GNT #092: Six Life Lessons I Wish I'd Heard Sooner

read time: 4 minutes
 

In 2013, comedian and musician Tim Minchin delivered a commencement speech that was anything but typical.

No clichés about chasing dreams or changing the world. Just sharp humor and unfiltered honesty.

I simply love it because it's the kind of advice that sticks, not because it's sugar-coated, but because it's real and so delightfully blunt. 

Instead of focusing on grand, abstract ideas, Tim shares practical ways to navigate the messiness of life with curiosity and humor.

Here are my takeaways from his speech, including a few lessons that challenged my perspective, and reminded me what really matters when it comes to living well.

Let's dig in. 

1. You Don’t Have to Have a Dream

Not everyone needs a grand, lifelong dream to succeed. Instead, you can focus on short-term, achievable goals and be "micro-ambitious."

I love this idea because, growing up, I felt immense pressure to "find my passion" or decide on my "life's purpose." That pressure can be paralyzing. I’ve found that focusing on what's right in front of me, whether it’s learning a new skill or tackling an interesting project, is just the catalyst I need.

Some of the best opportunities I’ve had came from just following my curiosity without overthinking the destination. Small, deliberate steps can lead to great things, often when you’re least expecting them.
 

2. Don't Seek Happiness

Chasing happiness is like trying to catch an elusive butterfly. The harder you try, the further it flies.

Instead, Tim suggests simply keeping busy and focusing on helping others.

Some of my happiest moments have come when I was fully engaged in something outside of myself. Like planning a surprise party for my Dad, helping my neighbor shear his sheep, reading a good book to my kids before bed.

There’s a genuine kind of happiness that comes as a side effect of helping and making others feel good, and it’s so much more satisfying than endlessly obsessing over personal happiness.

The expectation that we need to be constantly happy is unrealistic, and super draining. Life comes with ups and downs. That's the point. When we focus on helping others while taking good care of ourselves, we stay grounded and experience happiness as a wonderful byproduct rather than an impossible goal.

3. Exercise as Non-negotiable

Physical health is a requirement for mental well-being.

Tim hilariously puts it like this:

"I’m sorry you pasty, pale, smoking philosophy grads arching your eyebrows into a Cartesian curve as you watch the human movement mob winding their way through the miniature traffic cones of their existence. You are wrong and they are right. Well you’re half right. You think therefore you are but also you jog therefore you sleep therefore you’re not overwhelmed by existential angst."

😂 So good!

While I've always known exercise was good for my physical health, I only recently started viewing it as a very important mental health tool in my toolkit. I wish I would have realized this sooner.

4. Be Hard on Your Opinions

It’s too easy to get stuck in echo chambers that only reinforce what we already think.

We grow by constantly examining our own beliefs and biases. Instead of seeking constant validation or surrounding ourselves with people who reinforce our existing beliefs, we should actively seek challenges that push us to think differently.

Being hard on our opinions isn’t about doubting ourselves all the time. It’s more about staying open to growth and deeper understanding.

When I have the courage to challenge my own thinking, the more nuanced my views become.

5. Be a Teacher

Tim urges everyone to be a teacher of something at some point, because teaching is one of the most impactful things we can do.

I’ve always admired teachers, but I didn’t fully appreciate this advice until recently.

Over the last few years, I’ve started exploring growth coaching, and it’s taught me a lot about shifting from an "expert" mindset to a "teacher" mindset. Instead of just focusing on what I know, I’m learning how to guide others through their own growth, helping them unlock their own potential.

It’s a subtle but powerful shift. From being the person with all the answers to being someone who helps others find their own solutions.

I’ve only just started scratching the surface of how rewarding it is to support someone else’s journey. Teaching, in any form, isn’t simply imparting knowledge, it’s inspiring others and empowering them to grow.

6. Don't Rush

There’s always pressure to have everything figured out quickly, especially when you’re driven to grow.

As someone who’s been involved in marketing for 20 years, I’ve learned that growth, whether in business or life, doesn’t have to happen at all costs.

We’re often conditioned to believe that faster is better, especially in business, but I’ve had to unlearn that mindset. I realized I was tying my sense of value to speed and scale, and it took time to peel back those layers.

When it comes to personal growth, I’ve found that depth matters more than speed. The experience is important, not just the outcome. The best things in my life have come when I allowed time for exploration and let go of the need to force progress.

Life isn’t a race. By being patient and present, we often uncover the most meaningful opportunities along the way.

Takeaway

If you stay open to curiosity and growth, you’ll often find yourself exactly where you need to be.

And when you have a minute, check out Tim's epic and hilarious commencement speech for yourself.

See you next week my friends!

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