If Not You, Then Who? If Not Now, Then When?

Photo by: adobemac

Guest blog by Winnie Yang

I've always been mesmerized by the intricacies of Barack Obama's manipulation of words.  They give me the shivers and a little bit of inspiration whenever I'm feeling depleted.  So when Brian asked me to write a reflection on his recent speech, I jumped, leaped and karate-kicked in my head at the opportunity.  The President spoke at Arizona State University's commencement last week moving the graduates to redefine success and to cultivate a deeper, more passionate and more personal body of work. 

In facing this desperate job market, many have used this recession as a cushion to their consciousness - that the economy is the reason for their unemployment.  It's true, finding a job is harder, I would know, but that hasn't stopped me from knocking on people's doors, and it shouldn't stop you either, ever! 

Graduating this past weekend has tugged at me to put everything in perspective and to steady this exploding emotional uneasiness within.  Don't be disillusioned, graduating college is not the end; it's actually just the beginning.  Let's be honest, living away from your parents but still being connected to their credit card is not independence.  Nonetheless, we've succeeded in graduating, and now we will start our own body of work.  College has given us the tools to build our life the way we have envisioned it and an opportunity to change the motion of the world the way we want it to move.  However, to take the stand, to take the bite, and to achieve that success, one has to have a solid footing and the right mindset to begin. 

How do you define success?  During the commencement speech, the President criticized the old formulas of chasing the brass rings tied to the fleeting feeling of 'success' structured around the attainment of money, title, and fame.  In a time of building and rebuilding, he mentioned how this old formula will not lead you to where you want to go, in fact it may stray you further from your life purpose, leaving you with emptiness.  It is only when you find a purpose that is bigger than yourself, for the betterment of your community, your nation and this world, will you be able to truly appreciate and value your own body of work.  The people who have made a difference in this world are those who have devoted themselves to pursue a purpose bigger than themselves - preserving the Union, lifting the country out of depression, creating quality products that have changed how we think and work.  You may snicker at this analogy, and think "who am I to make that kind of mark in my generation?"  Well, if not you, then who?  If not now, then when? 

I believe success comes in phases.  When you graduate, land your first job, get a promotion... These phases should not define your body of work.  The nectars of success are sweet but the process was painful - the soul you poured, the sleep you lost, the hunger for completion.  But what will separates you from the person who is better than you is that extra step they took, the extra practice they did, all of which made them THAT much better.  So never be satisfied.  There's a succession to success, a continuation that delves deeper and will make the nectars sweeter. 

Don't stop.  The President urged graduates to never fall into a state of complacency because that is when a person has fallen into a poverty of ambition.  In today's global economy where the rest of the world is not content with where they are and is determined to strive for more, we can not afford to be satisfied.  Regardless of your title or your past achievements, it does not define the way you lead your life, your compassion for those around you or your humility for what may lay ahead.  Even as President, Barack Obama does not believe he is even close to completing his life work, and so he never stops doing, learning or achieving.  He has spread hope and inspiration across nations and boundaries, and we will soon enough see the legacy of his presidency. 

Graduating at a time like this gives me hope.  It just proves that there is so much in this world that I can help change and move, help rebuild and shape.  You can change the world, you just have to try.  So never loose your curiosity to learn, never stop believing in the depth of your capabilities and the reach of your dreams.  Dream big, class of 2009, and you will succeed. 

Here are two of my favorite quotes from his speech:

In talking about needing young people to regenerate the country:
"I'm talking about an approach to life - a quality of mind and heart.  A willingness to follow your passions, regardless of whether they lead to fortune and fame. A willingness to question conventional wisdom and rethink the old dogmas. A lack of regard for all the traditional markers of status and prestige - and a commitment instead to doing what is meaningful to you, what helps others, what makes a difference in this world."

"That is what building a body of work is all about - it's about the daily labor, the many individual acts, the choices large and small that add up to a lasting legacy. It's about not being satisfied with the latest achievement, the latest gold star - because one thing I know about a body of work is that it's never finished. It's cumulative; it deepens and expands with each day that you give your best, and give back, and contribute to the life of this nation. You may have set-backs, and you may have failures, but you're not done - not by a longshot."