You Are Not Special

[KTrain]

My wife is a teacher and I constantly hear about the sense of entitlement some children and their parents have. Many have unrealistic aspirations and goals for their careers. I'm all for following your dream and doing what you love, but there has to be some logic, process and hard work put into making it happen. I don't know how many Fashion/hair Stylists to the Stars their are, but I'm pretty sure there hundreds of girls from Calgary aren't going to become one. Which is what some high school surveys are indicating. Being 'famous' isn't a job.

Not sure if this was the right place for a speech like this but I couldn't think of another time or place to let students know that they aren't a unique little snowflake and only hard work and constant self-improvement will get you where you want to go in life.

It's a long video but it's good. Pass it on to anyone in high school you my know.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Was his speech inspired by Tyler Durden?

Tyler Durden: Listen up, maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else.

[Travis Munroe]

I didnt watch the whole video and fully understand where you come from and for the most part agree. With that being said, I find personally, dreams and aspirations to be that person who holds the 1 in a million job keeps you going and takes you to the next level. If you live life based on this guys speech, you might as well just settle for "average" for your entire life.
Perhaps I should watch more than 5 minutes but from what I saw, it was just a bunch of "be realistic, you will never be that person".

[Locke]

I'll watch it later, but I think its a good and important message.

Everyone wants something for nothing, but only the truly special really believe it.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

If you live life based on this guys speech, you might as well just settle for "average" for your entire life.

I agree that you should aspire for greatness in whatever you do.

I think a lot of his speech is an attempt show these kids that in the 'real world' you're not as special as people have been telling you all your life. You're a resume in a pile. You're one of a hundred people in an audition. For the majority of people, nothing is going to be handed to you and you have to work hard to achieve your goals.

From what I hear from my wife and other teachers I know, a lot of kids have unrealistic expectations for their career paths/salary/celebrity and aren't prepared for the hard work it takes for most people to achieve those goals.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by KTrain

I agree that you should aspire for greatness in whatever you do.

I think a lot of his speech is an attempt show these kids that in the 'real world' you're not as special as people have been telling you all your life. You're a resume in a pile. You're one of a hundred people in an audition. For the majority of people, nothing is going to be handed to you and you have to work hard to achieve your goals.

From what I hear from my wife and other teachers I know, a lot of kids have unrealistic expectations for their career paths/salary/celebrity and aren't prepared for the hard work it takes for most people to achieve those goals.

I think this is an attitude of realism meets encouragement. He's not saying that everyone is essentially average, but more threatening the possibility of being average or less. There's nothing wrong with having dreams of being a movie star or rock star, but be fore-warned that it is not easy and you will have to prove yourself better than everyone else that has those same dreams.

[psyang]

I think it's a good speech too. I think the main point (past "you're not special") is that being special is not a right, and should not be a goal, but rather a natural consequence when you are busy living life, doing what's right, working hard.

It kills me when I see my own kids see something cool or inspiring, and immediately assume they should be able to do that same thing too (and getting frustrated when they come to terms that they can't - yet). They have a disconnect between what they think they can achieve, and what they actually can achieve - the path of hard work, practice, and discipline is often hidden to them.

Oh man, I sound like my parents.

[mikey_the_redneck]

...there is a great George Carlin bit about "special" children and the self esteem movement.

Kids are definately over-coddled these days.

[troutman]

A Message from Your Kids' Teachers


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T8ov...ature=youtu.be

[Northendzone]

i think as parents you need to encourage your kids to reach high. if they have a goal like my son of playing in the NHL, you need to keep reminding them how much hard work they need to put in and that they should have short term goals that will help them stay on the right track - of course a goal like that needs to be balanced with a tangible backup plan.

are any of your wifes students dreaming of following the path laid down by Taylor Stevens?

[Regular_John]

I read this speech last night and I think it's bang on. I think it's much less about "give up on your dreams, learn to settle" and more along the lines of "work your butt off, but remember, it's not the destination that's important, it's the journey"

I'm still a firm believer that there's no reliable replacement for hard work & passion, a million dollar idea isn't worth squat if you don't have the hard work and proper execution to pull it off.

[trumpethead]

I liked this line. "by definition there can be only one 'best'... you're it or you're not."

[GGG]

I really like this speech. The whole concept that you are special and can due anything has gone to far. Now there is definately a balance between that and the 1950's become a cog in wheels of society and just do your little part. But individualism and the concept that everyone can win and everyone always succeeds are bad messages.

[Table 5]

Wait a minute, all these parents went through the effort of giving their precious snowflakes uniquely spelled names like Jennapher, Madisyn and Mykal in order to showcase their special qualities, and now you're saying they're not even going to be rewarded for it?

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by fotze

Do you think this generation this guy speaks of will finally live up to its billing of sucking hard?

For those of us 30+, I sure hope so. With the Boomers refusing to retire, the less good competition in the work force the better.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by fotze

Do you think this generation this guy speaks of will finally live up to its billing of sucking hard?

why did your wife give up?

[ma-skis.com]

maybe the message has some merit, but the messenger is pretty bitter or has a few chips on his shoulder. I think it could have been delivered in a more constructive less sarcastic way.

Find it hard to take a message serious when over the top hyperbole is used to get it across.

edit: his real message seems to start around 8 minutes, everything before that sounds like him just airing out his grievances.

[saskflames69]

But.. my mom says I'm special..

[WhiteTiger]

I read a copy of this speech over the weekend. I especially liked the bit "Even if you are one in a million, there are still 7000 people just like you in the world."

[Hack&Lube]

I think the important lesson is not that "you are not special" but rather "you don't deserve special treatment" and you are not entitled to anything but rather will have to work for it and earn it just like everyone else. In the end you have no one else to applaud or blame for your accomplishments or lack thereof but yourself.