Sunday,Aug 9 2009, 06:14:07 AMDiplomas Are for Losers

   "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 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,10years from now,even 30 years from now, oddes are the person on your left is gong 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. I fact ,as I look out before me today ,I do not see a thousand hopes for a bright tomorrow.I do not see a thousand future leaders in a thousand industries. I see a thousand losers. You are upset.That is 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 will tell you why.Because I,Lawrence "Larry" Ellison,second richest man on the planet,am a 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 are very upset.That is understandable.So let me stroke your egos for a moment by pointing out,quiet 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 hou have learned and endured will serve you well in the years ahead.You have established good work habits.You hae established a network of people that help you down road.And you have established what will be lifelong relationships with the word "therapy."All that is good.For in truth,you will need that network.You will need that those strong work habits.You will need that therapy. You will need them because you did not 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 No.10 or No.11,like Steve Ballmer.But then,I do not have to tell you who he really works for,do I? And for the record,he dropped out of grade 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 is too late.You have zbsorbed too much,think you know too much.You have not 19 more.You have a built-in cap,and I am not refering to the mortarboards on your heads. Hmm...you are really very upset.That is understandable.So perhaps this would be a good time to bring up the sliver lining.Not for you,Class of "00.You are a write-off,so I will let you slink off to your pathetic $200,000-a-year jobs,where your checks will be signed by former classmate 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 these security guards dragging me off this stage are keeping me down...

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