Instead of crowing about career triumphs and students’ bright futures, Greylock Partners data scientist DJ Patil addressed a more pressing topic at a recent commencement address: his biggest failures, and why new graduates should embrace similar humiliation. And how, practically, do you achieve success though failure? It starts with passion—finding work that you love. Once you do, you’ll never take no for an answer, or have patience for those who stand in your way. Second, surround yourself with people you value. Just like your body responds poorly to junk food, your mind and energy levels also respond to the company you keep. Third, strive to put yourself in uncomfortable situations. The world is changing as we speak. Right now there are two people in a garage with a dog (don’t ask me why there is a dog, but there always seems to be one) creating the next iPhone, Facebook, Google. Those of you that are graduating today, you are the first to go through your entire social years (puberty onwards) with Facebook. During your entire educational experience you’ve had access to Google, mobile phones, and the Internet. And yet during your time in college you have seen the introduction of the tablet. The notion of using a desktop or a laptop is outdated. Given this rapid pace of change, the only advice that I can give you is to keep learning—putting yourself in uncomfortable situations where you fail and acquire new skills as a result. Read more->
Pop-upView Separately

Instead of crowing about career triumphs and students’ bright futures, Greylock Partners data scientist DJ Patil addressed a more pressing topic at a recent commencement address: his biggest failures, and why new graduates should embrace similar humiliation.

And how, practically, do you achieve success though failure? It starts with passion—finding work that you love. Once you do, you’ll never take no for an answer, or have patience for those who stand in your way. Second, surround yourself with people you value. Just like your body responds poorly to junk food, your mind and energy levels also respond to the company you keep. Third, strive to put yourself in uncomfortable situations. The world is changing as we speak. Right now there are two people in a garage with a dog (don’t ask me why there is a dog, but there always seems to be one) creating the next iPhone, Facebook, Google. Those of you that are graduating today, you are the first to go through your entire social years (puberty onwards) with Facebook. During your entire educational experience you’ve had access to Google, mobile phones, and the Internet. And yet during your time in college you have seen the introduction of the tablet. The notion of using a desktop or a laptop is outdated. Given this rapid pace of change, the only advice that I can give you is to keep learning—putting yourself in uncomfortable situations where you fail and acquire new skills as a result.

Read more->

(via fastcompany)

48 Notes/ Hide

  1. acvdemy reblogged this from fastcompany
  2. primuscapio reblogged this from fastcompany
  3. pod313 reblogged this from fastcompany
  4. cigarettesiesta reblogged this from fastcompany
  5. corymasri reblogged this from fastcompany
  6. get-educated reblogged this from fastcompany and added:
    “putting yourself in uncomfortable situations where you fail...acquire new skills as
  7. canisfamiliaris reblogged this from fastcompany and added:
    Crowdsourced Commencement Address On Utter Failure
  8. mindfulstartups reblogged this from fastcompany
  9. who-cares-so-what reblogged this from fastcompany
  10. pensivepusher reblogged this from fastcompany
  11. theworkingsofadele reblogged this from fastcompany
  12. weddnigsbyashlee reblogged this from fastcompany
  13. srirachaeverything reblogged this from fastcompany
  14. ahandsomestark reblogged this from fastcompany
  15. kuwaitigenius reblogged this from fastcompany and added:
    And how, practically, do you achieve success though failure? It starts with passion—finding work that you love. Once you...
  16. ambitiousceo reblogged this from fastcompany and added:
    Great advice.
  17. ebonix reblogged this from fastcompany
  18. ourhimitsu reblogged this from fastcompany
  19. cavalierzee reblogged this from fastcompany
  20. neveronsundays reblogged this from fastcompany
  21. fastcompany posted this

Recent comments

Blog comments powered by Disqus