Randy Pausch Quotes

I think I have a lot to offer.

I know what I can bring to the table wherever it is.

Make yourself necessary to the world, and mankind will give you bread.

I don't want to be taking up space, but as long as I can make a contribution, I want to play.

Over time I learned that there are two very different satisfactions that you can have in your life. One is the satisfaction of becoming skilled at something. It almost doesn't matter what the terrain is. There is a deep, soul-feeding resonance in mastery itself, whether in teaching, writing a complicated software program, coaching a baseball team, or marshalling a group of people to start a new business.

What preys on my mind is simply this one question: what am I good for, could I not be of service or use in some way?

Nobody cares if you're an idiot, as long as you're a useful one.

You have to know your craft. I find that most people who are very, very successful know their craft and have done the research.

Having only wisdom and talent is the lowest tier of usefulness.

Be good at something. It makes you valuable.

The man who is successful is the man who is useful.

Experience alone can give, even to the greatest talent, that confidence in having done all that could be done.

Can't win without talent, you know.

If I had more skill in what I'm attempting, I wouldn't need so much courage

The secret to wealth is simple: Find a way to do more for others than anyone else does. Become more valuable. Do more. Give more. Be more. Serve more. And you will have the opportunity to earn more

I believe in myself, especially with how hard I've worked. I'm one of the top five players in the world. I feel like I've proven myself.

He that hath not the craft, let him shut up shop.

It is not man's dreams that fail him. It is the lack of know-how required to bring those dreams into actuality.

Seeking is all very well, but holding requires greater talent: Seeking involves some luck; now the demand is for skill.

Creativity is not a substitute for competence.

Those having the most time to devote to a line of endeavor usually become the most proficient.

Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.

Do the thing you're good at. Not many people are lucky enough to be so good at something.

Having a good network can be invaluable. It opens doors for you and allows you to enter into opportunities that are beneficial to your business. In this sense, 'who you know' is undoubtedly important, but to me 'what you know' is more important because once an opportunity shows itself, it is up to you to make the most of it, and this is down to your knowledge and skill.

You know, maybe that's all anybody wants, is to be useful. And have somebody else notice it.