By Sourena VasseghiWith Rich Finley
USCRipsIt Guest Bloggers
Wow, it's so hard to believe that this Saturday at the Coliseum is the final game of this topsy-turvy season. And to be ending it with Arizona, instead of a fierce rival like UCLA or Notre Dame, is just kinda...weird.
But that makes it so appropriate. Because this season has been strange. Normally when a young team has growing pains, you see that in the early going. But this season started off like most others -- a high ranking to open the season, a big marquee victory, but then all of sudden, injuries and inconsistency took their toll and made this season just a bizarre one. But I'll be there on Saturday, rooting my boys on, and will eagerly anticipate the upcoming bowl game.
Now, I want to share something really cool with you. Weeks ago my speaking partner Rich and I spoke for Dean Ellis in the Marshall School of Business at USC for parents weekend. It was in a huge lecture hall on campus and all the students had their parents with them. It was an incredibly rewarding experience and for an hour-and-a-half, I talked about my life, my book, gave the kids my tools for success in business and life, and fielded questions.
Last week, I received an amazing gift from Dean Ellis. It was a package of all the papers the students wrote about that event. I was touched and overwhelmed by their sentiments. Usually, every time we speak, we receive compliments such as "great job" or "that was so inspiring" or "so funny." I always wonder if the lessons that I talk about truly resonate with the audience or if they get lost among the most humorous aspects of the talk, and especially so when it comes to speaking to a group of young people who are bombarded by a society geared towards short attention spans.
I was so touched to read comments such as "Sourena was the most inspirational speaker we've ever had." But what got me really thrilled were the essays of quiet reflection so many of the kids wrote. So many of them questioned their work ethic, their desire, their appreciation for life, citing me as an example that they could always work harder.
One student in particular wrote, "I have always been lazy in school and sports and life has been easy for me. To tell you the truth, I'm pretty cocky, and have always felt like life will just 'work out'. But Mr. Vasseghi has just punched me right in the face and shown me that I need to humble myself, and work my butt off in order to achieve the things I want."
Now, first of all, I never punched anyone in the face. But I appreciated his point. That's why I'm doing what I'm doing with my life. I feel like it's so easy for all of us to lose sight of what's important, become lazy, etc., and if I have the ability to make people stop for just a minute, reflect on their life, maybe offer some words of encouragement or hope that they can apply to the rest of their lives, what an amazing gift YOU give to ME, to allow me the opportunity to do that.
I wish I could just post them all and maybe I'll include more comments in the future, but you don't need to be an author or a motivational speaker to make a difference in someone's life. Sometimes it's through your words, and sometimes it's just through being yourself that you are constantly settling an example that someone, whether it's your friends, co-workers, children, etc., will notice, dissect and emulate.
We should all focus on what impact we want to make, because whether you intend to make an impact or not, one way or the other, you always do.
• Sourena Vasseghi, a motivational speaker and writer, has addressed the USC football team on several occasions over the years. His book, "Love your life and it will love you back," is available here.
