The Graduation Speech For Everyone Who Hated School

[@danielriley6418]

Amen,brother! I walked much the same road you have. I now have owned my own business in the trades for 35 years and have recently turned it over to my son. I failed for the same reasons you outlined and succeeded for the same reasons you speak of. I’ve been to numerous graduations with my kids, relatives kids, grandkids etc. I have gotten so sick of the same theme. “You’ve persevered. What an accomplishment. Now go change the world. Graduations are not for the graduate. They are for the staff to celebrate their accomplishments. Last night, I attended yet another graduation, this time - our grandson. He did well throughout school, but at his High School graduation, there was no mention of his accomplishments. All that awards went to the front row achievers. I mean all of the awards. How boring. Looking back on my own graduating class, the class president wound up in prison for embezzlement. One of the smartest kids in the class committed suicide. Several of us entered the trades without college and successfully ran businesses. The graduation message should be, you got your diploma, now go to work. Get to work 15 minutes early. If you don’t you are late. Show an interest in what you are doing. It pays your bills. Put away your cell phone and learn to think and communicate. Do some of these simple things and one day you will be successful!

[@pleskbruce]

Great points. A graduation is not the place to recognize individual accomplishments. That's for the award ceremony the last week of school.

[@BenWalsh-v]

Really touching and heartfelt, Mark. Beautiful said!! I think this resonates with so many of us. Jamming everyone in a box or labeling people has always been a peeve of mine. I hadn't heard the idiom "underwater basket weaving" lol. Keep sharing wisdom brother!

[@moniqueskinnerK]

Every student is unique and has unique abilities and potentials. Every student has unique strengths and weaknesses. And EVERY STUDENT deserves to be treated equally. This is not the case in high school and one of the reasons I hated every minute of it.

[@janebiggio1889]

I love this! Brought tears to my eyes.

[@keithjeske1670]

Great speech! I was a fish and am now a retired contractor. Do what you like to do and life is good.

[@NoahDevine91]

Congratulations to your sons Cade and Carson, great speech Mark 💪

[@dustingoad6430]

Well spoken sir. Can you you possibly shed some light on what’s a fair market price to base bidding a job on? I’ve build a handful of fences for friends and family but I’d like to move into doing it full time, but I’m clueless on fair pricing for the customer as well as not selling myself short. I’d like to focus on custom cedar fence but I understand that every job can’t be this particular “custom” work. Material mark up eventually once I get some capital built up, but for now I would have to do customer supplied materials. I am absolutely not the fastest fence builder but I feel that will come with time along with hiring a capable body that can take instructions. Love to chat with you sometime and join you on that successful contractor list eventually!

[@joerivers4216]

That is very well written in a great thing for those that not into school thank you

[@rogerbettencourt9654]

Well said sir. Not everyone can be a pretty fart smeller, like me. Lol

[@pleskbruce]

Just, outstanding!!!

[@MateoDiaz-k5e]

Great

[@SovereigntyGW]

is this your personal blog channel or for helping people become better contractors?

[@SuccessfulContractor]

A little bit of both I suppose.

[@Fastr___2]

Hi , Man just discovered your channel my name is Amit i am 19 years old from India and currently in my 3rd year college I have a little over a year experience in real estate and have also an amateur boxer for over a year i also wanted to start my own business as there is lack of opportunities in sports so i am thinking of leaving boxing but same thing could be considered with business not must opportunities and i don't know from where to start with Do not have that much of money saved up with me could only think of doing a sales job so applied for sales job in car showroom and as marketing manager in meal prep service can you please guide me with some of your experience that what could be my next step towards earning more money and starting business

[@johnmichaelfagerlund5879]

Nice

[@Joe-em3iw]

And if all else fails, do what you have to do (and I mean that) to get enough money to buy land on Hawaii while you are relatively still young.

[@sarahsarahsarahsarahsarah7]