Running out of time

[pfranklin]

Running out of time

July 24, 2009

Dear Artist,

Randy Pausch was a professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In September 2006 he learned he had pancreatic cancer. Feeling the need to spend as much time as possible with his family, Randy cleared his desk and moved his wife, Jai, and their three young children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe, to another state. Here, he rationalized, the children might be better able to receive the wisdom of their grandparents and begin a life without their dad.

A cheerful, optimistic and innately curious chap from the get-go, Randy seemed to accept his fate with more equanimity than his friends and colleagues gave him. As was the tradition with retiring faculty at CMU, he was asked to give a last lecture, a mixt of summing up and parting advice to any students or others who might be interested. Just as knowing when the date and time of the end of a vacation determines how one might take advantage of the last days, such a lecture might be particularly cogent. Four hundred people showed up. Videos were made. A book came out if it. Among other things, Randy gave some straightforward advice to anyone who might be running out of time.

Time must be explicitly managed, like money.
You can always change your plan, but only if you have one.
Break big tasks into small ones and put them on lists.
Ask yourself if you're spending time on the right stuff.
Develop a good filing system and stick with it.
Get yourself a speakerphone so your hands can stay busy.
Learn to delegate, and especially empower younger people.
Make occasional time for a genuine time out.

To those who heard Randy's reminders, and those who have read The Last Lecture in book form, it seems incredible that such straightforward suggestions can come from a terminally ill person. Running out of time, Randy's remaining days were joyful--not that he was going to receive some special dispensation, but he was empowered with the idea that people can be simple bridges to one another. Life itself will go on after we depart, and there will be others eager to keep the faith of trying to figure things out and pass on their findings. Our world is a moldable, improvable place.

Randy Pausch died on July 25, 2008. He was 47 years old.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think." (Randy Pausch)

Esoterica: Randy was upbeat and witty during his lecture, alternating between wisecracks and insights on computer science and engineering education. After doing a few push-ups on stage, he gave advice on building multi-disciplinary collaborations, working in groups and interacting with others, and offered inspirational life lessons. Speakers who followed up were in tears. CMU will celebrate Pausch's impact on the world with a raised pedestrian bridge to connect the new Computer Science Building and the Center for the Arts, symbolizing the way Pausch linked disciplines.

[pfranklin]

Just sharing a link. There are many about him. This is just one.

http://www.thelastlecture.com/aboutr.htm

[jburnett]

I bought his book and I've not yet read it. When my friend Loretta died, she had a very similar sensibility about her. She was worried about all of US and not about her. Her funeral was the most healing, beautiful one I'd ever been to, and she'd planned it in advance so her family wouldn't have to deal with that added stress. I have another friend who is terminal and she has a few years, yet, but she also has a daughter in high school -- her focus lies with her and with her creative work -- accomplishing her goals in the time she does have. I'm in awe of that. Totally and completely. There were many people when I was working who were in that situation and who would talk quite openly about the end of their lives -- how they handled it had such a huge impact on the people around them.

Oh, teary! I need to read the book.

[pfranklin]

I know.

It really makes you think about how to use your time even if you haven't been told you might die soon.

[Scout123]

Don't regret the past, enjoy the present and look forward to the future, whether it be in heaven or on earth. Thanks Phyllis. Scout

[pfranklin]

GREAT advice Scout.

[Scout123]

I just condensed his speech. Scout

[Equatorial]

I am probably different. When it is time to go, I think I'll just say goodbye.

[Scout123]

Yeah, I agree with you EQ. Scout

[Morgan]

Eric Clamptons Tears in Heaven , I love that song, it has a deep meaning for me, and I really like this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW9KM...eature=related
So we should all agree to meet up there someday. if not befor LOL
I'm with Scout, just enjoy today, it maybe all you have, Don't worry be happy.

[Scout123]

Wow, that was wonderful! Scout