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BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
I wasn't sure quite where to post this on the Café.
Earlier this year I was asked to deliver the commencement speech to a class of graduating high school seniors on the topic of success. I talked about defining success, why failure is necessary, and offered a handful of tips for a happy and meaningful life. Magicians should enjoy and/or relate to my stories about magic, performing, and my career path. Here's the full blog entry on it with a video of the speech itself (edited for time). http://brianmillermagic.com/youth-speake......-speech/ But still I want to know: What would you say to graduating high school seniors in 2015? ~Brian |
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Salguod Nairb Room 101 0 Posts |
Get a job.
We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness...
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Move forward and do what you enjoy and you will be successful. Gauge success and how YOU perceive it, not others. Do some good for others, and don't be a burden to society. Now is the time to take some chances.
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stoneunhinged Inner circle 3067 Posts |
Funny, Nairb.
But what I would really say is this: life is too short to live anyone's life other than your own. Of course, an intelligent person will spend the rest of their life trying to discover what it means to live ones own life. But that's another topic, I suppose. |
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BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
My three main points (mentioned in the blog post) were this:
1. Be flexible in your idea of success. Succeed on your terms, and yours alone. 2. Don’t waste energy trying to avoid failure. You will fail, and you will be okay. 3. Discover your strengths and play to them. |
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landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
I'd sit through Stone's speech, and even listen!
Click here to get Gerald Deutsch's Perverse Magic: The First Sixteen Years
All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3162 Posts |
I would probably start with something like:
School is a foundation for success, but no matter how much education you have, it’s hard to get started when you don’t know where you’re going. So now, one of your first priorities should be to set some goals and then create a daily To-Do List of things that you should do each day to work towards those goals. It’s important to remember that success is achieved with small steps. Much like you didn’t receive your education over night, success is a journey and you know the saying, ‘a journey begins with a single step.’ I urge you to never stop taking those small steps....... Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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Magnus Eisengrim Inner circle Sulla placed heads on 1053 Posts |
Dreams are cool. But so are lots of other things. Everyone else is going to tell you to dream big and be all you can be. Meh.
The world needs "regular" people. Look at your parents. Your neighbours. Your teachers. This is what the world is really all about. Chase your dreams. But more importantly be a friend. Be a neighbour. A lover. A confidante. A protector. A mom. A dad. A sister or a brother. Be one of bonds that make our communities worth living in.
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.--Yeats |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21214 Posts |
A dream is nothing but a goal without a plan.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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ZachDavenport Inner circle Last time I posted I had one less than 1196 Posts |
Reality is a real killjoy.
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R.S. Regular user CT one day I'll have 184 Posts |
Without giving away my background, I'd say in all seriousness, "Who here has had a cat named Fluffy or Tigger? You do? Gray, right? And I'm sensing the initials "P" and "S" - who has a relative with those exact initials? And why is the number 12 so significant to somebody here? YOU, young man/lady... you have many friends, but only a few close friends. You have a need for other people to like and admire you, and yet you tend to be critical of yourself. While you have some personality weaknesses, you are generally able to compensate for them. You have considerable unused capacity that you have not turned to your advantage. At times you have serious doubts whether you have made the right decision or done the right thing. You have a scar on your knee."
After going on in this manner and playing it up for all it's worth, I'd then conclude by saying, "You have all just been had by trickery! This has been your REAL life's lesson! Realize that a) you are vulnerable to deception and b) people will try to take advantage of you. You may be "smart", but it means nothing if you don't buttress those smarts with critical thinking skills. Question everything in life, for it is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry. Now get outa here before your dead relatives start giving me information which I'll have to charge you for!" (drops mic and walks abruptly off stage) Ron
"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry." Thomas Paine
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9979 Posts |
I always liked the Asheley Brillinat quote, "Your life is so difficult no one has ever attempted it before!"
Not much different from when I gave a commencement speech at my high school graduation back in 1962 -- To know life you must live life. I would suggest that each student minimize their vicarious activities on TV, Internet and cellphone and interact with real people doing real stupid and exciting things. That and the idea that part of cherity is learning how to just say, "thank you." No expectation of credit, payback, guilt or announcement.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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ZachDavenport Inner circle Last time I posted I had one less than 1196 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 11, 2015, ZachDavenport wrote: I just realized I didn't post the full address. Here's the real one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAUF8ow6xf0
Reality is a real killjoy.
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Salguod Nairb Room 101 0 Posts |
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way. Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town Waiting for someone or something to show you the way. Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain. You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today. And then one day you find ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun. So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking Racing around to come up behind you again. The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older, Shorter of breath and one day closer to death. Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time. Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way The time is gone, the song is over, Thought I'd something more to say.
We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness...
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Daryl -the other brother Special user Chicago 594 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 12, 2015, Salguod Nairb wrote: Brilliant insight. Some one should make that into a song. |
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arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
"Time" by Pink Floyd.
If it's got to be a song, I'd hit 'em with these Edgar Winter lyrics: You know I've heard it said there's beauty in distortion By some people who've withdrawn to find their heads. Now they say that there is humor in misfortune. You know I wonder if they'll laugh when I am dead. Why am I fighting to live if I 'm just living to fight? Why am I trying to see when there ain't nothing in sight? Why am I trying to give when no one gives me a try? Why am I dying to live if I'm just living to die? Hey, you know some people say that values are subjective, But they're just speaking words that someone else has said. And so they live and fight and kill with no objective. Sometimes it's hard to tell the living from the dead. Why am I fighting to live if I 'm just living to fight? Why am I trying to see when there ain't nothing in sight? Why am I trying to give when no one gives me a try? Why am I dying to live if I'm just living to die? Yeah, you know I used to weave my words into confusion, And so I hope you'll understand me when I 'm through. You know I used to live my life as an illusion, But reality will make my dreams come true. So I'll keep fighting to live till there's no reason to fight And I'll keep trying to see until the end is in sight You know I'm trying to give so c'mon give me a try You know I'm dying to live until I'm ready to die. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21214 Posts |
Yea he knew it was a song.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
Seriously though, I would tell my life story and then urge the students not to do what I did.
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arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
Quote:
On Sep 12, 2015, Dannydoyle wrote: But he didn't give credit, did he? |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21214 Posts |
I think it was an attempt at a joke and sans the tone and voice inflection it did not come across as such to you.
Stupid Internet.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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