the most important things in life speech

16 Most Life-Changing Motivational Speeches & What You’ll Gain from Them

It’s all very well reading about ways to get ahead in life, but no account will ever reach you in quite the same way as hearing someone speak about their own experiences. While these people may be household names now, it wasn’t always that way, and this collection of some of the best motivational speeches will move you and inspire you to make your own dreams come true.

16 Most Life-Changing Motivational Speeches and What You’ll Gain From Them

From Arnold Schwarzenneger talking about how he filled every moment of every day with steps to fulfil his ambition of becoming Mr. Universe, to J.K. Rowling’s life as an impoverished single mother, these speeches will fill you with the drive and determination to reach your full potential, and not let anything stand in your way.

Some are long, and some last just a few minutes, but each one will make you want to grab life with both hands and go for what you want, whatever it is.

“Most people have done all that they’re ever going to do – they raise a family, they earn a living, and then they die.”

That’s what we’re supposed to do, right? Wrong! Life is made for greater things, and you are meant for greater things.

When Les Brown was a child, he was labeled ‘educable mentally retarded’, and until a chance encounter with another teacher, he believed that he would amount to nothing. But this one teacher planted the seeds in Les’ head which would blossom and grow, and eventually make him one of the best motivational speakers of all time.

This speech will give you permission to rise above other people’s opinions, to break free of their prejudices, and make a success of whatever you do. Watch ‘It’s Not Over Until You Win! Your Dream is Possible’ and take those first steps towards following your passion and making your dream come true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f0nIhDpXuU

“Stress doesn’t come from the facts, stress comes from the meaning that we give the facts.”

Life is about choices. Every day we’re faced with hundreds of choices, and this speech by Tony Robbins will help you see that it’s the choices, not the conditions, which shape our lives.

Take a moment during this speech to pause and reflect on some choices you have made in the past, and really think about the direction your life took because of them, both good and bad. Tony Robbins explains in his inimitable way that we have the choice to focus on what we want, and that when we focus, we can achieve whatever we want.

Part of Tony’s speech explains how, when the economy is down, some people thrive and some people crash and burn, and the COVID 19 pandemic is the perfect example. Small businesses took a huge hit, and while some of them threw up their hands in despair and said ‘that’s it, it’s over for us’, others adapted, and saw it as an opportunity to expand, diversify, and turn the situation to their advantage.

And that’s the cornerstone of this video – how we react, how we adapt, and how we choose is the difference between success and failure.

“So every rep that I do gets me closer to accomplishing the goal to make this goal – this vision – into reality.”

Be inspired by Arnold Schwarzenneger as he talks about his goal of becoming Mr. Universe. Never wasting a second of his day, Arnie worked in construction, spent 5 hours in the gym, and went to acting classes, all of which took him further along his journey to making his dream come true.

We all have a propensity to waste time, but if you have a goal, if you have a passion that smolders away, take a leaf out of Arnie’s book and make sure that everything you do propels you forward.

And don’t be afraid to fail.

“Your conviction and your convenience don’t live on the same block.”

If you are a fan of The Secret, you will be familiar with Lisa Nicholls. In this video, Lisa tells Tom Bilyeu how she was willing to leave everything and everyone behind in order to grow into the version of herself that she knew she wanted.

Lisa explains how, as a young mother, she was forced to wrap her baby in a towel for two days because she had no money for diapers, and how it was at that moment that she vowed never to be that broke or that broken again.

Change, success, drive…they’re all inconvenient and disruptive, and Lisa Nicholls demonstrates that wonderfully in this emotional and highly motivating interview in which she declares “your story is not meant to be your fortress, your story is meant to be your fuel.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toQmqLwNtho

Eric Thomas had a dream, a goal, and that goal was to be the best motivational speaker in the world. He didn’t achieve this by giving 70%, or 80%…he didn’t achieve it by staying in bed late in the mornings. He achieved it by giving 100% every minute of every day.

Listen to Eric’s words, hear the passion in his voice, and feel the lessons he is giving to you if you want to be the best at whatever you do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtuHZC-ObA8

“If we don’t take control of our environment, it takes control of us.”

This short piece by Tony Robbins has been designed to show you that you are in control of your own environment. Whether you realize it or not, what goes on around you has a massive influence on the way you feel and the way you act.

By taking leadership of your own life, you can defy outside influences and set your own tone for the day ahead, regardless of whatever or whoever is exerting pressure from the outside.

Follow Tony’s example of taking 10 minutes for yourself at the start of every day – for gratitude, prayer or wishes for family and friends, and a recap of what you want to accomplish that day, and your day will continue on that same path of thankfulness, hope, and goals.

“Your mind doesn’t know the difference between something you vividly imagined and something that’s real, literally!”

If you want to emulate the way successful people behave, take these 10 billionaires’ habits and adopt them yourself for 21 days.

Billed by Jim Kwik as being ‘like a magic pill’, these habits will rewire your brain into thinking and behaving like some of the world’s most successful people.

In this 8 minute clip, Jim shares how, for instance, your brain reacts the same way when you imagine your dog walking in as it does when your dog actually walks in, and this can apply to anything. What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

As much as this applies to positive things, it also can be applied to negative things, so if you imagine failure, that’s what you will get. Fill your mind with thoughts of success and that’s what will happen.

None of these habits are difficult to accomplish, but in doing so you will change your entire mindset into one of a hugely successful person, no matter what you want to achieve in life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fzGPwY40Cw

“Don’t leave crumbs.”

If this sounds more like a housekeeping hint and less like a motivational affirmation, you’re 50% right. Our lives do need housekeeping, and not leaving crumbs – i.e. regrets – which will come back and rob your tomorrow of joy, is one of the chores you need to do on a daily basis.

Matthew McConaughey delivers a powerful speech in a gentle way at the University of Houston Commencement Address.

Discussing the five rules he lives by, he will show you how to avoid falling into a trap of entitlement, and why ‘Unbelievable’ is the stupidest word in the dictionary.

With some invaluable life lessons contained inside a highly watchable speech, Matthew McConaughey is an unlikely but very inspiring speaker who has stayed humble despite all his successes.

“There are a lot of sharks in the world; if you hope to complete the swim, you will have to deal with them. So if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.”

Spoken with eloquence and quiet assuredness, this six-minute speech draws on US Navy Admiral William McRaven’s experience of survival in the Navy Seals.

He explains how making your bed, while seemingly insignificant and even pointless, will set a series of tasks in motion which will ensure that at best, the first job of the day is done, and at worst, you have a neat, tidy bed to fall into at the end of a trying day.

The world is full of people who want to bring you down (the sharks) but if you stand your ground, they will eventually swim away, leaving you to go on to bigger and better things.

“Sometimes life’s gonna hit you in the face with a brick…don’t lose faith.”

Steve Jobs, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Apple Inc. was hit in the face with more than one brick during his 56 years on earth. From being given up for adoption as a baby, to being fired from the very company which he founded, he never let anything get in his way.

In this commencement speech at Stamford University in 2005, Steve explained how his love for what he did spurred him on to rebuild his life in spectacular fashion.

Life dealt a further blow when, in 2003, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

This speech focuses on three stories which, when combined, show how life offers opportunities for change and growth, no matter how dire the circumstances.

Steve Jobs never graduated college, but when he died in 2011, aged just 56, he had a net worth of US$7 billion. He achieved this by doing what he loved, and in this speech he will inspire you to do the same.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously than you might as well not have lived at all. In which case, you fail by default.”

Let J. K. Rowling inspire you with this 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University. Extolling the virtues of failure and imagination, she tells the graduates how being at rock bottom set her free to pursue her dreams of being an author.

As poor as it is possible to be without being homeless, she created the world of Harry Potter and went on to amass a fortune of £795 million, but that without her failures in life, she would never have had the opportunity to do so.

Let her words become your own mantra, and view every failure in your life as a future success.

“We shine, because baby you just can’t dim the sun.”

A beautiful antidote for anyone who has ever felt or been told that they are ‘too much’, Gina Hatzis’ winning Speaker Slam speech of 2018 will give you permission to be unashamedly you.

Although written by a woman for women, this powerful and sometimes humorous speech about being your own authentic self will inspire anyone – man or woman – to shine and never dim their own light to suit other people.

“The first step you need to take is just that…step.”

If you are in need of a short, sharp burst of motivation, listen to this speech by ex Navy Seal, Jocko Willink.

Running for less than three minutes, this recording will inspire you to take a step into whatever you want to achieve. Awarded both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for service, Jocko Willink is no stranger to taking those brave steps, having come face to face with Iraqu insurgents in Ramadi. He will spur you on to put one metaphorical foot in front of the other, and will leave you in no doubt as to what you need to do to achieve your goals.

“On the other side of your maximum fear are all of the best things in life.”

If you like your motivation with a side order of laughter, watch Will Smith as he talks about fear. Agreeing to skydive on a night out with friends, Will realizes that he actually has to go through with it.

Discussing how fear ruins things (he couldn’t sleep or eat before the jump), Will also discloses that beyond fear was the most blissful experience of his life, and how that principle can be applied to anything in life.

“Only those that can see the invisible, can do the impossible.”

Tyrese Gibson knows success, and in this speech he talks about how it can be achieved, by anyone who wants it.

Actor, singer, author, model…Tyrese seems to have the Midas touch, but he didn’t get it by luck. Follow his words as he gently but passionately guides you along the path you need to take if you have goals and dreams in life.

“I refuse to be another man who lived and died, and wasn’t significant’”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzl3CQXMRVo

“If it is written, so shall it be.”

When Steve Harvey’s teacher crushed his dreams of being on TV, the one person who believed in him was his father. He told him to put a piece of paper with his dreams on in his drawer, and to read it every morning and every night.

His dreams came true.

It didn’t always come easy for Steve Harvey though – he spent years living in his car when he had nowhere else to go, but the one thing he never lost was his ambition and determination to see his dreams through to fruition.

A firm believer in the Law of Attraction, Steve still has vision boards and still commits his dreams to writing, and encourages you to do the same in this speech that made Obama cry.

These motivational speeches, and many more like them, show how having guts, determination, and a vision will get you anywhere you want to go, no matter your beginnings in life. These inspirational speakers have suffered loss, sickness, and unbelievable hardships, but the one thing that got them through was their desire to win and their belief that they could.

Immerse yourself in their words of wisdom, and take that next step into your best life.

16 Short Speeches About Life

At first, I set out to craft a speech about life . But as I delved deeper into the topic, I realized that summing up the vast tapestry of life in a single speech is a tall order. Life is not just one color or a single note; it’s a vibrant spectrum, a rainbow of experiences, moments, highs, lows, lessons, and memories. Each hue represents a different chapter, emotion, or milestone that contributes to our unique stories.

I also recognize that high school students might come across these words. I fondly recall my own school days when teachers would challenge us to pen down our thoughts on life. Such assignments, seemingly simple on the surface, often pushed us to self-reflection and growth.

With these memories and audiences in mind, I present to you not just one, but multiple speeches on life. Through these, I aim to touch upon the myriad facets of our existence, hoping that each reader, regardless of their age or journey, finds a sliver of resonance, a hint of inspiration, or a moment of reflection.

Speeches About Life

Speeches about life resonate with all of us because life, in its vastness and complexity, is the shared journey we all navigate. It’s filled with rainbows of experiences, highs and lows, and tales of courage, fear, triumphs, and setbacks.

Through these speeches, we get a window into the varied perspectives, learnings, and stories of others. They offer a mirror to our own experiences, sometimes teaching us, sometimes validating our feelings, and often inspiring us to see our path in a new light.

Moreover, life speeches bridge the gap between generations.

From a teenager in high school to a professional in their prime, everyone can find a piece of wisdom or an echo of their own story in these words.

By discussing life, we unite in our shared human experience, finding solace in the thought that we’re not alone in our struggles or joys. This universality, this binding thread, is what makes speeches about life timeless and impactful.

I have delivered these speeches in Toastmasters . I share these speeches when I teach about life and leadership. I have written them in the hope that you too will be inspired to write your speech about life and be an inspiration to others.

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A speech about life aims to provide insights, share personal experiences, motivate the audience, or encourage introspection about the various aspects of human existence.

They can be both. Some speakers draw from their personal journeys and lessons learned, while others tap into universal truths and shared human experiences.

No, everyday experiences can provide profound insights. It’s about the message and the perspective, not necessarily the drama of the events.

Using storytelling, anecdotes, humor, and asking thought-provoking questions can make your speech more engaging. Ensure that the content resonates with the audience’s experiences and emotions.

Focus on authenticity, clarity of message, and audience engagement. Also, incorporating relatable stories or analogies can make the content memorable.

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Jef Menguin

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16 Inspirational Speeches for Career and Life Lessons (+ Speaker Traits)

Erika Giles | July 9, 2020 | Inspiration | 11 min read

The Most Inspirational Speeches of All Time

1. J.K. Rowling – Harvard University
2. Jim Carrey – Maharishi University
3. Steve Jobs – Stanford University
4. Al Pacino – Any Given Sunday
5. Tony Robbins – TED Talk
6. Will Smith – The Pursuit of Happiness
7. Matthew McConaughey – University of Houston
8. Sylvester Stallone – Rocky Balboa
9. Denzel Washington – University of Pennsylvania
10. Yoda – The Empire Strikes Back
11. Elizabeth Gilbert – TED Talk, 2009
12. Michelle Obama – Eastern Kentucky University
13. David Goggins – Driven
14. Peter Dinklage – Bennington College
15. John Roberts – Cardigan Mountain School
16. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - LA Lakers

Being motivated at work and in life is crucial for your performance. This is true when you have an approaching deadline, an important meeting, or customers depending on you.

The power of words can physically and emotionally rejuvenate you. Inspirational speeches can guide you to keep performing at your best and drive your team to achieve their goals . The right words at the right time can change you and challenge you.

No matter what is thrown at you in life, you can use these speeches to stay motivated.

How Inspiration Impacts People

Inspiration helps propel people forward. It pushes apathy away and awakens people to new and exciting possibilities. They're able to transcend their limitations and mundane lives.

It can help all people to become more creative and help them to progress toward their goals if they are open to it.

Although inspiration impacts people in several meaningful and often magical ways, it is not something as elusive as it seems. Inspiration is everywhere, and it can be captured, activated, and manipulated.

Most often, inspiration is found in others who say something or do something thought provoking and meaningful.

What Makes a Speech Inspirational?

Great inspirational speeches all include one key thing – emotions . Emotions motivate actions and beliefs in any given aspect of life. Inspirational speeches are often loaded with tales of struggle, resilience, trials, endurance, and breakthroughs. All things that most people can relate to.

The philosopher, Aristotle, once said that people tend to believe in people who can be perceived as trustworthy or in those who have proper values and morals. This means that speakers who understand the concerns their audience has and empathizes with them are more likely to connect with their audience and gain their trust.

Speakers who select emotional themes and talking points that people can relate to are more likely to inspire those in the audience with their stories.

The key to this is making others feel as though they aren’t alone, and that they too can overcome the roadblocks in their way because someone else has. Hope is one of the most powerful emotions that sparks inspiration.

Next, comes an excellent oral delivery. Facial expressions, tone of voice, and appropriate pausing all help to make a speech that much more effective and inspirational.

7 Qualities of the Best Motivational Speakers

Here are seven traits, qualities, and characteristics that some of the best motivational speakers have.

1. They Tell Great Stories.

The ability to tell a great story is one of the core qualities that a motivational speaker needs to help add value to the lives of listeners. Motivational speakers tell original stories to provide the audience with fresh and relevant information.

More importantly, the best motivational speakers paint a picture that lets the audience put themselves into the story so they can feel the emotions to understand the lesson better.

2. They Are Passionate About What They Do.

Great speakers are often passionate about wanting to change others for the better, and the amount of passion a speaker has translates into their presentation. The audience can tell when a speaker is passionate about their subject matter because it will reflect in the speaker’s enthusiasm and excitement when they perform.

Passion is infectious, and when a great speaker is passionate, it inspires the audience to cultivate passion as well.

3. They Are Confident.

It is essential that motivational speakers have confidence in themselves and in their message.

Audience members can tell when speakers are nervous or unsure about what they are doing or saying. This automatically causes the audience to doubt the speaker, and it may invalidate the message.

Great speakers have confidence that reflects in their speech and gestures while they are on stage, which in turn inspires confidence in the audience. It helps to engage them and makes them believe in what the speaker is saying.

4. They Are Self-Aware.

A great motivational speaker understands who they are and knows exactly what they stand for. They are also aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

They use their strengths to make a speech more effective, and they work on improving their weaknesses.

5. They Show Empathy.

A defining mark of a great motivational speaker is their ability to put themselves in the shoes of those in their audience. They do their best to understand their audience’s motivation, fears, hopes, challenges, and worries.

This helps them tailor their speech to appeal to and inspire their audience. Empathetic speakers are also individuals who have gone through what they talk about.

They have been where the audience is, and they understand what that is like, which helps make a pure connection with them.

6. They Possess Knowledge.

Any motivational speaker must remain up to date and knowledgeable in their area of expertise. Motivational speakers aren’t born; they are made.

This means that they must grow and learn to become an expert with great knowledge and insight to share with others.

7. They Have a Sense of Humor.

Motivational speeches tend to discuss serious topics, and great speakers know how to add fun anecdotes or jokes when it is appropriate to do so.

Humor often makes a speech more memorable. Plus, it enthralls listeners, and everyone likes someone with a good sense of humor.

16 of the Best Inspirational Speeches of All Time

We all need some inspiration from time to time. If you are in need of inspiration, look no further than these 16 best inspirational speeches of all time.

1. J.K. Rowling – Harvard University

It's well known that J.K. Rowling's famous Harry Potter series was turned down by several publishers before it was finally accepted. But before her success, she was in a dire situation and was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Despite constant rejection, she kept trying and finally her efforts paid off. Her Harvard speech delivered some valuable life lessons about not fearing failure and persevering no matter how bad things get.

2. Jim Carrey – Maharishi University

Actor/comedian Jim Carrey gave one of the most unique and emotional commencement speeches ever at Maharishi University in Iowa.

In his speech , he offered the students powerful and inspiring words about life, the future, and urged them never to settle for anything less than what they want. His message: Never give up and follow your dreams!

3. Steve Jobs – Stanford University

This is one of the greatest inspirational speeches! In his commencement speech , Jobs discussed how he dropped out of college after six months, then took another 18 months to figure out what his life's work would be.

He quit college because his parents were struggling financially, and he couldn't see the value in an education that was draining his parents life savings.

His speech talked of the setbacks in life, including death, and how being aware of death can help you make better choices in life. At the time, Jobs was dying of pancreatic cancer, and his inspirational words on the importance of acquiring knowledge and following your dreams was the best life lesson he could bestow upon the graduates.

4. Al Pacino – Any Given Sunday

This movie features an inspirational speech about how even the simplest things can inch you closer to your dream.

Pacino's speech motivated the players on his football team to do whatever it takes to win. The takeaway? The little things you do every day will lead you to success.

5. Tony Robbins – TED Talk

Tony Robbins is one of the most famous motivational speakers around. This TED talk is particularly inspirational. It's topic, “Why We Do What We Do,” asks two key questions: What drives you? What motivates you to do your daily tasks?

By asking these questions, we're able to explore ourselves and appreciate others. The takeaway? We are our own path to success!

6. Will Smith – The Pursuit of Happiness

Considered one of the best motivational speeches in film, this scene starts with Smith and his son playing basketball. When his son shouts “I'm going pro,” Smith decides to try and temper his son's expectations, telling him he never excelled at basketball, so he shouldn't expect to.

His son is visibly disappointed, and Smith launches into his speech proclaiming, “Don't ever let somebody tell you that you can't do something, not even me.” He tells his son, “You got a dream, you gotta protect it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

The takeaway? Only you can decide to chase a dream. No one can stop you besides yourself.

7. Matthew McConaughey – University of Houston

McConaughey delivered some pertinent points in his speech to the graduating class, but the one that really stuck out was "joy being a constant approach." He said, ”Joy is always in process; it's always under construction."

He spoke of how he takes everything one step at a time when he's making a film, and how when he truly enjoys his craft, things just fall into place. The takeaway? “Define success for yourself.” Figure out what you want to achieve and enjoy the entire journey.

8. Sylvester Stallone – Rocky Balboa

In the sixth film in the Rocky franchise, Stallone gives one of the most inspirational speeches of all time. He starts with, “The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows,” and goes on to talk about the value of hard work and commitment.

“It ain't about how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” The takeaway? Even when your back is up against the wall, winners never give up!

9. Denzel Washington – University of Pennsylvania

In this commencement speech, Denzel Washington speaks about how nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks, adding that when you fall in life, fall forward . He speaks of embracing failure and using it as a chance to learn.

This is especially true when it comes to being an entrepreneur. The most important thing isn't winning or losing, it's getting out there and giving it everything you've got!

10. Yoda – The Empire Strikes Back

Ok, you can't have a list of inspirational speeches without at least one offering from Yoda!

In this speech from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back , Yoda is teaching Luke about the ways of the force. The key teaching? Whether or not something can or can't be done is all in your head and your heart. If you believe in yourself, anything is possible!

The takeaway? In the words of Yoda, “Do or do not. There is no try.”

11. Elizabeth Gilbert – Ted Talk

Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the bestselling book Eat, Pray, Love , gave an inspiring Ted Talk about the "genius" in all of us.

In her speech, she mentions that everyone can be a creative genius in their work and that the best years of our work and creativity are never behind us if we think of creative genius as something we borrow.

The key takeaways from Gilbert's speech are to not be daunted or afraid of success. Just keep showing up and doing the work that you love without the anguish of what it will turn into.

12. Michelle Obama – Eastern Kentucky University

In 2013, Michelle Obama addressed the graduating class of Eastern Kentucky University. She encouraged them to continue learning to challenge their perspectives, and she told them to find a way to turn their weaknesses into strengths.

The key takeaway from her speech is that the defining moments in your life will not be the moment you get the promotion or breakthrough to a classroom. They will be the days that you have to claw through to keep going.

As long as you keep working and pick yourself up when you fall down, then you will develop skills to apply to anything you do in life. And your resilience can be used in service to others.

13. David Goggins – Driven

David Goggins is a former Navy Seal and Army Ranger who participates in ultra-marathons. In his talk, he discusses suffering and how you can turn hurt into strength. He talks about how you can still be successful and happy without guidance if you just stay true to who you are because you define greatness.

The takeaway from Goggins' talk is that we all have greatness no matter what. You just have to find the courage through hard work and discipline.

14. Peter Dinklage – Bennington College

Peter Dinklage is an actor who is known for his role as Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones . He gave the 2012 commencement address at Bennington College.

In his address to the graduates, he discusses persistence and doing whatever it takes to get to where you want to be. He also mentions that you shouldn't wait until you are ready to do what you love.

The key lesson from his speech was to give yourself permission to fail early instead of waiting for permission. Show the world you're ready by doing it.

15. John Roberts – Cardigan Mountain School

John Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States, gave the commencement address at his son's high school in 2017. In his speech, he wishes the graduates bad luck instead of good luck.

He tells them that he hopes they will be lonely, fail, and lose from time to time. He says all of this to say that these things are the greatest teachers of compassion, true friendship, and sportsmanship.

The key takeaway from Roberts' speech is that there is always a message in your misfortunes, and you should not be afraid to fail. If you fail, you should get up and try again.

16. Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson - LA Lakers

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, tenured WWE superstar & mega Hollywood performer, gave an incredible speech to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019.

He speaks from the heart, about remembering where you came from, and letting that fuel the hard work you will put in to become successful.

Per usual, pure gold from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

These 16 inspirational speeches touch on three main themes. It's important to love what you're doing. Failure is only bad if you don't learn and continue to move forward. And finally, you need to want it!

Life is hard. If you want something bad enough, whether it's a job, a relationship, or a successful business, you need to prove it!

General FAQ

An inspirational speech will create a positive emotional experience for the audience that will resonate with them. Similarly, a motivational speech can inspire an audience by motivating them to take action on something.

What Are the Qualities of an Inspirational Speaker?

To be a great inspirational speaker, you should have:

A strong speaking voice
A good story to tell

How Do You Write an Inspirational Speech?

It's important to know who your audience is and what your message is going to be when writing an inspirational speech. Use should also employ storytelling techniques to evoke emotion into your speech.

Who Is the Most Motivational Speaker in the World?

It is often said that Tony Robbins is the most motivational speaker. Tony Robbins is known best for his TED talks and self-help books.

Erika Giles

Erika is a Marketing Copywriter at Bluleadz. She is a huge fan of houseplants and podcasts about conspiracy theories. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, and enjoying the outdoors.

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10 motivational speeches about life you need to watch

If you’re looking for something to help you get motivated for life, check out these ten fantastic inspirational speeches that are free to watch on YouTube.

Today, we’re counting down ten amazing motivational speeches about life that you need to watch. With speeches for students, speeches for entrepreneurs, and everyone in between, this list includes positive motivation for all.

From valuable life lessons covering all aspects of life to incredible stories from successful people talking about their journey to success, these amazing speeches are sure to make you feel positive and uplifted.

So, if you need a burst of motivation, let these powerful speeches act as your source of inspiration today.

10. Randy Pausch: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams 2007 – a beautiful last lecture

Kicking off our list of motivational speeches about life is this beautiful speech from American educator Randy Pausch, who knew at the time that he only had a few months left to live.

Rather than feeling hard done by due and delivering a sad speech, Pausch remains positive, delivering an inspiring speech to his listeners. He speaks of the things he values in life, making the most of our time here, achieving his childhood dreams, and offering inspiration for how we can, too.

9. David Foster Wallace: This Is Water 2005 – questioning our own perceptions

In his 2005 speech ‘This is Water’, David Foster Wallace questions conventions and encourages us to recognise our own closed-mindedness.

He says, “If you’re automatically sure that you know what reality is and who and what is really important, if you want to operate on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won’t consider possibilities that aren’t annoying and miserable.

“But if you’ve really learned how to think, how to pay attention, then you’ll know you have other options.”

8. Steve Jobs: 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech – inspiration from one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs

Steve Jobs’ inspirational speech for students at Stanford in 2005 gives an insight into the life of one of the most successful business leaders in recent history.

A pioneer of the personal computer revolution and a co-founder of Apple Inc., it is hard to imagine Jobs as anything but successful. However, this uplifting speech gives an insight into his setbacks and journey to success, including his determination to follow his passion.

Jobs encourages students to keep moving forward with what they love, despite challenges in life, rather than overthinking whether they’re on the right path.

7. ’20 Seconds of Insane Courage’ from We Bought a Zoo – amazing things will happen

In the heartwarming 2011 film, We Bought a Zoo , Matt Damon’s character Benjamin Mee tells his son that the best things come when we act with courage.

We all have fears. However, all fear does is hold us back, so his advice to his son to try a manageable “20 seconds of insane courage” is something we can all resonate with.

6. Matthew McConaughey: University of Houston Speech 2018 – finding joy in the process

The much-loved actor, known for his roles in films such as Interstellar and Dallas Buyers Club, spokeat the University of Houston back in 2018.

In the 40-minute speech for students, McConaghy talks about the importance of finding joy in the entire journey rather than focusing on reaching the next level of success.

He explains that by adopting a “constant approach” and focusing on enjoying the everyday act of creating and doing, he was able to find true success.

5. J.K. Rowling: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination 2008 – the benefits of failure

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has faced her fair share of controversy in recent years. However, there is no denying that her 2008 speech on the benefits of failure is one of the most motivational speeches about life.

Speaking at the Harvard Commencement Ceremony in 2008, the author of the bestselling book series explained how both failure and imagination are crucial to success.

4. ‘Your Move Chief’ from Good Will Hunting – the importance of real-life experience

In the 1997 Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting, Dr Sean Maguire (Robin Williams) explains to Will Hunting (Matt Damon) the importance of real-life experience.

Hunting, who has proven his intelligence and has read many books , feels that he knows all there is to know about life. However, Maguire’s key teaching to the young man is that the things you learn from life experience are much more valuable than anything you can learn from a book.

3. Sheryl Sandberg: Harvard Business School Class Day Speech 2012 – wise words from one of the most successful women in America

Sheryl Sandberg is one of the most successful women in America. She is an entrepreneur, tech executive, and author who is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook.

In her 2012 Harvard Business School Class Day Speech, Sandberg offers some useful advice to graduating students. As well as offering insight into her own work, she advises students that “motivation comes from working on things that we care about.”

2. Denzel Washington: Fall Forward 2016 – reframing failure

Speaking at the University of Pennsylvania in 2016, actor Denzel Washington talks about the importance of taking risks and accepting failure as part of the journey.

He explains that everyone fails and makes mistakes in life. So, the most important thing is that when you fall, fall forward. Make the most of every setback as a chance to learn and improve. Just get back up and try again.

1. Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability 2013 – the most-watched Ted Talk on YouTube

Topping our list of motivational speeches about life is Brené Brown’s 2013 Ted Talk on the Power of Vulnerability.

In her speech, which is now the most-watched Ted Talk on YouTube, Brown talks about the importance of allowing ourselves to be vulnerable to live life to the fullest, embrace true connection, and allow us to go through life as our most authentic selves.

Notable mentions

Michelle Obama and Liz Gilbert gave two of the best motivational speeches about life.

Elizabeth Gilbert: Your Elusive Creative Genius 2009 : Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert gave this inspiring speech about tapping into our inner creativity in 2009. Watch: HERE

Michelle Obama: EKU Commencement Address 2013 : Perhaps one of the most inspiring women in the world, former First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to the 2013 graduating class at EKU about always questioning our own perceptions and transforming our weaknesses into strengths. Watch: HERE

FAQs about the motivational speeches about life

What are some inspiring quotes.

You can find some of our favourite inspiring quotes here .

What are the best speeches for students?

Denzel Washington’s Fall Forward speech is one of our favourite speeches for students.

What to do to motivate yourself?

Some great things to do to motivate yourself are writing down your goals, setting out manageable steps to achieve them, speaking to others who inspire you, and creating a vision board.

Siân McQuillan is a writer and travel lover from County Down, Northern Ireland. With a BA in English and History and an MA in Media and Broadcast Production from Queen’s University Belfast, Siân has gained extensive knowledge and experience writing across various forms of media. A travel lover, Siân can be found either out exploring new places around Ireland and the world or writing about her experiences of travelling and visiting new places. She recently wrote her first travel guide, The Ultimate Guide to Dublin, to share her love for Ireland’s capital city and offer some insight into all the things you need to see and do, places to eat and stay, hidden gems, and more.

The power of saying no: celebrities’ time management, j.k. rowling’s resilience revelation: finding strength in adversity.

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Challenges can stem from distractions, lack of focus, or unclear goals. These strategies can help overcome daily obstacles.

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The 5 Most Important Things in Life - You Never Want to Lose Track of These

Life is short and the most precious things can easily become lost.

Sometimes, outside circumstances cause that loss. Sometimes, we cause ourselves to lose the things that mean the most to us.

Whether a life-changing accident happens or you momentarily do something out of character that leads to irreparable damage, you often only realize what you had once it's gone.

That’s why you need to protect some fundamental aspects of your life with a fervor that can’t be tamed.

Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too. – Yogi Berra

Our lives and priorities are all different. However, there are precious things in life that are pretty much universal.

Never lose track of these:

Our relationships are the most important things in the world. They’re the most crucial factor for happiness and, in combination with your calling, tend to be our reasons to live. For most, family is at the top of the list in terms of values and priorities.

Sometimes, it’s easy to forget just how much family means to us. They’re the people we typically live with and it’s hard to live with another person– no matter how much we like them. Love gives way to frustration and sometimes...we feel like we hate the other person.

However, your family is irreplaceable and precious, so you have to devote your time and energy to nurturing those precious relationships not just for the sake of your relatives, but also for your own.

Like family, friends are one of the most important things in the world. Good friends are hard to come by, so when you find one, you need to do everything you can to nurture that relationship.

A great friend can become like family. You forge an inseparable bond with someone whom you know you can always count on -- no matter how dark things get. A good friend is a confidant, a shoulder to lean on, and sometimes the voice of reason for us.

Always remember how lucky you are to have found someone you can truly call a good friend.

Love includes friends and family, your calling, and intimate relationships. But it also includes everything else you love and all your encounters with others. It includes those things you enjoy doing, the stories you grew up with, and the kind interactions with strangers that remind you of the love that exists in the world.

These can seem like separate, unrelated things, but they are opportunities to experience love in its varying forms. Experiencing love can give our life a sense of meaning and purpose, like something else...

Your calling

This is your sense of meaning. It’s your passion , your muse. Your calling gives your life purpose and fills you with a sense of vitality that makes everything easier and more enjoyable. This is also how you make a difference.

Your calling is your life’s work. It’s your legacy. To find what you have a passion for, and to pursue that passion, is to find the vehicle you’ll use to contribute your greatness to the world.

This is one of those “you don’t know how much it means until it’s gone” type things. Many people will skip over this point, not giving it a second thought.

However, once you have even a single small health complication you’ll know exactly just how important this is. At the first sign of complications, you realize that everything is jeopardized by bad health.

With good health , you can spend more time with friends and family, enjoy the love in your life, and follow your passion to your heart’s content. With bad health...you eventually lose it all. So, take care of your health so you have more time to enjoy the other most important things in your life.

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Police Officer Is Now Family After Saving Three-Month-Old

Being a new parent is terrifying because you’re always expecting the worst. But when the worst actually happens, and your baby stops breathing, you hope that a stranger like this police officer will be there to save the day.

A Harrowing Incident

Officer Mike Harton sits with Tooka, he girl whose life he once saved

CBS News/YouTube

A normal day at the movies turned into a new mother ’s worst nightmare five years ago when her three-month-old daughter Tooka stopped breathing. Nikki Huckaby ran out of the theater and screamed for help.

“I was standing there, and that’s when she came running toward this way,” Officer Mike Harton recalled to CNN . “[The baby] curled back, trying to take a breath, and then she went completely limp on me.”

It was then that Harton’s training kicked in and he started performing chest compressions and back blows, trying to get Tooka breathing again.

“All I was thinking, is like, she cannot die in this movie theater,” Huckaby recalled.

“All I could think in my head was, 'Not on my watch, not on my watch,'” Harton added.

Saving a Life

After 30 long seconds, Tooka finally released a small cry. It was music to the mom and officer’s ears. “That cry was the best cry ever,” Harton said.

“I literally watched a miracle happen before my eyes,” Huckaby said.

From that moment on, Harton began calling Tooka “Little Angel” and the officer became a part of the family ’s life. He was even asked to be Tooka’s godfather. Today, he’s there for all of the five-year-old’s big life events: birthdays, holidays, and the first day of school. Tooka even wants to be a police officer when she grows up.

“That day, an angel came down,” Harton continued. “She did more for me than I did for her. My life changed that day. Our family got extended, and it’s amazing.”

Positive Relationships

In the interview, Huckaby explained that she and Harton wanted to share their story to show that positive police relationships can — and should — exist.

“A lot of people don’t get a chance to have that positive relationship with police officers. I hope this story is an example of how you can come together from different worlds and really be family because we are humans first,” Huckaby said.

It’s a nice reminder that the police in our communities do more than we think and are there to serve first and foremost. By highlighting more of these examples, we can deepen our relationships with police officers who show up for those in need, lend a helping hand, and continue to show up long after their official duties are done.

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Police Officer Gives Stranded Teens a Ride to Their Prom

Prom tends to be a memorable experience for most high school kids. It is, after all, the social event of the year.

But for two kids from Dunn County, North Dakota, it's not the prom itself that left a lasting impression. It's what happened on the way that turned it into one heck of a night to remember.

What Happened When Two Teens Got Stranded on their Way to Prom

Killdeer High School Students at their 2024 Prom

Killdeer Public School District #6/Facebook

Dunn County Sheriff Officer, Corporal Tyler Rintamaki never made it to prom. That is, until now.

Rintamaki and another deputy were headed back to the office when they spotted a truck on the side of Highway 22, flashers on and facing the wrong direction, per KFRY-TV .

“We thought it was odd, so we stopped and checked on them," Rintamaki said.

That's when the officers met Danica Mindt and Ian Gloria, juniors at Killdeer High School. The teens were on their way to prom when their truck unexpectedly broke down.

“The truck started beeping at me, making some weird noises and popping up this caution light. I knew something was wrong,” said Mindt.

Not knowing what else to do, the teens were about to call 9-1-1. But, as luck would have it, they didn't have to.

The officers immediately sprang into action. Unable to fix the truck, they decided to go with Plan B.

"Determined not to let the unexpected setback spoil the students' special night, Corporal Rintamaki and Deputy Jermeay provided a kind and compassionate gesture by offering them a courtesy ride to prom," the Dunn County Sheriff's Department wrote on their Facebook page.

However, they didn't just give them a ride. They also gave them pictures to prove it.

Riding to Prom in Style

Killdeer High School juniors Danica Mindt and Ian Gloria taking prom photos in front of Dunn County Sheriff's Dept. vehicles.

@danica_mindt369/Instagram

With only moments to go before their scheduled prom photos, and the clock ticking, Mindt and Gloria worried that they'd miss out.

But Rintamaki wasn't about to let that happen on his watch. He offered to take some "one-of-a-kind" photos for them.

“I was like, ‘Well, we can just take photos for you. We can take photos here in front of the police car,’“ he said .

So, with the road stretching behind them and two police cruisers flanking them, the duo struck a pose in a roadside photoshoot they'll never forget.

Ten minutes later, the teens made it to their high school prom in what may just be the most epic entrance ever — in the back of a police car with sirens wailing.

They even made it in time for their official photoshoot. All thanks to the Dunn County men in blue.

As for the villain in this tale? Mechanics are still trying to figure out what's wrong with the broken-down truck.

A Night To Remember Thanks To the Kindness of Strangers

Killdeer High School juniors Danica Mindt and Ian Gloria

The Dunn County Sheriff's Office commended the officers on their act of kindness, writing:

"Their selfless act reflects the values of service and community that define law enforcement, ensuring that Danica and Ian arrived safely and on time to create cherished memories at their prom." Dunn County Sheriff's Office

Because of the police officers' good deed, Mindt's and Gloria's prom "was a blast."

But it wasn't just a night the high schoolers will never forget, it was one for Rintamaki too.

In a cool twist of fate, Rintamaki was finally able to cross prom off his own list of life experiences.

Having never made it to his own high school prom years ago, the unexpected encounter gave him a chance to finally say he'd been, proving it really is never too late for second chances.

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13 Life Lessons From Denzel Washington’s Speech (And Their Importance)

By Dan

October 26, 2022

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.

In the commencement speech at Dillard University, Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington shared 13 life lessons he has learned over his years in the entertainment industry.

Life Lessons From Denzel Washington's Speech

Denzel Washington is one of Hollywood's most successful and respected actors. He has starred in some of the most popular films of all time, including Malcolm X, Training Day, and The Equalizer.

In addition to his impressive acting career, Washington is also an accomplished director, producer, and screenwriter.

In 2017, he delivered a powerful speech at the commencement ceremony for Dillard University, in which he shared 13 life lessons that have helped him achieve success in his life.

The Oscar-winner's advice is both insightful and inspiring and can be applied to people from all walks of life; here are all of the notable things that Washington had to say.

1. Put God first.

Denzel Washington began his speech by stressing the importance of putting God first in one's life.

The Oscar-winner urged graduates to always keep God first in their lives, regardless of how successful they become; only by doing so will they be able to maintain a sense of humility and perspective.

This is excellent advice that can be applied to all aspects of life; no matter what goals a person achieves, remember the role that faith plays in helping them reach those accomplishments.

No matter what higher power you believe in, whether it is God, the Universe, or something else, putting that force at the center of your life is a guaranteed recipe for success.

With that being said, although we know that not everyone is religious, the same message can be applied to those who do not believe in a higher power; it is crucial to have something or someone to believe in and look up to.

No matter what happens in life, always remember that there is something or someone bigger than you that you can rely on for guidance and strength.

2. Fail big.

The next life lesson that Denzel Washington shared was the impact that failing big has on our lives.

Washington acknowledged that failure is a part of life and that we all fail at some point, but the key is to accept it, learn from one's mistakes and use them as motivation to keep moving forward.

The actor told graduates that they should not be afraid to take risks in their lives and pursue their dreams because it is only by failing that they will ultimately achieve greater success.

We get it! Failing is scary, but the truth is that it is an inevitable part of life, so rather than trying to avoid it, accept it and use it as a learning opportunity to help you grow and become better.

After all, if one of the most successful actors in Hollywood can embrace failure, then so can you!

3. Think outside the box.

Washington encouraged graduates to think outside the box because sometimes, we need to look at things from a different perspective to find the answers to the problems we've been looking for.

By thinking outside the box, you are able to come up with innovative solutions to problems and discover new opportunities that you may have otherwise missed out on.

4. Dreams without goals are just dreams.

Denzel stressed the significance of setting goals because, without them, dreams are nothing more than just that... dreams.

How many times have you found yourself daydreaming about accomplishing something great but never taking any steps toward making it a reality?

Probably more times than you'd like to admit, right? Well, that's because you didn't set goals. Having goals gives you a sense of purpose and direction; without them, it is easy to get lost and end up in the same place you started.

It is not enough to dream about success; you need to have a plan and take actionable steps toward achieving your goals if you ever want to see them come to life.

5. Discipline and consistency are key.

The actor went on to tell graduates that discipline and consistency are key when it comes to achieving their goals, meaning they need to be disciplined enough to stick to their plans and be consistent in their efforts.

In this golden age of instant gratitude, it is easy to give up before you even start because you want to see results immediately; after all, that's what we're used to with the click of a button.

But there are no shortcuts when it comes to success, so if you want to achieve your goals, you need to be prepared to put in the work and stick to it even when things get tough; here are 9 tips to help you develop self-discipline .

It takes time and effort to see results and if you give up too soon, you'll never know what you're capable of achieving.

6. We don't plan to fail; we fail to plan.

Denzel Washington shared another piece of advice which is that we don't plan to fail, but we fail to plan.

While it is important to have goals, it is equally as important to have a plan of action; by planning ahead and being organized, you avoid unnecessary setbacks and stay on track when things get tough, all of which increase your chances of success.

7. Hard work works.

The next lesson Washington wanted graduates to know was that hard work pays off; he urged them to be willing to put in the time and effort required to achieve their dreams.

As previously mentioned, you need to be willing to put in the time and effort because there are no shortcuts to success.

If you want something bad enough, you need to be willing to work for it, and when you do, eventually, your hard work will pay off.

8. Don't confuse movement with progress.

The actor also cautioned graduates against confusing movement with progress; just because they are busy and always on the go, it doesn't mean they are making progress toward their goals.

Instead of just being busy for the sake of being busy, be efficient and effective with your time to move closer to your goals; here are 9 tips to help you focus on the present .

Take a step back and assess your situation to ensure you are actually making progress and not just spinning your wheels.

9. You'll never see a u-haul behind a hearse.

This is one of Denzel Washington's most famous quotes, and it is a powerful reminder that we cannot take our possessions with us when we die.

Live in the present and don't get too caught up in materialistic things; life is about the experiences you have and the people you meet, not the things you own.

10. It's not how much you have; it's what you do with what you have.

Washington continued his speech by talking about the importance of what we do with what we have, which is what truly matters in life.

Use your talents and resources to make a positive difference in the world; no matter how big or small your contributions may be, they can make a world of difference.

11. The most selfish thing you can do in this world Is help someone else.

He said that the most selfish thing we can do in this world is to help someone else because, in doing so, we are ultimately helping ourselves.

By helping others, you are not only making the world a better place but also helping yourself.

When you give of yourself, you make a positive impact in the world, and you also receive gratification and blessings in return.

12. Say thank you in advance for what is already yours.

The final life lesson that Denzel Washington shared was the power of gratitude; he encouraged graduates to say thank you in advance for all the good that is already theirs.

By expressing gratitude, you open yourself up to receiving all the good that you have been blessed with.

13. Don't just aspire to make a living; aspire to make a difference.

Washington ended his speech with a reminder that we should not only aspire to make a living, but we should also aspire to make a difference. By making a difference, you leave a lasting legacy that will continue long after we are gone.

These are all of the lessons that Denzel Washington shared in his speech; take them to heart and use them as motivation to achieve your goals and make a difference in the world.

Did any of them resonate with you? Which one was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

About the author

My name is Dan, a few years ago I decided to turn my life around and it all started with time management, I'm here to help you navigate how to best manage your time.

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12 Pieces Of Valuable Life Advice From The Greatest Commencement Speeches Of All Time

The best graduation speeches last the test of time, offering wisdom and insight that is just as helpful to a 21-year-old as to someone at the peak of their career.

Inspired by recent round ups by NPR and Brain Pickings of great commencement speeches, we've highlighted our all-time favorites and the timeless advice they offer.

T hese speeches touch on dealing with failure, adapting to change, and the importance of self-discovery. Re ad on to see the powerful life lessons shared by highly influential people, including J.K. Rowling, Conan O'Brien, and Steve Jobs.

J.K. Rowling said that you must not fear failure, no matter how grim things get.

The author of the "Harry Potter" series told Harvard's class of 2008 about the dark period she experienced before achieving success. " An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears that my parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself, had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew," Rowling said.

But when she was at the bottom, she realized that her life went on, and she decided to press forward. " You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable," she said. "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all — in which case, you fail by default.

"You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift, for all that it is painfully won, and it has been worth more than any qualification I ever earned," she said.

See the transcript and watch the video .

Steve Jobs told graduates they must never settle.

The legendary founder and CEO of Apple told Stanford University's class of 2005 that they needed to live each day as if it were their last. He'd been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year earlier.

Jobs said this mindset will make you understand the importance of your work. "And the only way to do great work is to love what you do," he said. "If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

Settling means giving in to someone else's vision of your life. Jobs warned against this temptation: "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."

Conan O'Brien said that you must be willing to adapt to change and adjust your dreams.

In his hilarious 2011 address to Dartmouth College, the late night talk show host spoke about his brief run on "The Tonight Show" before being replaced by Jay Leno. O'Brien described the fallout as the lowest point in his life, feeling very publicly humiliated and defeated. But once he got back on his feet and went on a comedy tour across the country, he realized something.

"For decades, in show business, the ultimate goal of every comedian was to host 'The Tonight Show,'" he said. "It was the Holy Grail, and like many people I thought that achieving that goal would define me as successful. But that is not true. No specific job or career goal defines me, and it should not define you.

"Well I am here to tell you that whatever you think your dream is now, it will probably change. And that’s okay," he said.

Robert Krulwich told graduates that they should not wait for opportunities to be handed to them.

In his 2011 speech to UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, the acclaimed science journalist spoke of those who truly succeed in life. " I don't know exactly what's going on inside them, but they have this … hunger. It's almost like an ache," Krulwich said.

To be one of these people, he explained, you can't just send out a couple resumes and then wait to see if someone calls back. "Instead, think about getting together with friends that you admire, or envy. Think about entrepeneuring. Think about NOT waiting for a company to call you up. Think about not giving your heart to a bunch of adults you don’t know. Think about horizontal loyalty. Think about turning to people you already know, who are your friends, or friends of their friends, and making something that makes sense to you together, that is as beautiful or as true as you can make it," he said.

Oprah Winfrey said that you must learn to trust yourself.

The media mogul told Stanford's class of 2008 that they can't sacrifice happiness for money. "What I know now is that feelings are really your GPS system for life. When you're supposed to do something or not supposed to do something, your emotional guidance system lets you know," she said.

She explained that doing what your heart tells you to do will make you more successful, because it will drive you to work harder and will save you from debilitating stress.

"If it doesn't feel right, don't do it. That's the lesson. And that lesson alone will save you, my friends, a lot of grief," Winfrey said.

David Foster Wallace told graduates to never forget that they are part of a much greater existence.

In 2005, the author told the graduating class of Kenyon College that they should be a little less arrogant and less certain about their beliefs.

"This is not a matter of virtue," Wallace said. "It's a matter of my choosing to do the work of somehow altering or getting free of my natural, hard-wired default setting, which is to be deeply and literally self-centered and to see and interpret everything through this lens of self."

Breaking free of the confines of your own head can allow you to truly experience life, even if it's just a trip to the grocery store or the DMV. "It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer-hell type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred, on fire with the same force that made the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down," he said.

Stephen Colbert said that life is an improvisation, not something that can be figured out.

The comedian and soon-to-be host of the "Late Show" told Northwestern University's class of 2011 that they should never feel like they have it all figured out.

"[W]hatever your dream is right now, if you don't achieve it, you haven't failed, and you're not some loser. But just as importantly — and this is the part I may not get right and you may not listen to — if you do get your dream, you are not a winner," Colbert said.

He spoke about his improv days, and how when actors are working together properly, they're all serving each other, playing off each other on a common idea. "And life is an improvisation. You have no idea what's going to happen next and you are mostly just making things up as you go along. And like improv, you cannot win your life," he said.

Sheryl Sandberg told graduates to not overthink it when life hands you an opportunity.

The Facebook COO and author of " Lean In " told Harvard Business School's class of 2012 in her Class Day speech that she almost missed her big break in life.

Sandberg had broken down her career options into a data-driven spreadsheet and told Google CEO Eric Schmidt that a job at his young company didn't meet her spreadsheet's criteria. " He put his hand on my spreadsheet and he looked at me and said, 'Don't be an idiot.' Excellent career advice. And then he said, 'Get on a rocket ship,'" she said.

She explained that becoming anxious and over-analyzing risky but potentially rewarding opportunities can hold you back from success. "If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat. Just get on," she said.

Kurt Vonnegut told graduates that they must refrain from holding grudges.

The famed author became one of the most sought after commencement speakers in the United States for many years, for his musings on morality and cooperation. In his 1999 address to Agnes Scott College, he said that graduates can make the world a better place by respecting humanity and living without hate.

He said that living this way leads to a happier, more peaceful, and more complete existence. "[I] n our personal lives, our inner lives, at least, we can learn to live without the sick excitement, without the kick of having scores to settle with this particular person, or that bunch of people, or that particular institution or race or nation. And we can then reasonably ask forgiveness for our trespasses, since we forgive those who trespass against us."

See the partial transcript and watch the video .

Ellen DeGeneres told graduates that true success is about being true to yourself.

The comedian told Tulane University's class of 2009 that her idea of success changed after she lost her sitcom, which essentially destroyed her career before she made a remarkable comeback.

"[I] t was so important for me to lose everything because I found out what the most important thing is — to be true to yourself. Ultimately, that's what's gotten me to this place. I don't live in fear, I'm free; I have no secrets and I know I'll always be OK, because no matter what, I know who I am," DeGeneres said.

She recommended that the graduates see success as the fulfillment of who they truly are. " For many of you, today, success is being able to hold down 20 shots of tequila. For me, the most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity and not to give into peer pressure to try to be something that you're not, to live your life as an honest and compassionate person, to contribute in some way."

Neil Gaiman warned that success can be more dangerous than failure.

In his 2012 address to the University of the Arts, the award-winning fantasy writer advised graduating seniors to make plenty of mistakes, but to not stop pursuing their passion when they become successful.

It's easy to become used to a struggle, getting one message in a bottle back for every hundred you throw out, to use Gaiman's metaphor. "The point where you stop saying 'yes' to everything, because now the bottles you threw in the ocean are all coming back, and you have to learn to say 'no'" can be a real threat to actually doing what you love, he said.

"[T]he biggest problem of success is that the world conspires to stop you doing the thing that you do, because you are successful. There was a day when I looked up and realized that I had become someone who professionally replied to email, and who wrote as a hobby. I started answering fewer emails, and was relieved to find I was writing much more," he said.

Ann Patchett emphasized the importance of self-reflection.

In her 2006 address to Sarah Lawrence College, the writer told her audience that they should return to campus at some point in the future to reflect.

"Coming back is the thing that enables you to see how all the dots in your life are connected, how one decision leads you to another, how one twist of fate, good or bad, brings you to a door that later takes you to another door, which aided by several detours — long hallways and unforeseen stairwells — eventually puts you in the place you are now," Patchett said.

When you revisit places, it gives you an opportunity to remind yourself of your passions and your motivations. You'll find yourself thinking, she said, " This place hasn't changed so terribly much, and so by an extension of logic I must not have changed much, either."

See the partial transcript .

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What 12 Super-Successful People Wish They Knew At 22 >>

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Speech on “What Is the Most Important Lesson You Have Learned so Far?”

Life is a continuous learning experience. Throughout our lives, we keep rising and falling, picking up important lessons along the way. Sometimes when someone asks us about the most important lesson, we fumble over it before even starting.

To avoid that, it is important to know a few guidelines that can help us to start with our speech, keeping in mind every other detail.

In the following templates, you will be guided with various ways in which you can start with your speech and complete it with utmost grace and perfection at ease.

Speech Template:

To talk about only one lesson is tough because there are uncountable lessons that I have learned so far in my life. Some of them are worth it.

Health is first priority

One of my friends worked for a very successful sales leader. This leader was very good at his job but was constantly stressed out. In addition to that, he traveled a lot for work and as a result, had a very unhealthy lifestyle. One day, his body couldn’t take this indiscipline anymore he had a heart attack in his hotel room.

He succumbed to it and died. Hence no matter how much success, money, or fame you have, all are useless without your body. So invest in your health. Try and treat your body like a temple.

We all have our unique timeline

One of my friends decided just one year after college that he wanted to be an actor. One of my other friends worked in various companies for over six years before finding his passion and starting his own company. So don’t ever think about what other people are doing; just focus on what’s right for you.

The best way to learn is to start simply

Want to build your own online business? Get started on building your website. Want to become an actor? Start auditioning. Want to become a doctor? Start studying. Don’t wait for someone to push you. That is never going to happen.

Money is not going to solve your problems

There are many people out there who are living very little yet have happy lives. Also, there are a lot of people who are barely living on huge amounts yet spending miserable lives. Monetary claims can buy a big house, expensive shoes, ornaments, and security, but they cannot fix a broken relationship or cure loneliness.

It is impossible to please everyone

It is not always essential to have everyone agree with you or even like you. It’s human nature to want to be desired, respected, and valued, but not at the expense of your integrity and happiness. Other people cannot give you the value or respect you seek. That has to come from inside. Speak up, demand respect, and stay true to your values.

It is not all about you.

It’s very difficult to view the world from another perspective outside of your own since we are always focused on what’s happening in our own lives. It’s normal to pay attention to what’s going on around you and how things affect other people in the world as you do to your own life and just be cautious of everything that’s going on in your own life.

There’s no shame in not knowing

Nobody has all the answers. There is no shame in saying, “I don’t know.” You won’t become flawless if you claim to be perfect. In acknowledging our shortcomings, there is some sort of stigma or embarrassment, but we can’t possibly know anything. It’s really natural here. We all make mistakes, and as we go, we learn that it’s life.

My Aim in Life Speech for Students and Children

My aim in life speech.

It would be fair to say that having an aim in life is one of the most important things. It is one of the things which binds us together. Every living being has some aim or the other in their life. Whether you take a tiger who aims to prey on the deer or a human being who aims to earn money and respect in life, it is common for all. Thus, if we compare humans to animals, we see being more evolved, humans have different types of aims in life. Moreover, it is rather important to have an aim in life as it brings discipline in life. Read My Aim in Life Speech here.

Why Should We All Have Aims

If we talk about it generally, we see that an aim is a purpose or goal. For instance, our aims change from childhood to adulthood. A child wishes to become a doctor or actor when they grow up. This means they try to or aspire to become that.

To begin with an aim, one needs to set smaller goals to achieve the big aim. This way, the process will become simplified. You might face problems but it is common and will also learn to overcome them.

There is a common saying that a man without an aim is like a bird flying without directions. This means that your life needs directions in order to become successful. Thus, an aim will help you with that. When you have an aim in life, your life will find purpose and meaning.

Moreover, it must be important to understand that to set an aim, you must first find out what interests you. As, if you do something half-heartedly, you will surely not achieve it. Thus, an aim in life will help in adding discipline, hard work, focus and dedication in your life.

Get the Huge list of 100+ Speech Topics here

Now that we have talked about the importance of an aim, I would like to share with you all the aim of my life. It is pretty common that people will say they aim to become a doctor, astronaut, dancer, actor, painter and more.

However, for me, my aim in life is to become a teacher. This profession has always attracted me and has my deepest respect. In other words, teaching is the most underrated and unappreciated job there is.

If you think of it like that, a teacher selflessly imparts their knowledge to the whole class. Many of them become our role models in life as well. This does not happen just because they teach well, but also because of how they carry themselves.

I also want to make a difference in children’s life by becoming a teacher. It is a very fulfilling job which shapes children from an early age. In fact, I have always adored young children. Thus, my liking for the profession and children has helped me set this aim in life.

In other words, I wish to bring about a change in this world by becoming a good teacher. As a teacher has the power to change this world. We have so much to be grateful to our teachers. They act as our second parents when we are away from home. Moreover, I understand the struggles a teacher has to face, nonetheless, I aspire to become one. I will work hard and put in all my effort to achieve this aim so I can make the world a better place.

Read Essays for Students and Children here !

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Speech on Importance Of Parents In Our Life

Parents play a crucial role in our lives. They are our first teachers and lifelong guides, providing love, support, and guidance.

Their influence shapes our character and values. They help us grow into responsible adults, ready to face the world. Their importance in our life is immeasurable.

1-minute Speech on Importance Of Parents In Our Life

Dear friends,

Let’s talk about our parents, who are the most important people in our lives. Imagine a tree. Parents are like roots, they hold us firm. They make sure we grow straight and strong. They feed us, care for us, love us, even when we make mistakes.

Think about the sacrifices they make. Remember when you were sick and your mom stayed awake all night? Or when your dad worked extra hours to buy you that toy you wanted? They do all this and more just to see us happy.

Parents also guide us, like a lighthouse guides a lost ship. They show us the right path, teach us to differentiate between good and bad. They are our first teachers and the best ones too. They help us understand the world around us.

They are the biggest cheerleaders we can ever have. They celebrate our victories and support us in our failures. They believe in us, even when we don’t. This gives us the courage to chase our dreams.

Lastly, parents shape us into the person we become. They instill values and morals in us. They teach us to be kind, honest, and respectful.

To conclude, let’s all take a moment to thank our parents for everything they do. Let’s promise to make them proud by being the best version of ourselves. Because without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. They are our roots, our lighthouse, our cheerleaders, and our molders. So, here’s to our parents, the most important people in our lives.

2-minute Speech on Importance Of Parents In Our Life

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today we are here to talk about something very special, something very close to our hearts – our parents. Parents, as we all know, are the first people we meet when we come into this world. They are our first teachers, our first friends, our first heroes. We will talk about their importance in our lives.

The first thing we need to understand is that parents give us life. Without them, we would not be here. They bring us into this world, take care of us when we are small and weak. They feed us, dress us, teach us to walk and talk. They are there for us when we need them the most. This is the first and most basic reason why parents are important in our lives.

Parents also teach us many things. They teach us how to behave, how to respect others, how to be kind and caring. They teach us about hard work, about honesty, about love and friendship. They teach us about the world around us, about its beauty and its challenges. They prepare us for life, give us the tools we need to succeed and be happy. This is the second reason why parents are important in our lives.

But maybe the most important role of parents is their love for us. They love us more than anything else in the world. Their love is strong, unselfish, unconditional. They love us when we are happy, they love us when we are sad. They love us when we succeed, they love us when we fail. They never stop loving us, never stop caring for us. This love gives us strength, gives us confidence, gives us hope. This love is what makes parents so important in our lives.

Finally, parents are our role models. They show us by their example how to live, how to face problems, how to enjoy life. They inspire us, motivate us, guide us. We look up to them, we learn from them, we want to be like them. They shape our character, our values, our beliefs. They help us become the best we can be. This is why parents are so important in our lives.

In conclusion, parents are the most important people in our lives. They give us life, they teach us, they love us, they inspire us. We owe them everything. We should always respect them, always love them, always be grateful for them. Because without them, we would not be who we are today. So let’s take a moment to think about our parents, to appreciate them, to thank them. Because they truly are the most important people in our lives. Thank you.

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NFL responds to Chiefs kicker's controversial commencement speech

T he NFL has responded to Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker 's controversial commencement speech at Benedictine College, where he urged women to be homemakers and railed against Pride Month. The league said in a statement to CBS News that it doesn't hold his views.

"Harrison Butker gave a speech in his personal capacity," said Jonathan Beane, the senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at the NFL. "His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."

The organization's response comes after backlash over the three-time Super Bowl champion's remarks. In a 20-minute address last weekend at the Catholic liberal arts school, he took aim at Pride Month, women in the workforce, President Biden and abortion.

Butker, who has made his conservative Catholic beliefs well known, began his address by attacking what he called "dangerous gender ideologies" in an apparent reference to Pride month, which has been celebrated in June since the Stonewall riots in 1969.

In a different part of this speech, he said, "Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerative cultural values in media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder." He also condemned the president for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and for his pro-abortion stance, despite being Catholic himself.

He later addressed the women in the audience, suggesting that their "most important title" should be that of "homemaker."

"I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you," Butker said. "Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. I can tell you that my beautiful wife Isabelle would be the first to say her life truly started when she started living her vocation as a wife and as a mother."

The kicker also quoted Taylor Swift's song "Bejeweled" while criticizing the Catholic church and its clergy for being "overly familiar" with their parishioners.

"As my teammate's girlfriend says, 'familiarity breeds contempt,'" Butker said, referencing Travis Kelce .

Butker received criticism from many online, including former Kansas City commissioner Justice Horn. "Harrison Butker doesn't represent Kansas City nor has he ever. Kansas City has always been a place that welcomes, affirms, and embraces our LGBTQ+ community members," Horn said on social media.

The Los Angeles Chargers also mocked Butker in their schedule release video , showing him cooking in a kitchen and causing a fire as a Sims character.

A petition on Change.org has been circulating calling for the dismissal of Butker. It's collected more than 95,000 signatures so far.

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The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System

A times investigation found climate change may now be a concern for every homeowner in the country..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Today, my colleague, Christopher Flavelle, on a “Times” investigation into one of the least known and most consequential effects of climate change — insurance — and why it may now be a concern for every homeowner in the country.

It’s Wednesday, May 15.

So, Chris, you and I talked a while ago about how climate change was really wreaking havoc in the insurance market in Florida. You’ve just done an investigation that takes a look into the insurance markets more broadly and more deeply. Tell us about it.

Yeah, so I cover climate change, in particular the way climate shocks affect different parts of American life. And insurance has become a really big part of that coverage. And Florida is a great example. As hurricanes have gotten worse and more frequent, insurers are paying out more and more money to rebuild people’s homes. And that’s driving up insurance costs and ultimately driving up the cost of owning a home in Florida.

So we’re already seeing that climate impact on the housing market in Florida. My colleagues and I started to think, well, could it be that that kind of disruption is also happening in other states, not just in the obvious coastal states but maybe even through the middle of the US? So we set out to find out just how much it is happening, how much that Florida turmoil has, in fact, become really a contagion that is spreading across the country.

So how did you go about reporting this? I mean, where did you start?

All we knew at the start of this was that there was reason to think this might be a problem. If you just look at how the federal government tracks disasters around the country, there’s been a big increase almost every year in the number and severity of all kinds of disasters around the country. So we thought, OK, it’s worth trying to find out, what does that mean for insurers?

The problem is getting data on the insurance industry is actually really hard. There’s no federal regulation. There’s no government agency you can go to that holds this data. If you talk to the insurers directly, they tend to be a little reluctant to share information about what they’re going through. So we weren’t sure where to go until, finally, we realized the best people to ask are the people whose job it is to gauge the financial health of insurance companies.

Those are rating agencies. In particular, there’s one rating company called AM Best, whose whole purpose is to tell investors how healthy an insurance company is.

Whoa. So this is way down in the nuts and bolts of the US insurance industry.

Right. This is a part of the broader economy that most people would never experience. But we asked them to do something special for us. We said, hey, can you help us find the one number that would tell us reporters just how healthy or unhealthy this insurance market is state by state over time? And it turns out, there is just such a number. It’s called a combined ratio.

OK, plain English?

Plain English, it is the ratio of revenue to costs, how much money these guys take in for homeowner’s insurance and how much they pay out in costs and losses. You want your revenue to be higher than your costs. If not, you’re in trouble.

So what did you find out?

Well, we got that number for every state, going back more than a decade. And what it showed us was our suspicions were right. This market turmoil that we were seeing in Florida and California has indeed been spreading across the country. And in fact, it turns out that in 18 states, last year, the homeowner’s insurance market lost money. And that’s a big jump from 5 or 10 years ago and spells real trouble for insurance and for homeowners and for almost every part of the economy.

So the contagion was real.

Right. This is our first window showing us just how far that contagion had spread. And one of the really striking things about this data was it showed the contagion had spread to places that I wouldn’t have thought of as especially prone to climate shocks — for example, a lot of the Midwest, a lot of the Southeast. In fact, if you think of a map of the country, there was no state between Pennsylvania and the Dakotas that didn’t lose money on homeowner’s insurance last year.

So just huge parts of the middle of the US have become unprofitable for homeowner’s insurance. This market is starting to buckle under the cost of climate change.

And this is all happening really fast. When we did the Florida episode two years ago, it was a completely new phenomenon and really only in Florida. And now it’s everywhere.

Yeah. And that’s exactly what’s so striking here. The rate at which this is becoming, again, a contagion and spreading across the country is just demolishing the expectations of anyone I’ve spoken to. No one thought that this problem would affect so much of the US so quickly.

So in these states, these new places that the contagion has spread to, what exactly is happening that’s causing the insurance companies to fold up shop?

Yeah. Something really particular is happening in a lot of these states. And it’s worth noting how it’s surprised everyone. And what that is, is formally unimportant weather events, like hailstorms or windstorms, those didn’t used to be the kind of thing that would scare insurance companies. Obviously, a big problem if it destroys your home or damages your home. But for insurers, it wasn’t going to wipe them out financially.

Right. It wasn’t just a complete and utter wipeout that the company would then have to pony up a lot of money for.

Exactly. And insurers call them secondary perils, sort of a belittling term, something other than a big deal, like a hurricane.

These minor league weather events.

Right. But those are becoming so frequent and so much more intense that they can cause existential threats for insurance companies. And insurers are now fleeing states not because of hurricanes but because those former things that were small are now big. Hailstorms, wildfires in some places, previous annoyances are becoming real threats to insurers.

Chris, what’s the big picture on what insurers are actually facing? What’s happening out there numbers-wise?

This is a huge threat. In terms of the number of states where this industry is losing money, it’s more than doubled from 10 years ago to basically a third of the country. The amount they’re losing is enormous. In some states, insurers are paying out $1.25 or even $1.50 for every dollar they bring in, in revenue, which is totally unsustainable.

And the result is insurers are making changes. They are pulling back from these markets. They’re hiking premiums. And often, they’re just dropping customers. And that’s where this becomes real, not just for people who surf balance sheets and trade in the stock market. This is becoming real for homeowners around the country, who all of a sudden increasingly can’t get insurance.

So, Chris, what’s the actual implication? I mean, what happens when people in a state can’t get insurance for their homes?

Getting insurance for a home is crucial if you want to sell or buy a home. Most people can’t buy a home without a mortgage. And banks won’t issue a mortgage without home insurance. So if you’ve got a home that insurance company doesn’t want to cover, you got a real problem. You need to find insurance, or that home becomes very close to unsellable.

And as you get fewer buyers, the price goes down. So this doesn’t just hurt people who are paying for these insurance premiums. It hurts people who want to sell their homes. It even could hurt, at some point, whole local economies. If home values fall, governments take in less tax revenue. That means less money for schools and police. It also means people who get hit by disasters and have to rebuild their homes all of a sudden can’t, because their insurance isn’t available anymore. It’s hard to overstate just how big a deal this is.

And is that actually happening, Chris? I mean, are housing markets being dragged down because of this problem with the insurance markets right now?

Anecdotally, we’ve got reports that in places like Florida and Louisiana and maybe in parts of California, the difficulty of getting insurance, the crazy high cost of insurance is starting to depress demand because not everyone can afford to pay these really high costs, even if they have insurance. But what we wanted to focus on with this story was also, OK, we know where this goes eventually. But where is it beginning? What are the places that are just starting to feel these shocks from the insurance market?

And so I called around and asked insurance agents, who are the front lines of this. They’re the ones who are struggling to find insurance for homeowners. And I said, hey, is there one place that I should go if I want to understand what it looks like to homeowners when all of a sudden insurance becomes really expensive or you can’t even find it? And those insurance agents told me, if you want to see what this looks like in real life, go to a little town called Marshalltown in the middle of Iowa.

We’ll be right back.

So, Chris, you went to Marshalltown, Iowa. What did you find?

Even before I got to Marshalltown, I had some idea I was in the right spot. When I landed in Des Moines and went to rent a car, the nice woman at the desk who rented me a car, she said, what are you doing here? I said, I’m here to write a story about people in Iowa who can’t get insurance because of storms. She said, oh, yeah, I know all about that. That’s a big problem here.

Even the rental car lady.

Even the rental car lady knew something was going on. And so I got into my rental car and drove about an hour northeast of Des Moines, through some rolling hills, to this lovely little town of Marshalltown. Marshalltown is a really cute, little Midwestern town with old homes and a beautiful courthouse in the town square. And when I drove through, I couldn’t help noticing all the roofs looked new.

What does that tell you?

Turns out Marshalltown, despite being a pastoral image of Midwestern easy living, was hit by two really bad disasters in recent years — first, a devastating tornado in 2018 and then, in 2020, what’s called a derecho, a straight-line wind event that’s also just enormously damaging. And the result was lots of homes in this small town got severely damaged in a short period of time. And so when you drive down, you see all these new roofs that give you the sense that something’s going on.

So climate had come to Marshalltown?

Exactly. A place that had previously seemed maybe safe from climate change, if there is such a thing, all of a sudden was not. So I found an insurance agent in Marshalltown —

We talked to other agents but haven’t talked to many homeowners.

— named Bobby Shomo. And he invited me to his office early one morning and said, come meet some people. And so I parked on a quiet street outside of his office, across the street from the courthouse, which also had a new roof, and went into his conference room and met a procession of clients who all had versions of the same horror story.

It was more — well more of double.

A huge reduction in coverage with a huge price increase.

Some people had faced big premium hikes.

I’m just a little, small business owner. So every little bit I do feel.

They had so much trouble with their insurance company.

I was with IMT Insurance forever. And then when I moved in 2020, Bobby said they won’t insure a pool.

Some people had gotten dropped.

Where we used to see carriers canceling someone for frequency of three or four or five claims, it’s one or two now.

Some people couldn’t get the coverage they needed. But it was versions of the same tale, which is all of a sudden, having homeowner’s insurance in Marshalltown was really difficult. But I wanted to see if it was bigger than just Marshalltown. So the next day, I got back in my car and drove east to Cedar Rapids, where I met another person having a version of the same problem, a guy named Dave Langston.

Tell me about Dave.

Dave lives in a handsome, modest, little townhouse on a quiet cul-de-sac on a hill at the edge of Cedar Rapids. He’s the president of his homeowners association. There’s 17 homes on this little street. And this is just as far as you could get from a danger zone. It looks as safe as could be. But in January, they got a letter from the company that insures him and his neighbors, saying his policy was being canceled, even though it wasn’t as though they’d just been hit by some giant storm.

So then what was the reason they gave?

They didn’t give a reason. And I think people might not realize, insurers don’t have to give a reason. Insurance policies are year to year. And if your insurance company decides that you’re too much of a risk or your neighborhood is too much of a risk or your state is too much of a risk, they can just leave. They can send you a letter saying, forget it. We’re canceling your insurance. There’s almost no protection people have.

And in this case, the reason was that this insurance company was losing too much money in Iowa and didn’t want to keep on writing homeowner’s insurance in the state. That was the situation that Dave shared with tens of thousands of people across the state that were all getting similar letters.

What made Dave’s situation a little more challenging was that he couldn’t get new insurance. He tried for months through agent after agent after agent. And every company told him the same thing. We won’t cover you. Even though these homes are perfectly safe in a safe part of the state, nobody would say yes. And it took them until basically two days before their insurance policy was going to run out until they finally found new coverage that was far more expensive and far more bare-bones than what they’d had.

But at least it was something.

It was something. But the problem was it wasn’t that good. Under this new policy, if Dave’s street got hit by another big windstorm, the damage from that storm and fixing that damage would wipe out all the savings set aside by these homeowners. The deductible would be crushingly high — $120,000 — to replace those roofs if the worst happened because the insurance money just wouldn’t cover anywhere close to the cost of rebuilding.

He said to me, we didn’t do anything wrong. This is just what insurance looks like today. And today, it’s us in Cedar Rapids. Everyone, though, is going to face a situation like this eventually. And Dave is right. I talked to insurance agents around the country. And they confirmed for me that this kind of a shift towards a new type of insurance, insurance that’s more expensive and doesn’t cover as much and makes it harder to rebuild after a big disaster, it’s becoming more and more common around the country.

So, Chris, if Dave and the people you spoke to in Iowa were really evidence that your hunch was right, that the problem is spreading and rapidly, what are the possible fixes here?

The fix that people seem most hopeful about is this idea that, what if you could reduce the risk and cause there to be less damage in the first place? So what some states are doing is they’re trying to encourage homeowners to spend more money on hardening their home or adding a new roof or, if it’s a wildfire zone, cut back the vegetation, things that can reduce your risk of having really serious losses. And to help pay for that, they’re telling insurers, you’ve got to offer a discount to people who do that.

And everyone who works in this field says, in theory, that’s the right approach. The problem is, number one, hardening a home costs a fantastic amount of money. So doing this at scale is hugely expensive. Number two, it takes a long time to actually get enough homes hardened in this way that you can make a real dent for insurance companies. We’re talking about years or probably decades before that has a real effect, if it ever works.

OK. So that sounds not particularly realistic, given the urgency and the timeline we’re on here. So what else are people looking at?

Option number two is the government gets involved. And instead of most Americans buying home insurance from a private company, they start buying it from government programs that are designed to make sure that people, even in risky places, can still buy insurance. That would be just a gargantuan undertaking. The idea of the government providing homeowner’s insurance because private companies can’t or won’t would lead to one of the biggest government programs that exists, if we could even do it.

So huge change, like the federal government actually trying to write these markets by itself by providing homeowner’s insurance. But is that really feasible?

Well, in some areas, we’re actually already doing it. The government already provides flood insurance because for decades, most private insurers have not wanted to cover flood. It’s too risky. It’s too expensive. But that change, with governments taking over that role, creates a new problem of its own because the government providing flood insurance that you otherwise couldn’t get means people have been building and building in flood-prone areas because they know they can get that guaranteed flood insurance.

Interesting. So that’s a huge new downside. The government would be incentivizing people to move to places that they shouldn’t be.

That’s right. But there’s even one more problem with that approach of using the government to try to solve this problem, which is these costs keep growing. The number of billion-dollar disasters the US experiences every year keeps going up. And at some point, even if the government pays the cost through some sort of subsidized insurance, what happens when that cost is so great that we can no longer afford to pay it? That’s the really hard question that no official can answer.

So that’s pretty doomsday, Chris. Are we looking at the end of insurance?

I think it’s fair to say that we’re looking at the end of insurance as we know it, the end of insurance that means most Americans can rest assured that if they get hit by a disaster, their insurance company will provide enough money they can rebuild. That idea might be going away. And what it shows is maybe the threat of climate change isn’t quite what we thought.

Maybe instead of climate change wrecking communities in the form of a big storm or a wildfire or a flood, maybe even before those things happen, climate change can wreck communities by something as seemingly mundane and even boring as insurance. Maybe the harbinger of doom is not a giant storm but an anodyne letter from your insurance company, saying, we’re sorry to inform you we can no longer cover your home.

Maybe the future of climate change is best seen not by poring over weather data from NOAA but by poring over spreadsheets from rating firms, showing the profitability from insurance companies, and how bit by bit, that money that they’re losing around the country tells its own story. And the story is these shocks are actually already here.

Chris, as always, terrifying to talk to you.

Always a pleasure, Sabrina.

Here’s what else you should know today. On Tuesday, the United Nations has reclassified the number of women and children killed in Gaza, saying that it does not have enough identifying information to know exactly how many of the total dead are women and children. The UN now estimates that about 5,000 women and about 8,000 children have been killed, figures that are about half of what it was previously citing. The UN says the numbers dropped because it is using a more conservative estimate while waiting for information on about 10,000 other dead Gazans who have not yet been identified.

And Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, gave a press conference outside the court in Lower Manhattan, where Michael Cohen, the former fixer for Donald Trump, was testifying for a second day, answering questions from Trump’s lawyers. Trump is bound by a gag order. So Johnson joined other stand-ins for the former president to discredit the proceedings. Johnson, one of the most important Republicans in the country, attacked Cohen but also the trial itself, calling it a sham and political theater.

Today’s episode was produced by Nina Feldman, Shannon Lin, and Jessica Cheung. It was edited by MJ Davis Lin, with help from Michael Benoist, contains original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, and Rowan Niemisto, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

May 16, 2024 • 30:47 The Make-or-Break Testimony of Michael Cohen
May 15, 2024 • 27:03 The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System
May 14, 2024 • 35:20 Voters Want Change. In Our Poll, They See It in Trump.
May 13, 2024 • 27:46 How Biden Adopted Trump’s Trade War With China
May 10, 2024 • 27:42 Stormy Daniels Takes the Stand
May 9, 2024 • 34:42 One Strongman, One Billion Voters, and the Future of India
May 8, 2024 • 28:28 A Plan to Remake the Middle East
May 7, 2024 • 27:43 How Changing Ocean Temperatures Could Upend Life on Earth
May 6, 2024 • 29:23 R.F.K. Jr.’s Battle to Get on the Ballot
May 3, 2024 • 25:33 The Protesters and the President
May 2, 2024 • 29:13 Biden Loosens Up on Weed
May 1, 2024 • 35:16 The New Abortion Fight Before the Supreme Court

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Christopher Flavelle

Produced by Nina Feldman , Shannon M. Lin and Jessica Cheung

Edited by MJ Davis Lin

With Michael Benoist

Original music by Dan Powell , Marion Lozano and Rowan Niemisto

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

Across the United States, more frequent extreme weather is starting to cause the home insurance market to buckle, even for those who have paid their premiums dutifully year after year.

Christopher Flavelle, a climate reporter, discusses a Times investigation into one of the most consequential effects of the changes.

On today’s episode

Christopher Flavelle , a climate change reporter for The New York Times.

A man in glasses, dressed in black, leans against the porch in his home on a bright day.

Background reading

As American insurers bleed cash from climate shocks , homeowners lose.

See how the home insurance crunch affects the market in each state .

Here are four takeaways from The Times’s investigation.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Christopher Flavelle contributed reporting.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Christopher Flavelle is a Times reporter who writes about how the United States is trying to adapt to the effects of climate change. More about Christopher Flavelle

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THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE
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COMMENTS

12 Inspirational Speeches That Teach You the Most Valuable Life Lessons
In his commencement speech at Northwestern University in 2011, Colbert reminded students that you cannot plan life. Life throws too many curve balls. There are too many unpredictable things that can happen. The most successful and happy people are not those who have a plan, but those who can roll with the punches and overcome the obstacles.
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14. Will Smith's Greatest Motivational Speech Ever (MUST WATCH) | WAKE UP POSITIVE Motivational Video. "On the other side of your maximum fear are all of the best things in life.". If you like your motivation with a side order of laughter, watch Will Smith as he talks about fear.
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2. Admiral William H. McRaven Commencement Address. Admiral McRaven gave a great inspirational speech at the University of Texas and gave 10 great points on how to live life intentionally and they are:. 1. Make your bed 2. Find someone to paddle with you 3. Measure a person by the size of their heart, not their flippers
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10. Life Happens. Life is a journey filled with twists and turns, and the unexpected often greets us at every corner. People yearn for predictability and control, seeking stability in an ever-changing world. However, it is crucial to recognize that life's beauty lies in its unpredictability.
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Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love." 3. You are already naked. "When I was 17, I read a quote that ...
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Al Pacino best speech - Any Given Sunday - 1080p HD. Watch on. This video is private. Watch on. Will Smith - Pursuit of Happiness Inspirational speech to son. Watch on. This video is private. Watch on. HD - Rocky Balboa (2006) - inspirational speech.
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Passion. Nelson Mandela famously said: "There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.". Life is made more special by our passions, our desires, our dreams, and our hopes. Without passion, we feel fruitless and unfulfilled.
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In his 2011 speech to UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, the acclaimed science journalist spoke of those who truly succeed in life. ... For me, the most important thing in your life is ...
10 motivational speeches about life you need to watch
He explains that everyone fails and makes mistakes in life. So, the most important thing is that when you fall, fall forward. Make the most of every setback as a chance to learn and improve. Just get back up and try again. 1. Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability 2013 - the most-watched Ted Talk on YouTube
Speech about Life for Students and Children
I am standing before you all to share my thoughts through my speech about life. Life is a continuous ongoing process that has to end someday. Life is all about adoring yourself, creating yourself. A quote for you that life can be only understood backward but it must be lived forwards. Life itself is a golden opportunity to live a meaningful ...
The 5 Most Important Things in Life
Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too. - Yogi Berra. Our lives and priorities are all different. However, there are precious things in life that are pretty much universal. Never lose track of these: Family. Our relationships are the most important things in the world. They're the most crucial factor ...
13 Life Lessons From Denzel Washington's Speech (And Their Importance)
11. The most selfish thing you can do in this world Is help someone else. 12. Say thank you in advance for what is already yours. 13. Don't just aspire to make a living; aspire to make a difference. 1. Put God first. Denzel Washington began his speech by stressing the importance of putting God first in one's life.
3 lessons about what really matters in life, learned in the pandemic
Lesson #2: Family rhythms have shifted, but our ties are as important as ever. A grandmother takes strength from her ancestors . Like so many other people, COVID-19 took Jackie Stockton by surprise. One day, she was at her church in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, celebrating her 90th birthday — and the next thing she knew, she was in the ...
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DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON: 'Keep your failures at the forefront of your mind'. The Rock delivered a moving speech to the L.A. Lakers during a rough year for the team. "Thank you, boys ...
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The 10 Most Important Human Values - Inspirational Speech by Fearless Soul.Download or Stream it now here: https://iamfearlesssoul.com/the-10-most-important-...
Advice From Best Commencement Speeches
YouTube/Joshua Sherman. The comedian and soon-to-be host of the "Late Show" told Northwestern University's class of 2011 that they should never feel like they have it all figured out. " [W]hatever ...
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Mindset Shifts to Be Happier at Work. SEE ALSO. The Importance of Motivation. Final thoughts. Personal Development. Health and Fitness. Personal Relationships. Joanna Zambas - Content Manager and Career Expert. Learn about the most important things in life and why they are essential in order to live a happy and fulfilling life and career.
Speech on "What Is the Most Important Lesson You Have ...
In the following templates, you will be guided with various ways in which you can start with your speech and complete it with utmost grace and perfection at ease. Speech Template: To talk about only one lesson is tough because there are uncountable lessons that I have learned so far in my life. Some of them are worth it. Health is first priority.
My Aim in Life Speech for Students and Children
My Aim in Life Speech. It would be fair to say that having an aim in life is one of the most important things. It is one of the things which binds us together. Every living being has some aim or the other in their life. Whether you take a tiger who aims to prey on the deer or a human being who aims to earn money and respect in life, it is ...
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Personal Anthem Research Paper. believe the most important things in life are family, words, friends and patience. Family is the backbone of your life. They support you with your decisions and give you unconditional love. Words are very important in life to communicate also patience is the key to achieving your goals.
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1-minute Speech on Importance Of Parents In Our Life. Dear friends, Let's talk about our parents, who are the most important people in our lives. Imagine a tree. Parents are like roots, they hold us firm. They make sure we grow straight and strong. They feed us, care for us, love us, even when we make mistakes.
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The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System
This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this ...