Leadership Capacities

“If I only had three words of advice they would be tell the truth. If I got three more words, I would add, all the time.” –Randy Pausch

Moral character was one of the endearing qualities of Randy Pausch. It came through many of the quotes of his final lecture. The straightforwardness of his words and the hope that they gave are what make them so appealing. He was an honest man speaking from his heart about everyday life and how we can make the most of it, no matter what cards we are dealt. He was a man who stuck to his philosophies and values and who was not afraid to tell others they were going down the wrong path. He said, "You may not want to hear it, but your critics are often the ones telling you they still love you and care about you, and want to make you better.” He was not afraid to be honest and live with integrity even if the truth was unpopular or made people uncomfortable.

When his life began to change due to pancreatic cancer, he still conducted himself by the moral standards and philosophies he lived by before his illness. He is quoted as saying, "Follow your passions, believe in karma, and you won't have to chase your dreams, they will come to you." He was always a dreamer who had a love of adventure and discovery. He spent his career discovering the possibilities in life and exploring the new frontiers of electrons and interactive gaming. He would use this curiosity and love of learning to inspire his students in their creativity. He was also a realist who felt his number one job as an educator was to, “Help students learn to judge themselves.” He wanted them to have a real sense of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as to make them see themselves as others truly see them.

Understanding the perceptions of others is a characteristic of a true leader. Randy sought to bring this out in his students. He believed that listening to honest feedback was essential for growth. When he taught “Building Virtual Worlds” he would do peer feedback every two weeks and graph the results so students could get an honest feel for their strengths and weaknesses in their working relationship with the other group members and with the class as a whole. He knew if a group presentation was going to be exceptional by the body language of the group members before they began. He felt that building leadership qualities and interpersonal skills were the keys to his students' success as they entered the workforce. He referred to himself as a “recovering jerk” who improved his interpersonal skills by listening to the feedback of others. He wanted to inspire others to do the same and to hold a mirror to themselves in ways they never had before to get an honest assessment.

References:

Pausch, R.,  & Zaslow, J.  (2008). The last lecture. New York, NY: Hyperion

Leadership Qualities

“Decide if you are a Tigger or an Eeyore.”- Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch possessed many admirable leadership qualities that helped his spirit be unwavering during the most difficult time a person could endure. He believed in his own will to live and the inspiration that his words would bring to others, especially his children for whom he ultimately dedicated his work. The greatest of these qualities, however, would have to be his determination to see the positive in life and to inspire others to do the same. He believed,”You can’t control the cards you are dealt, just how you play the hand.” He was a brilliant man, who believed that the questions were more important than the answers and that every day was an adventure. His ability to hold true to his beliefs even in the face of death was an inspiration for those who were touched by his lecture.

For Randy Pausch, the turning point of his life was the discovery of his terminal illness in 2006. The extraordinary aspect of Randy, however, is that he always believed that you should live everyday as though your time may be limited.  He said, “Time is all you have, and one day you may find that you have less than you think.” Even with that knowledge, Randy lived his life in an inspirational fashion, presenting his final lecture which was filled with pearls of wisdom that can be applied to made situations we all face in life.

Randy was a dreamer, who believed that you gain as much from your failures and you do from your successes. He believed, “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.”  He always tried to learn from those experiences, even going so far as to keep his rejection letters from Disney for the ten years it finally took for him to get his foot in the door and work for the company on a design project. He was a champion of hard work and determination both in his career and personal life. He not only believed in never giving up on your childhood dreams, but also in allowing them to be your inspiration throughout your adult life. He was truly a Tigger in a world of Eeyores.

References:

Pausch, R.,  & Zaslow, J.  (2008). The last lecture. New York, NY: Hyperion

Overview of Randy Pausch

“Brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it bad enough.” –Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch became an inspiration to millions with his “Last Lecture” titled Really Living your Childhood Dreams, given at Carnegie Mellon University on September 18, 2007. Originally, the lecture was posted of the web so a few colleagues who could not attend in person could view the presentation. However, as word of the inspirational nature of the lecture grew, so did the popularity and following of Randy Pausch. The content of his presentation was published into the book, The Last Lecture, in April of 2008. The book became a New York Times best seller.

Randy was a beloved professor at Carnegie Mellon University who helped pioneer the virtual reality computer programming department at the university. He began his career at the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science as an associate professor. While there, he completed sabbaticals at Disney and worked on projects involving interactive computer animation and design. For the last ten years of his life, he was Associate Professor of Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction and Design, at Carnegie Mellon University and was also the cofounder of the Entertainment Technology Canter. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the fall of 2006. The disease took his life on July 25, 2008 at the age of 47.

Although Randy Pausch’s credentials are impressive, it is his innovative teaching methods, pioneering spirit, positive attitude and reflective nature in the face of insurmountable odds that make him a true inspiration. According to his friend, Dr. Gabriel Robins (n.d.), “What is extraordinary about Randy Pausch is not how he died, but how he lived in the face of death.” When Randy was given a diagnosis of three to six months to live, he did not retreat into a corner and wait for the inevitable. Instead he lived everyday with wonder, joy and excitement. To quote his Last Lecture, “I’m dying, and I’m having fun.” This zest for life and the wisdom of his presentation brought him international fame at a time when most would retreat from the spotlight. Millions drew inspiration from his views and his courage. It is these characteristics that defined his leadership.

References:

Pausch, R.,  & Zaslow, J.  (2008). The last lecture. New York, NY: Hyperion

Robins, G.  (n.d.). The legacy of Randy Pausch and his lecture videos.  Retrieved from http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~robins/Randy/

Randy Pausch.  (n.d.).  Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Pausch