Speaking to students

I have been having a wonderful time lately speaking to students in many of the finest universities in the country.

- FRANCIS J. KONG

Fresh-looking, articulate and intelligent young men and women ready to go out into the world and conquer it.

As busy as I am, I would always make time to meet these young people because I know what I say would somehow matter to them. If only a few lives were changed for the better, then it’s worth my time and effort to do what I do.

I would share with them a commencement speech delivered by Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, who spoke of the relation of work to one’s other commitments:

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them — work, family, health, friends and spirit — and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls — family, health, friends and spirit — are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.

You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.