The AM news.....

Today I got the unfortunate news on my AM radio that Professor, Randy Pausch died.

I didn't pay much attention to the report, since my mind was on the various tortures that I had planned for some unsuspecting clients...but almost eveyone who entered the gym today asked if I had heard the news about Dr. Pausch. (I'll get back to that thought in a minute)

With months to live, Pausch gave his famous “Last Lecture” at CMU in September 2007. There's an academic tradition called the 'Last Lecture.' at Carnegie Mellon. Professors give it before they retire. Randy knew, after his diagnosis, that he wanted to give his own final lecture on "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" .

He would talk about his life's journey and the lessons he's learned along the way. Although he gave this talk to his students, it was always with the intent of leaving the video-taped lecture, as his own final legacy, for his three small children. That September 18, 2007 lecture before 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University was complete with slides of his CT scans and a description of the cancer that was devouring his pancreas and that would most likely claim in his life in a matter of months.

Randy Pausch's 'Last Lecture" was video-taped and ended up on the Internet where it has since been downloaded more than 6 million times. Randy Pausch ended up being on You Tube, and on the Oprah Show,where he reprised his "Last Lecture".

He was also featured on an ABC special called "The Last Lecture: A Love Story for Your Life" where the family formed a strong link with ABC news reporter, Diane Sawyer. This amazing man and his overwhelmingly inspirational speech has reached, touched and exploded 10 million hearts and at least six of my clients today.

He didn't just give a speech about achieving childhood dreams, or living your life, or what you would do if you were told that you only had six months left to live." No, it was much more than that, he gave us the ability to hope and dream. To shift our attention from the cards that were delt to us to how we might best play our hand.

I know in my own experience with teaching and lecturing, that sometimes you have to pull the subject matter out of yourself, and there are other times, where the information just pour out. You passion is just all over it, that is what was so captivating about his "last lecture". Randy's talk may have written itself, but it was a final accomplishment to put that talk into book form. The entire, original transcript of Professor Randy Pausch, of Carnegie Mellon University and his unforgettable speech "The Last Lecture" delivered on Sept. 18, 2007 is on YouTube. If you haven't seen it by now, go to YouTube and search for it, it is a 70 minuites well spent.

Randy had reported, as of May 28th, that the latest round of chemo created debilitating side effects and was discontinued. Previously, Randy has been involved in a number of experimental drug trials and each time, the side effects and the drugs, themselves, have created such extreme problems that they have had to all be discontinued.

Randy and his wife, Jai attended the graduation ceremonies for the May, 2008 graduating class at Carnegie Mellon. Randy presented a copy of his book "The Last Lecture" to Al Gore during the commencement ceremonies and was honored with his 'giving of the charge' at the end of the ceremonies to the young students there that day. View here: YouTube - Randy Pausch Inspires Graduates (This is definately worth the six minutes of your time.)

Pausch was included in TIME Magazine's 2008 list of the world's 100 most influential people. If you view his lecture or read his book, you'll understand why.

When asked about his hopes for the book, a book which continues to be on the bestseller list today, Randy said "I only care about the first three copies." (meaning as a legacy for his 3 children, ages 2,4, and 6.)

Randy Pausch knew he was going to die, but that didn't stop him from truly living, his greatest belief was 'in having fun' in truly 'living your life to the fullest.' Randy was given 6 monthes and managed to stretch out that time span into almost 2 years.

He died, as he lived, doing all he could do to live his life to the fullest, to leaving a legacy of memories behind for his loved ones and for inspiring others...not just in a classroom at Carnegie Mellon, but in places all over the world. As he said in an interview: "I'm pleased to do what good I can on the way 'out of the building'".

Raise awareness he has. Who am I to tell you what to think about. But if you have some loving thoughts please direct them in the direction of his wife, Jai, and their three young children...Dylan, Logan , and Chloe.

But the most important lesson... start really living life TODAY!
Til next time...