When a man like Larry Ellison talks people pay attention. So have a read of this
and why don't you assess your life too...
If you can help the future generation that might be a start...
Speech that Larry Ellison(Oracle CEO) gave at Yale University to the
Graduating class of 2000.
What follows is a transcript of the speech delivered by Ellison at Yale University :
"Graduates of Yale University, I apologize if you have endured this type
of prologue before, but I want you to do something for me. Please, take a
goodlook around you. Look at the classmate on your left. Look at the classmate
on your right.
Now, consider this: five years from now, 10 years from now, even 30 thirty
years from now, odds are the person on your left is going to be a loser.
The person on your right, meanwhile, will also be a loser.
And you, in the middle? What can you expect?
Loser. Loserhood. Loser Cum Laude.
In fact, as I look out before me today, I don't see a thousand hopes for a
bright tomorrow. I don't see a thousand future leaders in a thousand
industries. I see a thousand losers.
You're upset. That's understandable.
After all, how can I, Lawrence "Larry" Ellison, college dropout, have the
audacity to spout such heresy to the graduating class of one of the
nation's most prestigious institutions? I'll tell you why.
Because I, Lawrence
"Larry" Ellison, second richest man on the planet, am a college dropout,
and you are not.
Because Bill Gates, richest man on the planet - for now anyway - is a
college dropout, and you are not. Because Paul Allen, the third richest
man on the planet, dropped out of college, and you did not.
And for good measure, because Michael Dell, No. 9 on the list and moving
up fast, is a college dropout, and you, yet again, are not.
Hmm ... you're very upset. That's understandable. So let me stroke your
egos for a moment by pointing out, quite sincerely, that your diplomas were not
attained in vain. Most of you, I imagine, have spent four to five years
here, and in many ways what you've learned and endured will serve you well
in the years ahead. You've established good work habits. You've
established a network of people that will help you down the road. And you've
established what will be lifelong relationships with the word "therapy." All that of
is good. For in truth, you will need that network. You will need those strong
work habits. You will need that therapy. You will need them because you
didn't drop out, and so you will never be among the richest people in the
world. Oh sure, you may, perhaps, work your way up to #10 or #11, like
Steve Ballmer.
But then, I don't have to tell you who he really works for, do I?
And for the record, he dropped out of grad school. Bit of a late bloomer.
Finally, I realize that many of you, and hopefully by now most of you, are
wondering, "Is there anything I can do? Is there any hope for me at all?"
Actually, no. It's too late. You've absorbed too much, think you know too
much. You're not 19 anymore. You have a built-in cap, and I'm not
referring to the mortarboards on your heads.
Hmm ... you're really very upset. That's understandable.
So perhaps this would be a good time to bring up the silver lining. Not
for you, Class of '00. You are a write-off, so I'll let you slink off to your
pathetic $200,000-a-year jobs, where your checks will be signed by former
classmates who dropped out two years ago.
Instead, I want to give hope to any underclassmen here today.
I say to you, and I can't stress this enough: LEAVE.
Pack your things and your ideas and don't come back.
Drop out. Start up. For I can tell you that a cap and gown will keep you
down just as surely as these security guards dragging me off this stage
are keeping me dow..."
(At this point The Oracle CEO was ushered off stage.)
