“If it is ABD (Already Been Done) it is not for me!” was one of three points I made to the awardees at a recent recognition ceremony (See the excerpt below). While listening to our awardees’ great aspirations for their future, I kept hearing how they wanted to work at Tesla, Space Ex, Google, etc. They failed to realize if they were to be like their heroes, they don’t need to work for them. Instead, they need to do something their heroes have not done already.
Be different so that you can make the world a better place.
Just Be Better
Stay Strong, Stay Healthy
Excerpt from Academic Awards Speech, 5/24/2022
Point #2: Be obsessed with those things that have never been done. It is not for me if it is ABD (Already Been Done). When I was in high school, the following did not exist:
- Facebook, my social network was at the local park
- Google, We spelled google L-i-b-r-a-r-y or E-n-c-y-c-l-o-p-e-d-i-a
- Amazon, we went out to shop
- Netflix, we picked the movie theater that was showing one move
- Smartphones, I know… we survived on Dumb phones.
- Febreeze, don’t ask.
- Fidget Spinners
- Chipotle
- Fitness Trackers
- Streaming Music
- Elf on a Shelf
- Safe Playground Equipment
This list is not because I am old or graduated from high school in a century where you were not born yet. This list exists today because people became obsessed with something no one else was doing. This is how you make an impact. Be obsessed with something no one else has done.
Everyday is an Interview 