“Follow your passion. Stay true to yourself. Don’t give advice. Don’t take advice.” Plus, a dash of accidental success. Along with her usual funny take on life, those words are part of what Ellen Degeneres once told Tulane graduates in a commencement address.
And it’s just as inspirational now as then. And maybe even more needed.
Of course, Ellen proceeds to give the graduates her own unique melange of career advice. And she lets us in on some of the things she went through to get where she is. Not an easy journey. Nor one without twists, turns, and obstacles.
Ellen’s accidental success story
No college degree. Wandered from job to job while young. No idea what she was doing or where she was going. Literally aimed in a new direction because of an accident. And then after achieving career success, she was plummeted into what amounted to career exile because she dared to finally be herself and come out.
It wasn’t easy for Ellen to make that decision. And there was no accident there. At the time, it was shocking to many — including devout fans. But she went ahead and followed her heart and her truth … and today she is more popular and successful than ever.
Ellen’s Tulane graduation speech
Here’s a link to the YouTube clip of Ellen at Tulane in New Orleans. Especially fitting now because many members of the class [and the entire city] had been through another tough time, Hurricane Katrina.
It’s just under 10 minutes, but worth hanging in to the end. Funny. Entertaining. And yes … despite her humorous take on things, totally inspirational career advice. With a great story of the role accidental success can play in our lives — if we leave enough room for it to find us.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPTMyaySoc0
And now she’s a poster child for how not to do things “by the book.” Or in her own modest words, with a wink to graduating seniors, “I’m not saying you wasted your time. But look at me. I’m a huge celebrity.”
I love stuff like this. There’s no one way to achieve career success. And sometimes by the time we actually get there, so many things have changed, it’s just a stop on the way to where we REALLY want to be.
Although we can’t see exactly where we are going to wind up, just know that the path reveals itself as we go along. Maybe even more so when we dare to veer off the beaten path now and then. And especially when you learn to believe in and trust your true self!
Good luck getting there … wherever or whatever it may be!
~ Ronnie Ann
Have you had a less than linear path in your own career? Do you have your won accidental success story? feel free to share your own recipe for success.
About the author…
Ronnie Ann, founder of Work To the Wise and Work Coach Cafe, bases her real-world advice on her many years as an organizational consultant where she helped interview and hire people, added to a certificate from NYU in Career Planning & Development, as well as her many adventures as a serial job seeker.
More posts to help
What To Do If Your Job Makes You Miserable
Career Success? All I Do Is Work!
Are You Tired of Being Judged By Your Job?
Afraid To Take Promotion You Were Offered?
Why Are You So Afraid To Ask for a Raise?
Approval Seeking: Who Are You Really Trying To Impress?
What Makes a Job Good?
The Non-Linear Path to Happiness at Work
Dreaming of a New Job Where the Grass Is Greener?
What If You Never Find Your Dream Job?
10 Two-Letter Words To Motivate Yourself
⇒ EXTRA: Want To Career Coach Yourself? How To Get You Started
Totally agree Muse. Nicely put. I like the idea of reinventing ourselves while staying true to who we are. I could wish no less for all of us.
Will check up on you soon. Otherwise I know the trouble you can get into. 😉
Ronnie Ann
I really like the way this woman expresses herself. I like how she can keep reinventing herself while also staying true to herself. Entertaining; funny; poignant; useful.
What could be better? 🙂
Hi eLiz!
Nice to see you. Hope all is well in your world…wherever that may be by now. Glad you enjoyed it so much. I love it too.
Ronnie Ann
Loved it!!
Thanks LA811. I like your positive way of looking at things. I graduated during a deep recession, and even though it was not easy finding the “right” job, there were opportunities to be had – and to be made.
Good luck to all the new grads out there…as well as to all us not so new ones! 😉
Ronnie Ann
What a terrific post! Perfect timing. Completely inspiring, very funny and filled with the truths that experience brings. This is truly an exceptional year for grads (well for everyone actually). They have the possibility of bringing great vision and positive action to a world in need of courage and creativity.