Spring 2002 commencement address – Thomas F. Pyle, Jr.

Sunday, May 19, 2002

Mary Wells Lawrence, the founder and first female CEO of a major advertising agency, Wells, Rich & Greene, has recently completed a book called “A Big Life.” It describes her life as one of having enough confidence in herself to overcome significant obstacles, but, more importantly, one of doing what she really enjoyed and reaping the satisfaction and excitement that comes from accomplishment.

She did it for the joy of accomplishment, not the money. However, it has resulted in a life of wealth and luxury for her. She says, “You can’t live just a little bit. You have to give it your all. If there’s anything I could say to young people, it is, ‘Don’t settle, because you live a long life now, so why not keep trying? Why not keep stretching? Why not keep learning? Why not have a big life?'”

Does a big life mean money, luxury, wealth, a major reputation for success? Not really. So what is a big life? To me, it’s a life that is joyful and filled with accomplishment, because you know you are reaching your goals and enjoying your situation.

Charlie Halpin, an important professor for me in my undergraduate days, raised eight children and taught at the same university for 55 years, and he said, “It wasn’t work. It was play. Somebody told me, ‘Find something you like to do and get somebody to pay your to do it.’ I love teaching and I love the college.” He has enjoyed a big life.

But what about your lives? Why seek a big life? The concept of a big life is simple and good. You get to define it and you get to enjoy it. What can stand in the way of achieving a big life? Yourself. Many people are finished before they start, because they can’t believe they are entitled to great things happening to them. You are.

What other people think. Kent Keith, author at age 19 while a sophomore at Harvard of the frequently quoted “Paradoxical Commandments” says, “If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.”

Some of my personal thoughts about having a good, productive life — a big life:

• You are entitled to a big life if you’re willing to earn it. Every commencement speaker will urge graduates to work hard and so do I, but it is important to try to define what you want to work hard for. What do you like? What gives you pleasure and allows you to let those around you enjoy both you and themselves? These are important things.

• You are in charge of yourself. A wise beyond-his-years 10-year-old once told me that he could accomplish what he wanted because he was the president of himself. You are the president of yourself. You are your own inspiration. Mentors and sponsors are wonderful, but they are luxuries. You need to be your own inspiration, and if the situation requires a mentor, go find one.

• Accept that there will be adversity in your life. Don’t waste time bemoaning your misfortune. Spend time dealing with it. The old trite saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” is really true. Today a popular concept is to think outside the box. It’s better, smarter to think outside yourself. It’s important for you and those around you to avoid taking yourself too seriously.

Returning to Mary Wells Lawrence — she wants to have more fun. She pointed out that lives are longer. You need to stretch. Keep trying. Keep learning. Well, at age 73 she’s taking her own advice and she’s starting a new marketing business. It’s not so unusual. Ronald Reagan went from actor to politician to become the oldest president of the United States. Bill Clinton may go from president of the United States to talk show host. There are many possibilities.

It’s been an honor and a privilege to address you today. It’s part of my big life. In closing, as you go off from here, you will find yourself making many more choices with greater independence than you ever have before. My advice is, seek accomplishment. Find something you like to do. Get somebody to pay you to do it. You are your own inspiration and you’re the president of yourself. Think outside yourself. Enjoy yourself doing something productive. Don’t be afraid to be happy — it’s a goal. Have a big life.

Thank you.

Thomas F. Pyle, Jr. is chairman of the Pyle Group, a financial services and investment company. Prior to September, 1996, he was chairman, president and CEO of Rayovac Corporation. He received a master’s degree in business administration from UW–Madison in 1963.