icOn
15th Apr '08 Tue, 00:05
What I would like to share to all of you is the commencement speech of Francis J. Kong during our Graduation day last April 3, 2006. Even today, two years after hearing it, his words keep ringing in my ears. I open my yearbook from time to time and read it. An inspiring speech, especially for those without confidence and those who constantly ask themselves "where am I going?"
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The journey has just begun. That’s what the word ‘commencement’ means. In an occasion like this, the entire atmosphere touches me deeply. Perhaps because it propels me to the memories of a similar moment I had many years ago when I wore the same red tipped cap and gown and enjoyed the meaning of the occasion. Perhaps in the moments like these make us pause for a while and we focus to the fact that life is made up of different chapters. And toady marks another chapter change in your life and mine.
Life is all about chapter changes. Listen to what this wise man has to say: to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to plug up that which is planted. A time to kill, a time to heal. A time to breakdown, a time to build up! A time to weep, a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to cast away spells and a time to gather spells together. A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get, a time to lose. A time to kick and a time to cast. A time to rend and a time to sow. A time to keep silence and a time to speak. A time to love, a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.
To everything, there is a season. Our life is a series of chapters. The resplendent exercises are simply a formal ceremony that brings us another chapter change. But we need to go beyond the mere symbol and focus on the task on hand. We need to understand our purpose and mission in life. For anyone who doesn’t understand his mission and is not accomplishing it is simply living life as if it were an intermission.
Graduates, you and I, have to first break the cycle of smallness in our minds. Dream big, think big, plan big, and live big. We have become a people of little dreams. Such that mediocrity and smallness is now part and parcel of our lives. That is very disastrous.
Our country today is deeply in search for heroes and they seem to have a hard time finding them. Never forget nature abhors vacuum. In the legitimate absence of new heroes and role models, celebrities and personalities take void. You have to be heroes in your community. You have to be heroes in your own community. Allow me to share with you some suggestions on how you stay put to your mission and succeed even in the midst of confusing times. Here are the following suggestions. Number one, wherever you are, be there! The power of focus. Keep your eyes on the finish line. But first, you have a goal. You’ll be amazed of the number of people who do not understand the use of the most powerful tool in their lives which is a pen and a paper. They don’t even write their goals down. And if you don’t have a goal, what would you know about what your finish line would be? The reason why we are created by God for this earth is so we can serve, not to be served. Self-serving means an end in our mission in life. So many people make the mistake of thinking that ability is what we need to succeed. Ability alone will not. What we need is finish ability. You see, the secret to success is not starting out string but finishing well. Do not be distracted from achieving your goals.
Life offers the series of distractions. Some people are distracted. The main thing is to make the main thing the main thing. Diligence is more important than intelligence. One common mistake graduates make is they think that the moment they receive their diplomas, their education is now complete. The fact is the opposite. All those years you spent in your college and university lib is simply a way of learning how to learn. The reason why we have this is to mark the beginning not an end. And in an age of hyper change, you and I are left with only two options, either we stay learned or we continue learned.
Ladies and gentlemen, my proposition is the harder it is for you now to go into learning. There are no more tests. There are no more exams. Because those things are easier. Now the tests are with life. And with the efforts invested, will there be results or not?
The second thing I’d like to share with you is this, whatever you are looking for, you will find it. The power of perspective. “’What are you looking for?’ ‘Well, I am looking for a job.’ ‘Well, is that all you’re looking for? Congratulations! You found it, a tiny little job that pays you a bit of salary every twice of the month.’” And then you never grow. Many people fail to enjoy life because their perspective towards it is too shallow. They don’t understand the deeper meaning of what life is all about. You don’t just work on your work. You work on your worth. Work is activity, worth is identity.
Listen, the issue of job is not important. The nobility you put into your job is. You can be a noble hamburger flipper and a sweeper. As long as you work on your character and you aim big, you dream big, and you think big and you live big, your success will come. When you look at your profession or doing your business as means of reaching out to others and making this world a better place to live in, then you increase your worth as a person. Set your sights high and dream big dreams. Go through the learning process but stay close to the goal. People of greatness are not only those who are good in what they are. And by the way, God did not create human doings. God created human beings. The being is more important than the doing. Honesty, faithfulness, compassion, and an intense desire to serve is what brings greatness to a meaningless life.
Life is not all about making money alone. It’s all about adding value to the market place and increasing ones worth in character personality. Success is not what you do. Success is not what you have. Success is what you are trapped by becoming the person you are. That’s why you gotta work for a long term perspective. It’s a winning investment in the long haul. Do you know what destroys us as a people? Let me give you a list. Politics without principle. Pleasure without conscience. Business without morality. Science without humanity. And worship without sacrifice. Whatever you are looking for, you will find it.
And lastly, if you think you can, you can. But if you think you can’t, you’re right! The power of confidence. Popular cosmetic tycoon Mary Kaye has popularized these rules. She says “public speaking and selling products or services are synonymous in many ways.” The key to successful speaking apart from a good product and a good speech is confidence. One thing I’ve noticed communication is such a need to have and cultivate to make us powerful. Fight fear. Why do you think there are so many people who are afraid of public speaking? Fight fear! Ask yourself this question, “What is the worst possible thing that could happen to me?” Fear, for people with confidence, is simply an acronym for false evidences appearing real. But for people without confidence, fear simply means forget everything and run. Confidence is not pride. Humility is the hallmark of a confident person.
In summary, wherever you are, be there; the power of focus. Number two, whatever you are looking for, you will find it; the power of perspective. Number three, whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right; the power of confidence.
Set your eyes to the goal. No shortcuts to success. Life’s not about starting out strong. It’s about finishing it well, too. Not everyone reaches this chapter of your life without facing immense challenges in life.
You see a lot of people think that the key to being successful is being given the right breaks, good feng sui, connections, skills, talents, not really. The real key to success is not about just starting out strong but finishing it well, too. Same thing with the faith. Run the reins, keep your eyes focused on the goal, complete the task, until you cross the finish line, and be in the loving arms of the Savior is the same thing.
God bless you!
-------------------------------------
Francis J. Kong is the President of Fun Works, Inc. Philippine Franchisee for Mad Science, the world's number one Science educational-entertainment program for kids. He is also a Founding Member and Director of Inspire Leadership Consultancy and the President of Success Options Publishing Company.
Francis is an effective Inspirational and Motivational speaker and has been featured in many of the major business conventions and conferences here and abroad. As a writer, he authored 12 books - many of which are now being used as a training and reference materials in business corporations. He took up business and graduated Magna Cum Laude while in college and currently holds an MA degree with Trinity College of Newburgh Indiana.
And for the record, he is the highest paid speaker in the country with an average of more than 300 speeches each year.
--
I hope that inspired all of you :D
-------------------------------------
The journey has just begun. That’s what the word ‘commencement’ means. In an occasion like this, the entire atmosphere touches me deeply. Perhaps because it propels me to the memories of a similar moment I had many years ago when I wore the same red tipped cap and gown and enjoyed the meaning of the occasion. Perhaps in the moments like these make us pause for a while and we focus to the fact that life is made up of different chapters. And toady marks another chapter change in your life and mine.
Life is all about chapter changes. Listen to what this wise man has to say: to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to plug up that which is planted. A time to kill, a time to heal. A time to breakdown, a time to build up! A time to weep, a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to cast away spells and a time to gather spells together. A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get, a time to lose. A time to kick and a time to cast. A time to rend and a time to sow. A time to keep silence and a time to speak. A time to love, a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.
To everything, there is a season. Our life is a series of chapters. The resplendent exercises are simply a formal ceremony that brings us another chapter change. But we need to go beyond the mere symbol and focus on the task on hand. We need to understand our purpose and mission in life. For anyone who doesn’t understand his mission and is not accomplishing it is simply living life as if it were an intermission.
Graduates, you and I, have to first break the cycle of smallness in our minds. Dream big, think big, plan big, and live big. We have become a people of little dreams. Such that mediocrity and smallness is now part and parcel of our lives. That is very disastrous.
Our country today is deeply in search for heroes and they seem to have a hard time finding them. Never forget nature abhors vacuum. In the legitimate absence of new heroes and role models, celebrities and personalities take void. You have to be heroes in your community. You have to be heroes in your own community. Allow me to share with you some suggestions on how you stay put to your mission and succeed even in the midst of confusing times. Here are the following suggestions. Number one, wherever you are, be there! The power of focus. Keep your eyes on the finish line. But first, you have a goal. You’ll be amazed of the number of people who do not understand the use of the most powerful tool in their lives which is a pen and a paper. They don’t even write their goals down. And if you don’t have a goal, what would you know about what your finish line would be? The reason why we are created by God for this earth is so we can serve, not to be served. Self-serving means an end in our mission in life. So many people make the mistake of thinking that ability is what we need to succeed. Ability alone will not. What we need is finish ability. You see, the secret to success is not starting out string but finishing well. Do not be distracted from achieving your goals.
Life offers the series of distractions. Some people are distracted. The main thing is to make the main thing the main thing. Diligence is more important than intelligence. One common mistake graduates make is they think that the moment they receive their diplomas, their education is now complete. The fact is the opposite. All those years you spent in your college and university lib is simply a way of learning how to learn. The reason why we have this is to mark the beginning not an end. And in an age of hyper change, you and I are left with only two options, either we stay learned or we continue learned.
Ladies and gentlemen, my proposition is the harder it is for you now to go into learning. There are no more tests. There are no more exams. Because those things are easier. Now the tests are with life. And with the efforts invested, will there be results or not?
The second thing I’d like to share with you is this, whatever you are looking for, you will find it. The power of perspective. “’What are you looking for?’ ‘Well, I am looking for a job.’ ‘Well, is that all you’re looking for? Congratulations! You found it, a tiny little job that pays you a bit of salary every twice of the month.’” And then you never grow. Many people fail to enjoy life because their perspective towards it is too shallow. They don’t understand the deeper meaning of what life is all about. You don’t just work on your work. You work on your worth. Work is activity, worth is identity.
Listen, the issue of job is not important. The nobility you put into your job is. You can be a noble hamburger flipper and a sweeper. As long as you work on your character and you aim big, you dream big, and you think big and you live big, your success will come. When you look at your profession or doing your business as means of reaching out to others and making this world a better place to live in, then you increase your worth as a person. Set your sights high and dream big dreams. Go through the learning process but stay close to the goal. People of greatness are not only those who are good in what they are. And by the way, God did not create human doings. God created human beings. The being is more important than the doing. Honesty, faithfulness, compassion, and an intense desire to serve is what brings greatness to a meaningless life.
Life is not all about making money alone. It’s all about adding value to the market place and increasing ones worth in character personality. Success is not what you do. Success is not what you have. Success is what you are trapped by becoming the person you are. That’s why you gotta work for a long term perspective. It’s a winning investment in the long haul. Do you know what destroys us as a people? Let me give you a list. Politics without principle. Pleasure without conscience. Business without morality. Science without humanity. And worship without sacrifice. Whatever you are looking for, you will find it.
And lastly, if you think you can, you can. But if you think you can’t, you’re right! The power of confidence. Popular cosmetic tycoon Mary Kaye has popularized these rules. She says “public speaking and selling products or services are synonymous in many ways.” The key to successful speaking apart from a good product and a good speech is confidence. One thing I’ve noticed communication is such a need to have and cultivate to make us powerful. Fight fear. Why do you think there are so many people who are afraid of public speaking? Fight fear! Ask yourself this question, “What is the worst possible thing that could happen to me?” Fear, for people with confidence, is simply an acronym for false evidences appearing real. But for people without confidence, fear simply means forget everything and run. Confidence is not pride. Humility is the hallmark of a confident person.
In summary, wherever you are, be there; the power of focus. Number two, whatever you are looking for, you will find it; the power of perspective. Number three, whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right; the power of confidence.
Set your eyes to the goal. No shortcuts to success. Life’s not about starting out strong. It’s about finishing it well, too. Not everyone reaches this chapter of your life without facing immense challenges in life.
You see a lot of people think that the key to being successful is being given the right breaks, good feng sui, connections, skills, talents, not really. The real key to success is not about just starting out strong but finishing it well, too. Same thing with the faith. Run the reins, keep your eyes focused on the goal, complete the task, until you cross the finish line, and be in the loving arms of the Savior is the same thing.
God bless you!
-------------------------------------
Francis J. Kong is the President of Fun Works, Inc. Philippine Franchisee for Mad Science, the world's number one Science educational-entertainment program for kids. He is also a Founding Member and Director of Inspire Leadership Consultancy and the President of Success Options Publishing Company.
Francis is an effective Inspirational and Motivational speaker and has been featured in many of the major business conventions and conferences here and abroad. As a writer, he authored 12 books - many of which are now being used as a training and reference materials in business corporations. He took up business and graduated Magna Cum Laude while in college and currently holds an MA degree with Trinity College of Newburgh Indiana.
And for the record, he is the highest paid speaker in the country with an average of more than 300 speeches each year.
--
I hope that inspired all of you :D