Recently I had the privilege of delivering my third commencement speech. I love graduation ceremonies and what they symbolize: achievement, overcoming adversity, reaching the next level.

Addressing thousands of graduates is a daunting task. With only a few minutes to impart some lasting wisdom, what message would you deliver? I decided to share the 11 principles that have guided me since I wore that graduation robe many moons ago.

In preparing my remarks, I realized that these nuggets didn’t just apply to freshly minted grads; they apply to us all. These are the principles I live by and the philosophies that have enabled my own success. Here’s my advice for graduates, dropouts, young guns, and seniors alike:

1. Put Passion First – People will constantly tell you what you “should” do. Instead of doing what others expect, follow your dreams and your heart. You’ll be much happier, and you’ll make the world a better place too.

2. Build Your Creativity Muscle – This will be your most important skill, and it will allow you to thrive and win. Develop your creativity early and often – it will pay off big-time.

3. Don’t Stumble Over Something Behind You – Regret is the worst human emotion, since you can’t do a thing about the past. You’ll make lots of mistakes, which are nothing more than the portals of discovery. Fail fast, learn, and move on.

4. Leave it Better than You Found it – Every interaction, meeting, project, game, and relationship leaves you with a choice. You can add value or remove it. Do the right thing instead of the easy thing. You’ll be glad you did.

5. Reject Limits – Break free from limits that others try to impose on you. Your ideas, creativity and potential are nearly limitless. Reach for the edges.

6. “Do or Do Not, There is No Try” – This is a quote from Star Wars’ Yoda. Simply put, commit to your dreams and do whatever it takes to reach them.

7. Playing it Safe is Irresponsibly Dangerous - The history books never talk about people that lived small. Those that take risks, shatter complacency, and create their own future are the ones that make the biggest difference. Make your own mark, and never let fear hold you back from your true potential.

8. Embrace Change – The world will continue to change at breathtaking speeds. Those that get locked into one way of thinking get passed by. Standing still is the beginning of the end, so always stay ahead of the curve.

9. Be Appreciative and Humble – Einstein once wrote, “You can live each day as if everything is a miracle, or as if nothing is.” True ‘dat!

10. Be a Lifelong Learner – Continuously sharpen your mind and devour knowledge. Learning constantly will enable success in every area of your life.

11. Have fun! – Life is meant to be savored. Enjoy every sip, sound, and bite.
We all face many challenges, which is why a few guiding principles can serve as a helpful North Star. Play you biggest game and seize the enormous opportunity that’s waiting for you.

No tassel or funny hat required.

Some things just “can’t” be done, right?

Up until 1954, the top scientists and athletes agreed that running a mile in under four minutes was physically impossible. Never been done in all of history. That is, until Roger Bannister did it on May 6 and shattered this preconceived notion. Just 46 days later, another runner broke the four-minute mark and from then on, times continued to decrease.

With a fresh year ahead of you, you’re probably reflecting on the things you want to do. It may be to fit into that new pair of jeans. Or perhaps you have bigger goals: to drive social change, launch a business, or heal the sick.

Throughout the journey, you’ll be met with challenges that will test your resolve. You’ll be dealt that inevitable setback, making it easy to play the victim card. When you say something “can’t” be done, you are relinquishing your power. It is the world’s fault that a goal wasn’t met, not yours. It may be easier to rationalize in that moment, but in doing so you end up settling instead of achieving.

Often the difference-maker for high achievers is that they are willing to do what others won’t, not what others can’t. They own their outcomes, and take personal responsibility for seeing it through rather than playing the blame-game. Tough spots don’t have to indicate game-over status. Also-rans may crumble, but champions never waiver.

What if Martin Luther King Jr accepted that racial equality was impossible and not worth pursuing? What if Google felt that cataloging the world’s information couldn’t be done? The minute we stop pushing the limits as a society, civilization crumbles. And the same applies to you.

The next time you’re faced with an obstacle, stop focusing on all the reasons you can’t conquer it. Instead, pivot your thinking to “What steps need to happen – even if they are difficult – in order to see this through?”

If you are pursuing anything worth doing, they heat is likely to get really hot. Before you forfeit your dreams, perform a careful examination to see if you are really in a “can’t” dead-end or just a “won’t” situation. Turns out that 90% of the things we think are impossible just require some extra grit and determination to make them a reality. Bottom line: mojo is the antidote for adversity.

2012 is your time. Your time to shatter conventional wisdom. Your time to do the never-been-done-before. Your time to crush the impossible. Your time to make a difference.

Many of us chase success, only to find it to be an elusive tease. We say to ourselves if “I could HAVE what I want (money, fame, power, clothes, spouse, car, house, etc.) then I could DO the things I want, which, in turn, would allow me to BE who I truly am.”

We think Have, Do, Be. Unfortunately, that’s backwards.

When you study the most successful and happy people, they run the reverse model. They first focus on who they are (philosophy, character, culture) and are uncompromising on BEING true to those beliefs. This allows them to DO the things they want. Because they are authentic and follow their destiny, they end up HAVING what they need. The HAVING is simply a byproduct of first BEING and then DOING.

If you really want to maximize your true potential, turn the conventional approach upside down. BE true to your core beliefs, DO the things you care about, and the HAVE will take care of itself.

In terms of BEING, a good starting point is to write your own eulogy. When it’s all said and done, how do you want to be remembered? As a selfish, workaholic jerk? A fear-laden rule follower? A liar? Most of us want to exude strong character, contribute to humanity, and express our creativity. You don’t need a new Porsche or a 5-bedroom house to begin being a person you can admire.

When you think about DOING, forget about the status quo and what you think you “ought” to do. Instead, follow a path that is both inspired and inspiring. Step away from what you perceive as “safe” since you only have so many years to make your mark. Start by asking yourself these seven questions:

1. What do you love to do the most?
2. What gives you the most satisfaction and joy?
3. When do you feel like you are making the biggest impact?
4. What activities most energize you?
5. What would you do if there were no possibility you could fail?
6. What are you doing when you lose track of time?
7. If you could be remembered for one thing, what would it be?
If you’ve identified a career path that is radically different from your current gig, it’s time to take a hard look in the mirror and consider seizing your true calling. If you don’t, who will?

As for the HAVE, it will take care of itself. If you follow your passion and purpose, you’ll get all the stuff you need. By focusing on being whom you are meant to be and doing what you are meant to do, the having will end up being a whole lot less important anyway.

Stop with Have, Do, Be. It’s time to Be, Do, Have.

After I graduated college, I launched my second business – Innovative Computer Solutions. We sold computer hardware and provided networking and other computer-related services. After 11 months of business, I was doing well. But as Jim Collins likes to say, “Good is the enemy of great.”

In 1994 the computer world was in the midst of massive upheaval. And an introspective look in the mirror revealed a company that was on the path to mediocrity. I was making money and winning clients, but our products and services were a commodity. A me-too player. And let’s face it… the world doesn’t need another me-too player. The world doesn’t need another me-too anything.

So with less than one year of operations, I decided to sell a business that appeared to be full of success and promise. This was a hard decision, since the business was making money and growing rapidly. But I knew that it wasn’t my destiny. I knew that I needed to let go of one opportunity in order to seize a bigger one.

Letting go is never easy, especially when things are “okay.” Many people find themselves in “okay” jobs, “okay” relationships, and living “okay” lives. It takes boldness and courage to let go of the known to pursue the wonder and magic of what’s possible.

As human beings, fear often immobilizes us and keeps us grounded to the “okay.” But then we eventually look back – filled with regret that we never went for it. Never took that big risk. Never chased down our true potential. We end up playing it “safe”, only to realize that playing it safe is the riskiest move of all. Because playing it safe gets in the way of your real trajectory and robs you from reaching new heights.

We all have “to do” lists. What would be on your “letting go” list? What are the things you need to release in order to make room for the new? What are you clinging to out of habit or perceived safety that has lost its enduring value?

Sometimes, you simply need to let go. You must let your own grit and determination become your new safety net. And in the process, you’ll make room for the possibilities while liberating your spirit.

Bosses, parents, teachers, clergy and government officials are well trained to catch you doing something wrong.  There are elaborate systems for checks and balances, controls and consequences. It’s apparently very important to catch the mischievous child or the wayward employee in the act of disobedience.

With so much effort spent catching people doing something wrong, it’s time to start catching each other doing something right.

In our society, wide spread labeling is an insidious force that robs individuals of achieving their true potential.  When a parent tells a child they are average, slow, or stupid, these sharp words become a self-fulfilling prophecy as the erroneous labels are internalized.  When a boss repeatedly lashes out at a team member pointing out their every flaw, confidence becomes shattered and performance plummets.

When a kid is slow to pick up violin or painting, teachers and parents routinely label her as “not creative.”   Physicians dispense labels like ADD with reckless abandon.  And business leaders are quick to pick favorites while admonishing the laggards.  These labels seep into our souls, and we end up becoming their personification.  Label a kid as a troublemaker, and trouble he will make.

The good news is that labeling can work the other way too.  Catch a team member in the act of delivering great work, and you’ll inject her with confidence and energy.  Label a colleague a rock-star, and they’ll kick out the work version of a Grammy.

This last week was a thrill for me, having been invited to the White House with nine other entrepreneurs to be recognized as a Champion of Change.  President Obama launched this program to celebrate Americans who are making a difference, innovating, and “winning the future.”  As I watched the faces of my fellow award recipients beam with pride, I realized the power of catching people in the act of greatness.

Each of us will return to our home states full of positive energy and confidence, and will over-perform as a result.  We’ll energize our communities.  We’ll help others.  We’ll make a difference.  One simple label will embolden us to reach our true potential.  Think about how you’d behave differently if you were Jim Smith vs. President Barack Obama’s Champion of Change, Jim Smith.

Most of us have self-talk that’s so negative we’d be institutionalized if we said it out loud.  Maybe you should catch yourself in the act of doing good more often, and celebrate those wins auspiciously.  Maybe that extra shot of energy you give yourself will be the difference maker in reaching your own goals and dreams.

This week, let’s all flip the poison of negative labeling, and catch each other and ourselves in the act – in the act of doing things right.  These new, positive labels will tip the scales in favor of results, momentum, and overall achievement.

By the way, great outfit!

We’ve all experienced déjà vu, looking at an unfamiliar situation and feeling like we’ve seen it before. It turns out the most successful and creative people flip this around and consciously practice Vu Déjà – looking at a familiar situation as if you’ve never seen it before.

Our brains are hardwired to play a devious trick. We are masters at pattern recognition, so our brains quickly scan our memory banks when stimulated and identify how we handled a situation before. The problem is that our first instinct is to quickly reach a previous conclusion rather than re-examine a situation with a fresh perspective. This is great for some things (walking, using a fork, language) since we don’t need to re-learn those skills each time they’re needed. However, this brain trap can be deadly when we fail to advance our thinking.

The way you solved a customer issue or launched a product in the past may have worked great, but the world isn’t standing still. Quite the opposite – every night when we go to bed and wake up the next day, things have changed. Those that get stuck in the past and lean on the golden ways of a time gone by are playing Russian roulette with their future.

Even when something is still working, it’s time to look at the situation with a clean set of eyes. When you look at challenges from a fresh perspective, it breaks you out of the rut and allows your creativity to shine.

To get started with Vu Déjà, here are some fun techniques:

• Pretend this is your first day on the job. What do you notice that your currently breeze by?
• When dealing with an issue, imagine you have a different profession. If you’re a chemical engineer, ask yourself how an artist may solve your problem. If you are a graphic designer, how would an astronaut think about your situation?
• Pretend you are a different person altogether. Instead of brainstorming as you, try pretending you are Steve Jobs, Rush Limbaugh, or Bono. Pick your favorite movie star, sports hero, business leader, politician or author and take on their persona.
• Imagine you are a time traveler and look at a challenge from the perspective of 100 years in the future. Or 200 years in the past.

Each of these exercises will help you shake things up and get away from existing patterns. A fresh perspective on team meetings, employee issues, product development, efficiency gains, hiring practices, marketing strategies, or even financial metrics can help you bust through the mud and find new, elegant solutions.

Make the familiar as unfamiliar as possible. Vu Déjà.

Get this – Apple, Inc. now has more money than the US Government. According to a report in the Financial Post this week, the U.S. operating balance now stands at roughly $73.8 billion compared to the $75.9 billion of cash that Apple has on hand. How is it possible that the tech giant has more money that the world’s biggest economic superpower?

We can debate debt ceilings and policy all day long, but something still strikes me here. A company that started the same year our nation was celebrating her 200th birthday is now in a stronger financial position than its home country.

How is it that a single company can become so successful, and in turn change the lives of millions of people around the world? How can a company become not just a financial powerhouse, but also an icon of innovation, design, and culture?

Jobs and team have built something much more special than a cash-creation machine. As Steve likes to say, they have truly put a “ding in the universe.” Their success isn’t rooted in number crunching, cost cutting, or audit controls. No trick-the-customer, deal-of-the-day, or Wall Street gaming. Rather, they’ve built an enduring brand and culture that is now recognized as the most valuable tech company in the world.

Here are five lessons from Apple that we can all embrace to drive success in our companies, careers, and communities:

1. Shatter Conventional Wisdom. While some ‘fraidy-cat executives cower at thought of straying outside the lines, the folks at Apple live to disrupt. They don’t waste their valuable brainstorm sessions on driving .21% incremental margin or extracting costs by using cheap materials. Instead, they direct their energy toward changing the world.

2. No Limits. In our fear-based society, we often gravitate to all the reasons something can’t be done. So often, we let imaginary barriers restrict us for reaching our true potential. Not Apple. They refuse to be derailed and let those seemingly insurmountable challenges drive their cause instead of squash their dreams.

3. Innovation Wins. The culture at Apple celebrates the risk takers. The dreamers. The creators. They realize that creativity and innovation are the lifeblood of the organization, and have built a culture and philosophy that rewards it.

4. Design Matters. The folks at Apple know that design is as important as function. Their products are beautiful works of art rather than utilitarian machinery. They focus not just on what their gear does, but how it makes their customers feel. All five senses are delighted by design, and customers are willing to pay handsomely as a result.

5. Passion First. Apple doesn’t chase money, they pursue purpose. They build products and services that they love and want to use themselves. They connect deeply to the impact they will make on customers, and follow their hearts instead of earnings-per-share. As a result, the money follows. Big time.
Apple may have more cash than our government right now, but their real value goes much deeper than their balance sheet. More than their billions, they’ve managed to build a culture of innovation that will continue to drive success and change the world. Maybe the US Government can learn a thing or two here. Maybe we all can.

Hey brother Jobs, can you spare a dime?

All our lives we’ve been taught to avoid risk. Look both ways when crossing the street. Don’t touch the hot stove. Don’t talk to strangers. Yet ironically, most of us live in an irresponsibly dangerous fashion – without even knowing it.

Over the last few years, the world has changed dramatically. Global financial crisis, technological breakthroughs, skyrocketing population, geopolitical turmoil. Shockingly, most people still play by the old rules. They run yesterday’s game plan and wonder why results continue to plummet. “We’ve always done it that way” no longer can suffice as comfort food. Rather, it is a signpost on the route to disaster.

In school, we were taught to follow the rules, guess what the teacher knows, there’s only one correct answer, and whatever you do – don’t make mistakes. We learn to keep our heads down, do what we’re told, and never question authority. But doing that in today’s hyper-competitive, constantly changing world is a surefire path to mediocrity.

It turns out that playing it “safe” has become recklessly dangerous.

Those who were lulled into a false sense of security were blindsided when corporate downsizings swept through and when supposedly loyal customers defected to upstart competitors. It turns out that playing “not to lose” simply seals a fate of crushing defeat.

Blandness has given way to boldness. Me-too boring is being conquered by originality. What the world now demands and is willing to pay handsomely for is remarkable and creative thinking. This applies to businesses, politicians, communities, education, and of course… individuals.

The real risk today is that of standing still. Hiding in the shadows and waiting for direction is akin to riding a motorcycle without a helmet on a crowded freeway. You now have to take a counterintuitive approach in order to buckle the seatbelt of safety. You now need to stand for something, take the unconventional alternative, and let your imagination soar.

If you insist on keeping your head down in the operating manual, you’ll be hugely disappointed when you finally look up. You’ll see that the world has passed you by; that life’s rewards have been bestowed upon the brave souls who had the creativity to dream, and the courage to go for it.

If you want to avoid life’s biggest risk – a path of mediocrity and regret – you must bring your guard down and your creativity up. It may be outside your comfort zone, but it’s actually one of the safest things you can do. It’s time to get in the fast lane of original thinking, innovation, and possibility.

Buckle up.

A recent employer asked job seekers the following riddle:
“You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night. You pass by a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
2. An old friend who once saved your life.
3. The perfect man (or) woman you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your two-seat car?”

…Take a minute to think before you continue reading…

You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first; or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect dream lover again.

The candidate who was hired (out of 200+ applicants) demonstrated his creativity: “I would give the car keys to my old friend, and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would then stay behind and wait for the bus with the woman of my dreams.”

Boom!

Now more than ever, we must stand out in order to win.  Accordingly, creativity has become the critical ingredient.  It is the difference-maker on challenges big and small; the deciding factor in landing the job, winning the client, and even getting the girl.

We all struggle through a series of decisions and dilemmas, the solutions of which become the measure of our success.  Sure, you can follow the herd and go with conventional wisdom but that’s just a surefire path to mediocrity.

To seize the lion’s share in both business and life, you must unleash your imagination.  Inventing the never-been-done-before will capture the hearts of your customers and team members, while the me-too players shrug their shoulders with frustration and despair.

Forgo the bland vanilla stew of the masses in order to savor a feast of originality.  Break free from the pressures to fit in, knowing that your dreams will only be reached by standing boldly for your own passionate and unique ideas.

Stop confirming and start creating.  It’s time to stand up and stand out.

Advertising legend Alex Osborn not only founded one of the most successful ad agencies in the world, BBDO, he also coined the phrase “brainstorming” and is credited for inventing the technique.  Later in his career, he invented another technique that is lesser-known, but one that is incredibly powerful: SCAMPER.  This name is an acronym and stands for:

Substitute
Combine
Adapt
Magnify/minimize
Put to other use
Eliminate
Rearrange / reverse

The SCAMPER technique can take you right back to the limitless creativity you had in Kindergarten.  This structured approach has you start with a concept and then try out different variations on the theme.

For example, let’s look at the world of breakfast cereal which pretty much began with the Corn Flake (the initial “creative spark”).  Here are some ways General Mills, Kellogg’s, Quaker Oats and Post put elements of the SCAMPER technique to work in their product development efforts:

Substitute – Corn Flakes led to Bran Flakes (substitute ingredient).  Puffed Rice helped launch Rice Krispies (substitute preparation).  Substitutions can also include people, physical locations, production processes, flavors, and distribution channels.

Combine – Raisin Bran was born from combining bran flakes with raisins.  Cereal manufacturers are experts at this (Honey Nut Cheerios, Apple & Cinnamon Oatmeal).  This step is about adding a new ingredient or combining two or more existing items into one.

Adapt -Cinnamon Toast Crunch came from making a toast recipe and turning it into a cereal.  Take the all-American favorite of chocolate chip cookies, turn them into a cereal, and you have a winner – Cookie Crisp.  Fruity Pebbles was a huge hit for Post, and was adapted from the popular show the Flintstones.  (side note: same idea worked for Flintstone vitamins)

Magnify/minimize – Frosted Wheat became Frosted Mini Wheats.  Granola evolved into Low Fat Granola.  A regular box of Wheeties now comes in a giant, family-sized box.

Put to other use – Rice Krispie Treats are now packaged in separate units and sold as a competitor to the candy bar.  Corn Flakes can be used in dozens of recipes including breading for chicken and as an ingredient in stuffing.  Of course, Kellogg’s makes these recipes readily available and recommends the alternative uses.

Eliminate – Without nuts, reduced fat, sugar-free, only whole-grains, and other banners are unavoidable as you walk down the cereal aisle at your local grocery store.  Eliminating one or more aspects of a concept is a clever way to uncover brand new ideas.

Rearrange / reverse – Post launched Honey Bunches of Oats in 1989.  Today, you can enjoy your Honey Bunches packaged with Almonds, with Bananas, Peaches, Strawberries, Chocolate Clusters, Cinnamon Clusters, or Vanilla Clusters.  What did they do next?  They launched “Just Bunches”, eliminating the other elements of the cereal altogether.  This playful approach helped the company build a cereal franchise around one original product idea.

You can SCAMPER with product development, efficiency gains, HR challenges, marketing concepts, or just about any other challenge you may be facing.  Try SCAMPER’ing your way through your next problem, and you’ll be amazed at how much creativity gets unleashed.