|
speech by Larry Ellison (Oracle CEO)
|
View this Thread in Original format
| gurukool |
This is the speech that Larry Ellison (Oracle CEO) gave at Yale
University to the graduating class of 2000, and he was ushered
off the stage because of it:
"Graduates of Yale University, I apologize if you have endured
this type of prologue before, but I want you to do something for
me. Please, take a good look around you. Look at the classmate on
your left. Look at the classmate on your right.
Now, consider this: five years from now, 10 years from now, even
thirty
years from now, odds are the person on your left is going to be a
loser. The person on your right, meanwhile, will also be a loser.
And you, in the middle? What can you expect? Loser. Loserhood.
Loser Cum Laude. In fact, as I look out before me today, I don't
see a thousand hopes for a bright tomorrow. I don't see a
thousand future leaders in a thousand industries. I see a
thousand losers. You're upset. That's understandable. After all,
how can I,Lawrence "Larry" Ellison, college dropout, have the
audacity to spout such heresy to the graduating class of one of
the nation's most prestigious institutions?
I'll tell you why. Because I, Lawrence "Larry" Ellison, second
richest man on the planet, am college dropout, and you are not.
Because Bill Gates, richest man on the planet-for now anyway-is a
college dropout, and you are not. Because Paul Allen, the third
richest man on the planet, dropped out of college, and you did
not. And for good
measure, because Michael Dell, No.9 on the list and moving up
fast, is a college dropout, and you, yet again, are not.
Hmm ... you're very upset. That's understandable. So let me stroke
your
Egos for a moment by pointing out, quite sincerely, that your
diplomas were not attained in vain. Most of you, I imagine, have
spent four to five years here, and in many ways what you've
learned and endured will serve you well in the years ahead.
You've established
good work habits. You've established a network of people that
will help you down the road. And you've established what will be
lifelong
relationships with the word "therapy." All that of is good.
For in truth, you will need that network. You will need those
strong work habits. You will need that therapy. You will need them
because you didn't drop out, and so you will never be among the
richest people in the world. Oh sure, you may, perhaps, work your
way up to #10 or #11, like Steve Ballmer. But then, I don't have
to tell you who
he really works for, do I? And for the record, he dropped out of
grad
school. Bit of a late bloomer.
Finally, I realize that many of you, and hopefully by now most of
you, Are wondering, "Is there anything I can do? Is there any hope
for me at all? Actually, no. It's too late. You've absorbed too
much, think you know too much. You're not 9 anymore. You have a
built-in cap,and I'm not referring to the mortarboards on your
heads.
Hmm ... you're really very upset. That's understandable. So
perhaps this
Could be a good time to bring up the silver lining. Not for you,
Class of '00. You are a write-off, so I'll let you slink off to
your pathetic
$200,000-a-year jobs, where your cheques will be signed by
former
classmates who dropped out two years ago. Instead, I want to give
hope to any underclassmen here today. I say to you, and I can't
stress this
enough: leave. Pack your things and your ideas and don't come
back. Drop out. Start up. For I can tell you that a cap and gown
will keep you down just as surely as these security guards
dragging me off this stage are keeping me down..."
(At this point The Oracle CEO was ushered off stage.) |
|
|
| Lost Inhibition |
| so..... whats his point? |
|
|
| whiskers |
lol, too bad it's true... and wtf with kicking him off the stage? s. he's the man!
maybe i should drop out too and start my own business... in a few years maybe.... :D :haha: |
|
|
| insecurity |
| what I would've given to have seen the looks on their faces, especially on perhaps one of the most important days of their lives. Classic speech! :D (I wonder if he does weddings) |
|
|
| armandzadza |
| Actually, it's a hoax, which is too bad :( |
|
|
| ResonantDrag |
| quote: | Originally posted by insecurity
(I wonder if he does weddings) |
:D |
|
|
| Mikado |
CAnt aqgree more with this guy,
My dads a case of this and most of his friends are too, there not the richest in the world but they arent the type of "momas" boys that the world is full of which is the reall diference in the long run. If your talking about money and success in the business world of course.
Other areas of life however. Well thats another thread all together. |
|
|
|
|
