If You Want to Change the World

William H. McRaven, a retired four-star admiral in the US Navy, is one of the most decorated US commanders. He delivered the 2020 MIT commencement speech (virtually) and also the commencement speech for 2014 University of Texas graduation. Both speeches are on similar theme but delivered differently. Both are very relevant to today’s world with the challenges facing all of us, not just the recent graduates. I strongly recommend you spend 15 minutes to listen to his speeches. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Here are some excerpts from the two speeches.

“Start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often. But if you take some risks, step up when the times are toughest, face down the bullies, lift up the downtrodden and never, ever give up — if you do these things, then the next generation and the generations that follow will live in a world far better than the one we have today.”

“It matters not your gender, your ethnic or religious background, your orientation, or your social status. Our struggles in this world are similar and the lessons to overcome those struggles and to move forward—changing ourselves and the world around us—will apply equally to all.”

“If you are going to save the world, you will need to be humble. In my career I have been blessed to be around some great minds. I have seen how the brilliant men and women have helped eradicate disease, reduce poverty, create technological masterpieces but, conversely I have seen how the misguided geniuses, filled with conceit and convinced of their own righteousness have tampered with nature, built apocalyptic machines, dehumanized social interaction and tilted toward tyranny. If you do not approach the world with humility, it will find a way to humble you quickly.”

“To save the world, you will have to be men and women of great integrity. Always trying to do what is moral, legal and ethical. It will not be easy and I dare say, you will fail occasionally. You will fail because you are human. You will fail because life often forces you into a seemingly untenable position. You will fail because good and evil are always in conflict.”

“It would be easy to stand up here and tell you that there is wondrous place where you can be great at both work… and life, where your efforts to make a difference in the world come easy—but I have never found that place. In the end, if your goal is a noble one, then your sacrifice will be worth it. And you will be proud of what you have accomplished.”

Here are the links to the full transcripts of the speeches (MIT2020 and UT2014) and the videos (MIT2020 and UT2014).

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