Advice For Students

So I think the best advice student should have is pursue your goals, pursue something you are interested in, and if money is the only criteria and you will end up unhappy. And I will give you the example. I mean, I don't know how many students who come to the MBA program, I've taught in many different places, a lot of them come in after 5 or 6 years completely burnt out in the financial services industry. They've made money, they've been sitting in front of a terminal, either watching, you know, shares in the pharmaceutical sector or they've been watching exchange rates. How're they not getting bored out of their minds? I mean they're not using their mind. Yes they are in a very narrow way. But you know, for certain people, that's life and that's what they want to do. And if they got fire in their belly for doing it, I say Hallelujah. I mean for me, the thing I wanted most of all was a Welsh rugby cap, playing rugby for Wales. I couldn't get it. I was nowhere near good enough. I wouldn't even rated on a selector's radar, probably the radar dried up before they got my name. And so the nearest thing I got to a Welsh rugby cap was an honorary degree from Swansea University. And I've never had any association with Swansea University except I was born close to Swansea. My parents would've been delighted, unfortunately both of them had died by that time. But that would have been equivalent to a Welsh rugby cap for them and it was sort of for me. So I don't know. I think advice to students is, follow your dreams, and even if you get knocked down, get up again and do what you want to do because you'll regret it afterwards. And you know, people, you know the American film, Bucket list, people write up bucket lists. They should be doing the damn things when they're alive and still walking. Not, I want to go to Bhutan and trek through Bhutan. Well my god if you're in your 70s and trekking through Bhutan, what you need is a portable doctor because you will never make it. Or going to see the Amazon rainforest or whatever it is, or going to see the Aborigines or going to Darwin, do it while you can, don't grumble later on. I mean I think people whine and grumble too much. I've been influenced very heavily by Lynn who is a high positive. Her whole career has been advising others. And I think I've been lucky.