Congratulations, You’ve Graduated College! Now What?

Larry Winget, author of Shut Up, Stop Whining, And Get A Life, appeared on Fox & Friends this morning (Tuesday, May 15).  He gave the following speech:

Congratulations on earning your degree. But the truth is that the degree alone isn’t going to be enough to assure your success in the real world.

In the real world employers don’t care much about your degree, your happiness, your income or really much of anything that has to do with you. They care about what you can do for them. And from this point on, that’s how you have to think. Businesses exist to be profitable. It is your job to help make them profitable. If you know how to do that, how to be worth more than you cost, then you have value in the workplace. If you don’t know how to be worth more than you cost, then employers will pass you over and find someone else.

Look at what it really takes to be successful in the real world.

You have to take responsibility. Your life, your results, your success, happiness, health and prosperity are up to you. When it turns out well, you get the credit and when it doesn’t work out the way you wanted it to, you get the blame. It isn’t up to anyone else to make sure you are successful, it’s always up to you, so be responsible.

Others. Respect your employer enough to be on time and give them your personal best every day because that is what they are paying for. Respect your boss, even when you think he is an idiot because he is still your boss and deserves your respect. Respect your coworkers so they will respect you and your customers because they pay you.

Clear priorities. Your time, your energy and your money will always go to what is important to you. If looking cute is important to you then you will spend all of your money at the mall. If being financially secure is important to you then you will make sure that you save, invest and live on less than you earn.

It’s about work and excellence. Regardless of what others may tell you, it’s not about your passion — as I know people who are passionately incompetent. It’s not loving what you do or being happy every day. You aren’t paid to be happy on the job, you are paid to do your job. Success always comes down to hard work and excellence. And it takes both. Hard work alone won’t cut it. I know people who work really hard yet aren’t any good at what they do so it doesn’t matter. And I know people who are excellent at what they do but they don’t work hard enough at it to make any difference.

So work hard and be excellent at what you do. And remember, if any one can do it then anyone can do it.

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PDF Transcript: http://larrywinget.com/pdf/2012-graduates.pdf

In addition to the YouTube video above, you can see the video of Larry Winget’s speech, please go HERE.  And, another source for this video can be found HERE.

Larry Winget is a five-time New York Times/Wall Street Journal bestselling author. He is a member of the International Speaker Hall Of Fame. He has starred in his own television series and appeared in national television commercials. Larry is a regular contributor on many news shows on the topics of money, personal success and business.

Text Source –

Larry Winget’s Advice for Grads – By Larry Winget – Published May 15, 2012 – http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends/transcript/larry-wingets-advice-grads – Accessed 15 May 2012 – Fox & Friends – Fox News – http://www.foxnews.com/

Video Sources –

Larry Winget’s Advice for Grads – Fox & Friends – Posted May 15, 2012 – http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-friends/index.html#/v/1640428610001/larry-wingets-advice-for-grads/?playlist_id=86912 – Accessed 15 May 2012 – http://www.foxnews.com/

Conservative Author Gives Least Inspirational Graduation Speech Ever On Fox & Friends – By Noah Rothman – Posted May 15, 2012 (9:34am) – Mediaite TV – http://www.mediaite.com/tv/conservative-author-gives-least-inspirational-graduation-speech-ever-on-fox-friends/ – Accessed 15 May 2012 – Mediaite – http://www.mediaite.com/