Be good at something. It makes you valuable. Have something to bring to the table, because that will make you more welcome.
Randy PauschThe size of your audience doesn't matter. What's important is that your audience is listening.
Randy PauschWhatever news we get about the scans, Iโm not going to die when we hear it. I wonโt die the next day, or the day after that, or the day after that. So today, right now, well this is a wonderful day. And I want you to know how much Iโm enjoying it.โ I thought about that, and about Jaiโs smile. I knew then. Thatโs the way the rest of my life would need to be lived.
Randy PauschI'll take an earnest person over a hip person every day, because hip is short-term, earnest is long term.
Randy PauschAnother way to be prepared is to think negatively. Yes, I'm a great optimist. but, when trying to make a decision, I often think of the worst case scenario. I call it 'the eaten by wolves factor.' If I do something, what's the most terrible thing that could happen? Would I be eaten by wolves? One thing that makes it possible to be an optimist, is if you have a contingency plan for when all hell breaks loose. There are a lot of things I don't worry about, because I have a plan in place if they do.
Randy Pausch