#fsu2017

Look Up

I recently had the honor and pleasure of being asked to give the commencement speech at my Alma Mater, Florida State University. It was a moment that I will always remember and wanted to summarize the content in order to be able to smile when I look back… or "Look Up,” as the case may be.

(6/6/17)

I am thrilled to be here with you, as I sat in those very seats not that many years ago. I won’t mention the exact year, but I’ll just say that outside of Tallahassee there was still trouble in the Middle East, Politicians still promised “no new taxes” and Bill Cosby was in the news for completely different reasons. Inside Tallahassee though, it was the “Neon Deion Sanders” era. #GoNoles! Let me see that tomahawk chop…

Okay, using the same chop: Who couldn’t wait for this day to come? Who needs to find a great job and make a bunch of money? Who wants to find love?Who wants to live a life that is fun and fantastic? Who has goals they want to crush?

I hear you. In fact, I was you. I had similar goals and similar dreams. Allow me to explain. For the past 25 years, I’ve made my career in advertising and marketing, helping people to build the largest retail ad agency in the world. I’ve had the chance to work with some of the most talented people, the most famous brands and have been a part of some of the commercials you can’t get out of your head even if you tried. The truth is, I’ve reached my goals and now I have returned to tell you the secret to helping you achieve all of your goals much faster. Interestingly, It’s been right in front of you for the past four years, but you’ve probably never realized it. I know I didn’t… until much later.

The clue was in the chop. That’s right…the FSU tomahawk chop. Let it guide you. Seriously, just follow your arm watch where it points you. Just Look Up. That’s it. Seriously, that’s the secret. Look up. This simple ritual we use to cheer our team also has a deeper meaning to guide our life. It’s the little secret for how you can make your next 25 years as amazing as you want. Our very own chop can be a lasting reminder for us all to look up.

Look up - Look up on life. Look up from your phone. Look up for love. Look up to yourself.

Look up on life.

I am an optimistic, half-full kind of person. I really don’t believe there will be a World War III. I don’t believe that gas prices will ever hit $20 and I don’t believe that the stock market will ever crash again to Depression levels. As you can tell, I must not be watching Fox News lately! Why must some people always be wrong for others to be right? Why must there be a red state and a blue state? Why is there so much bloodshed because of what someone has faith in? It doesn’t really make sense. It’s never made sense. I get that much of it is out of our hands, but why add to the craziness? Why not be a more positive force in the world when you can? The world needs to laugh more — a lot more. Like “pee in your pants” laugh more.  Because when that happens – in those special moments – there are suddenly fumbles inside the red zone, Alabama loses once in a while, there are no wars, no hunger, no crazy politics and no hatred. Just the need to change underwear and I’m totally good with that.

Look up from your phone.

Don’t get me wrong – this is not a lecture against technology. I love technology. It makes life amazing in a million new ways every day. And, ask any one of my friends, I post more bulldog pictures on Facebook than most want, I Insta more #foodporn than you'd ever want to order and I am actually having this speech live tweeted as we speak (or check out #LookupFSU2017 on Instagram).  I know you get it. I even know you’ve heard it all before, but still what changes? Our society has become focused on connectivity, but blind to real connections.

It is about how you want to live your life. For me, I wanted to live a life where, in the end, I am not just missed, but people actually felt I was missing. Think about it. There is a difference. It isn’t about making people sad. It is about working hard to know that I constantly offered something – with every relationship, in every job, in any room, in any conversation – to make a point, a mark… and maybe even a dent in things that needed change. It all starts by looking up.

You see, when you look up, something special happens. It doesn’t just lift your head. It lifts your eyes, it lifts your body, your spirit and your outlook. It lets you live life in person to connect with people that will be your base, your glue, your #squad. Look up to hear what they really have to say. Look up to see what is really in their eyes. And think of it this way, your phone isn’t going away. It probably needs charging anyway.

Look up for love.  

Who you pick to surround you in your life will always be the most important decision you make. I was so lucky to meet my soulmate when I was your age and we’ve been married for almost 27 years. We have three amazing daughters who are our oxygen. In a world of “what” I do, they are the “why” I do it. Fairytales teach us the importance of love, but I actually think it is easy to love. Of course I love them, but I also like them. I can’t wait to be with them. They are my favorite people in the world. I play for their laugh. I work for their applause. To actually like the people you love… that is magic – human, mortal magic.

Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz had to go far from home to realize that there is no place like home. It takes nearly two hours and a chase scene for Disney characters to realize the power was inside them the whole time. Come on, we’ve all read the stories about people that used darkness to see the light, a loss to see gain, death to appreciate life, a broken heart to be heartfelt and losing it all to know that they once had it all… what a pile of crap… a pile of unfortunate crap. Those are not happy stories to me, they are the sad ones. They all waited too long. They made it harder than it had to be. Why? Many people are in an endless quest for what might be more perfect rather than looking up to the love they have and making it the most perfect thing in the world. Look up to the love around you and never take it for granted.

Look up to yourself.

If you can’t imagine your own possibilities, nobody else will either. Lean forward and never stop seeing yourself successful. I think too much is made of the phrases “find your passion” and “seek fulfillment” because most people live their entire lives doubting if they’ve achieved them. Don’t get me wrong, I want you to feel passionate and fulfilled, but those things can be byproducts of finding out what you are really good at… what you can be “best at” in fact. That is the path to greatest value and success.

When it came to success, I always wanted enough money to have, but still want. There are times I made a little and times I made much more, but the amount is not the part that matters. Sure we all need money to make our lives easier, to balance how hard we work, to have something to show for it all. I am no different, but for me the real balance was never wanting to lose sight of the struggle of it all. The being hungry part. The need to plan, save, stretch and scrap together parts that reminds us of the true value of the things we want.

Think less and do more. Don’t ever allow yourself to be paralyzed by the fear of being wrong. Don’t worry about making bad decisions – we have all made bad decisions – just be brave enough to make new decisions that get you closer to your destination. Believe you can. Believe you deserve it. When you look up in the mirror, make sure you like what you see.

Looking up worked for me – for every goal and dream. I have followed that chop in every way I just mentioned.  But, I believe it can work for you too.  Just two words - Look up. If you embrace them, it will help you find what you seek, whatever that is. That job you need, the money you want, the love you crave, the joy you deserve and, all of us together, will continue the legacy of pride from graduating from this great institution of Florida State University.

So… Congratulations. Go Noles!