10 Things Your Commencement Speaker Won't Tell You

With college graduation season in full bloom right now and high school graduation around the corner I came across an article in the WSJ listing 10 Things Your Commencement Speaker Won't Tell You.  Charles Wheelan the author who penned the story also wrote 10 1/2 Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said.

While I find the piece to be refreshing I particular don't like # 10 on his list.  Why not try to be great?  While Wheelan contributes being great to involving luck and other circumstances I personally do not buy his argument.

There is more to being great than being luck or in the right place at the right time.  While I am not naive enough to know that these things don't help because they do.  Being great is largely based upon skill and work.  Luck can be created with great skill.  You can put yourself in a position to succeed rather than to be just good or solid.

Via WSJ article
1. Your time in fraternity basements was well spent.
2. Some of your worst days lie ahead.
3. Don't make the world worse.
4. Marry someone smarter than you are.
5. Help stop the Little League arms race.

6. Read obituaries.
7. Your parents don't want what is best for you. 
8. Don't model your life after a circus animal. 
9. It's all borrowed time.
10. Don't try to be great.