paulmonkey world

On this day in 1997, the words that were immortalised by Baz Luhrmann “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” are 14 years old. The original article appeared in the Chicago Tribune entitled, “Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young”. The author, Mary Schmich set out to write a fictitious graduation speech. “Most of us, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns”.

She invited her readership to do the same, 14-years later we take up that mantle and the #sunscreenchallenge was born. Each blogger spent 1-hour creating a graduation speech. Essentially, it’s the advice that they’d pass onto school leavers today based on their own life experience.

Twitter users: If you’ve enjoyed the blog – please RT the post, include the #sunscreenchallenge tag and find other blog posts using this hashtag. #sunscreenchallenge

TO HELL WITH MEDIOCRITY by Paulmonkey age 37 and a half.

If anyone tries to give you advice about your future, ignore them.  Tell them to take their words of wisdom and shove them up their arse.  It’s your life.  You make your own choices. You are the architect of your own destiny.  But, if like I was, you’re a little bit lost and more than slightly confused then sit back and listen.  It might just change your life.

In March 1991, age 17, i tore a page out of Vanity Fair and framed it.  I still have it in the same frame although it’s now faded, stained and washed out.  The message, however, is just as vibrant as it was 20 years ago….

“my drive in life is from this horrible fear of being mediocre”

That was my mantra when i was 17 and to this day it helps me to stay on the right track.  Mediocrity is not an option for me.

Whatever I have done since leaving school, the focus has always been on excellence.  It doesn’t matter where you work or what you do.  If you’re the best road sweeper in the country that’s better than being the world’s most average nuclear scientist.  I was never a consistently high flyer at school.  I got bored easily and I found distractions whenever I needed to finish something I wasn’t enjoying.  20 years later that hasn’t changed.  But what has changed is how I approach things.  I always try to find the unusual in the ordinary.  I aim to surprise and delight rather than just to deliver.  Anyone can do a good job, but very few can inspire with their work.  But you have to know yourself before you can understand and inspire others.  You need strong values and powerful beliefs that you can use as a moral compass to steer you through murky waters.  Stay true to your values and you won’t go wrong even when others want to change you.

I believe that the best way to reach your goals is by helping others reach theirs.  I’ve been a trainer, a coach, a mentor, a facilitator, a lecturer, a teacher, an instructor and a consultant.  The title changes but at the core my goal is the same - work with people to help them become the best they can be.  I learn something every time I teach.  You don’t have to do anything specialist, just always be on the lookout for ways to help others.  

The world of work is so different to the rest of life.  People literally put on a uniform and a badge, and often they become the persona of their job.  Those people rarely flourish.  Authenticity is key.  You may have some rough edges but they are part of you.  Don’t pretend to be someone you are not because people will see right through you.  If you are genuine and warm, you’ll go far.  As will the optimists, of which I am happy to label myself.  I’ve been called naive, and a dreamer, but frankly my dear i don’t give a damn.  Give me a problem and I will solve it every single time, usually in a way that others haven’t thought of.  If you believe you can do something or believe that you can’t, you are right.  

Whatever you decide to do, make it count. Never believe that you can’t change the world, even if it is one person at a time.  When I look back at my 17 year old self I’m really proud of him.  He’s been through some great highs and big lows, all of which have made him the person he is today.  And I challenge ANYONE to describe him as mediocre.  Go on.  I dare you.

Madonna to star in Saw VII