A new year is a good time to think about commencement. So today, on the eve of 2011, I want to share with you Steve Jobs’ commencement address to Stanford University’s graduating class of 2005.

Jobs shares three stories from his life, and I think you’ll agree they inspire indeed. Here, from each story, is the advice I believe can be appreciated and applied at anytime in one’s life.

“You have to trust in something: Your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well-worn path. And that will make all the difference.”

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking and don’t settle. You’ll know when you find it.”

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And, most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

So you have a list of New Year’s Resolutions, I’d like to suggest you re-title it New Year’s Goals. Think about what you love to do. Focus on what you want to accomplish and why. Anticipate how great you’ll feel when you achieve it.  And by all means, commence.

I believe your career, your future, your power rests always in the present moment. And that’s worth celebrating. Happy New Right Now!

Tags: achievement, leadership, leadership development, managing yourself, personal effectiveness, Steve Jobs, success

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