IT'S THE STORY OF AN OLD GENTLEMAN WHO IS DRIVING DOWN A CROWDED HIGHWAY ONE EVENING, AND GETS A CALL FROM HIS HYSTERICAL WIFE, WHO GOES ON TO SAY TO HIM; HONEY YOU BETTER GET HOME FAST, I JUST HEARD ON THE RADIO THAT THERE IS A LUNATIC ON THE SAME ROAD YOU ARE ON, DRIVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. HE PAUSED, AND THOUGHT FOR A SECOND, NOT WANTING TO ALARM HER UNNECESSARILY, AND FINALLY SAID; DARLING IT IS WORSE THEN THAT... THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THEM.

FIRST YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT FOR MUCH OF MY JOURNEY, I HAVE FELT A BIT LIKE THAT LUNATIC. (AND SO MIGHT YOU.)

THE LESSON HERE GRADUATES IS THAT EVEN IF YOU FIND YOURSELF GOING AGAINST TRAFFIC — YOU MAY STILL BE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.


REMEMBER:
1. TOUGH TIMES YIELD THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES: SEIZE THE MOMENT
2. PERSERVERE: ANYTHING WORTH HAVING IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR
3. NEVER BEFORE HAS EVERYONE UNIFORMLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEED FOR CHANGE: "BE THE CHANGE."
4. YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR OUTFIT, OR YOU CAN OUTFIT CHANGE OR BOTH
5. WHAT YOU STAND FOR IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU STAND IN
6. GREAT TO BE KNOWN FOR YOUR SHOES, BETTER TO BE KNOWN FOR YOUR SOLE