David Solomon gifted the class of 2020 three gifts to help them make their "mark on the world."
As part of the "Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020" podcast, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, a graduate of Hamilton College, issued a virtual commencement speech for graduating students across the country.
"We have all been reminded of an essential trait that as human beings sets us apart from the rest of the creatures on the planet: our ability to choose how we respond to events beyond our control. This is where our true character is revealed," he began, before quoting Victor Frankel, the famed psychologist, Holocaust survivor, and author of "Man's Search for Meaning," who summed up his sentiment best. "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
Solomon went on to reveal his three gifts to the graduating class: a watch, a smartwatch of course, and a mirror.
The compass was the first gift he presented, explaining that it "is to remind you that life is a journey, not a destination. A journey with significant milestones along the way. Milestones like this one. But a journey nonetheless. Just as a compass can point to true north, you need to have your own true north, your own inner compass that provides direction."
"As you start out your professional life, there is often a dangerous misconception that people further along in their careers have been on a very linear well-planned path. Not true. Listen to others tell you of their own journey and most will tell you that their path has been one of crooked lines, u-turns, detours, and even the F word: failure," he continued. "And failure is going to come somewhere in your life somehow. When you do fail, when you fall, you'll pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start again and you'll learn something. Learning and failure go hand in hand."
"Things change. No doubt you've experienced that yourself," Solomon added, referencing the changing landscape due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. "That's normal. In fact, it's an essential part of learning, being open to new experiences and what they may hold for you. What's most important is that whatever steps you take whether big, bold leaps or small, cautious moves, you do so while being true to your internal compass. Be true to who you are, the people who matter to you, knowing what matters to you and what doesn't. Have a strong compass where your true north is your destination. There's no better way to navigate life."
Next up was the watch. "...every time you look at that watch, it's my hope that you'll be reminded of the value of time. The importance of deciding very intentionally, how you spend it," Solomon shared. "I learned to be very intentional with my time, how I spent it, what I wasn't willing to give up."
The CEO then explained that when he learned to budget his time "a lot tighter" he "discovered more of it."
"More time to get things done, to explore new things, to do what really mattered to me," he said. "To this day I make sure that even with the jam-packed schedule of a CEO, I make time outside my day-to-day to be with people from different industries and with different backgrounds. Time spent fostering relationships with diverse people who enrich my thinking and challenge my assumptions makes life a whole lot more interesting. It also makes me a better person and in turn a better CEO."
"I hope you'll be a good steward of the gift of time," Solomon advised. "Invest it wisely in yourself and others with people who think differently than you do. People you love, people who love you, some who challenge you, and more than a few who believe in you."
Last but not least was the mirror. "Make sure you take a look in that mirror often and remember to see your authentic self," he encouraged. "Remain committed to being who you really are and bring it with you wherever life's journey takes you."
Solomon then opened up about taking up DJing (yes, he plays house and electronic dance music as DJ D-Sol when he's not in the office). While for a time it was his "private hobby," a newspaper article exposed him as "the deejay banker at Goldman Sachs."
After being exposed, he initially thought he'd have to give up his hobby. However, his boss encouraged him to stick with it, which taught him two things: "one, was okay to keep doing what I was doing. David Solomon, the banker, David Solomon, the DJ, did not have to be mutually exclusive. The second thing it taught me was that being open and authentic about who I am was actually going to help me personally and professionally. I found myself having new and unexpected conversations with colleagues about music or a totally unrelated hobby of their own."
He added, "People with whom I really engaged now felt comfortable approaching me with some even asking my advice on how they could carve out time for their own passion. My opportunities to enjoy deejaying would be helped by my be relatively well known for something else entirely."
Solomon concluded his speech with a hopeful message, telling the class of 2020 "to pack up your compass, strap on your watch, grab that mirror and make your mark in the world."
Congratulations to the Class of 2020! iHeartRadio’s "Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020” podcast celebrates this year’s graduating students as they take their next steps into the world. For more inspiring speeches from celebrities, athletes, business leaders and more, listen to the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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