If You Want To Change The World Start By Making Your Bed
The twenty minute empowering and inspirational commencement address “Make Your Bed” was delivered by Admiral William H. McRaven to the graduating class of The University of Texas at Austin in the spring of 2014 in front of what is known as the Tower for the purpose of inspiring future leaders. According to the speaker, who looks every important by being dressed in his high ranking officer uniform, “The average American will meet 10,000 people in their lifetime” (McRaven). This speech is effective at persuading the audience to change the world by following a list of ways to transform themselves to overcome challenges and be more successful which will also impact others. He tells the students, who are about to graduate and make their mark on the world, that if you want to change the world, start by changing the lives of ten people you meet. As a former UT student, Navy SEAL, and Admiral of the United States Navy; Mr. McRaven is a credible speaker who talked about how people in the military have made a difference by helping others which encouraged the students to go out and challenge themselves to do good things.
Admiral McRaven’s commencement address was about the ten lessons he learned from basic SEAL training which includes starting every morning by making your bed, don’t back down from the sharks, know that life is not fair and that you will fail often, among other suggestions. If you start each day with a task completed and never give up you will leave the world far better than you found it and you will have indeed changed the world.
In Admiral McRaven’s speech he talked about if you want to change the world you need to keep moving forward. As a young Navy SEAL the recruits were required to have a uniform inspection. No matter how hard they tried, the commander would find something wrong and punish the sailor. The students felt that all their hard work in passing inspection was for nothing but in reality the instructors were trying to teach them no matter how well you prepare or perform something will still be out of place. “It’s just the way life is sometimes”(McRaven) so if you want to change do not let them break your spirit or force you to quit. The speaker convinces the audience that this topic matters by using examples of his experience as a Navy SEAL having to be properly dressed.
Another inspirational suggestion the admiral tells the students is that if they “want to change the world, [they] must be [their] very best in the darkest moment[s] (McRaven). As an example he discusses one of the most difficult expeditions that a seamen has to do. One of their jobs is to conduct underwater attacks against enemy ships. This requires the sailor going to the deepest part of the ship where it is very dark. at a time like this they need to remain, calm, composed, and use everything they have learned in order to be successful. In addition “capitalize on your strengths to help you get through these dark moments” (Stemmie). The speaker convinces the audience that this topic matters because it is something they can relate to as young professionals about to make their mark on society. A lot of things can go wrong but if you do their best you can make an impact on the world.
The biggest life lesson that McRaven talked about was that in order to change the world, make your bed every morning. This might sound like a silly idea but if you carry out this one simple task each day it will lead you to accomplishing another task, and another task, and another task. If you can do this small task it will inspire you to do more difficult tasks. Even if your day is unproductive you still would have accomplished something. The speaker convinces the audience that this task is important by contilly coming back to it throughout the speech. He speaks louder and emphasizes the words “Make Your Bed” throughout his speech.
While most of these University of Texas graduates will not become Navy SEALs the lessons that Admiral McRaven preaches about will be important to them for the rest of their lives. His call to action for the students is to follow these simple rules. If they begin each day by accomplishing small tasks, try their very best even in their darkest moments, and never give up then they will truly change the world.
Works Cited
McRaven, Admiral William R.). “Make Your Bed Speech by Admiral William R McRaven.”
FixedOnSuccess, 15 October 2017, www.fixedonsuccess.com/articlesblogs1/make-your-bed-speech-by-admiral-william-h-mcraven
Stemmie, Connie. “Make your Bed 5 Lessons From Admiral William R. McRaven’s Speech.”
Develop Good Habits, Oldtown Publishing LLC, 19 December 2019,
www.developgoodhabits.com/make-your-bed/
