Most, if not all of you have heard of J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter book series. I’m sure most of you have also heard of the almost fairytale circumstances under which she rode the fame of her books out of extreme poverty.
Rowling was the recent Harvard commencement speaker and in her speech she elaborates beautifully on the life lessons she learned from several different facets of her life. The part I found most interesting though was the lessons she had learned from failure.
I’m a big fan of failure, I think it’s an invaluable part of life. I think success feels good, but failure teaches us something. Rowling takes that and makes it personal, she talks about how she lost everything and hit rock bottom, and how all that loss gave her the freedom to pursue the things she really wanted.
I think that’s a poignant lesson. We tend to insulate ourselves with cheap entertainment and a million little distractions, but strip it all away and what are you left with?
So here is Rowling’s Harvard commencement address. She takes a minute or two to get going but it’s well worth it, she really is an inspirational person with an inspirational story.
J.K. Rowling Harvard Commencement Address Part 1 of 2
J.K. Rowling Harvard Commencement Address Part 2 of 2
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Sure, failure is really great to look back on and see as a lesson, but when you’re right in the middle of it (or, in my case, at the end of two years of it with no end in sight), all this ‘failure is great’ preaching just seems hollow.
I’d like to start succeeding for once.
I think you should start succeeding then.
And to answer your next question, see this post: The 8 Secrets of Success