Speech
2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin
Admiral McRaven's commencement address, widely known as "Make Your Bed". He draws ten lessons from Navy SEAL training, from the discipline of small tasks to why you never ring the bell.
The recording
Video from The University of Texas at Austin, the original recording. Open on YouTube. Published text (UT News, The University of Texas at Austin). The university published these remarks the evening before the speech, so the words as delivered can differ slightly.
Quotes, in order
These passages are quoted from the official published text, word for word. Each links to that text.
If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.
Verified source2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin · Watch at 5:22 · UT News, The University of Texas at Austin
5:22 of 19:29
As delivered If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.
Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.
Verified source2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin · Watch at 5:41 · UT News, The University of Texas at Austin
5:41 of 19:29
As delivered Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter. If you can't do the little things right, you will never be able to do the big things right.
And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made — that you made — and a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.
Verified source2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin · Watch at 5:55 · UT News, The University of Texas at Austin
5:55 of 19:29
If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
Verified source2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin · Watch at 6:09 · UT News, The University of Texas at Austin
6:09 of 19:29
You can’t change the world alone — you will need some help — and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.
Verified source2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin · Watch at 6:57 · UT News, The University of Texas at Austin
6:57 of 19:29
As delivered You can't change the world alone—you will need some help. And to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide you. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.
If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.
Verified source2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin · Watch at 8:30 · UT News, The University of Texas at Austin
8:30 of 19:29
As delivered If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not by the size of their flippers.
But if you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.
Verified source2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin · Watch at 11:21 · UT News, The University of Texas at Austin
11:21 of 19:29
If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.
Verified source2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin · Watch at 15:31 · UT News, The University of Texas at Austin
15:31 of 19:29
As delivered If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest
The power of one person — Washington, Lincoln, King, Mandela and even a young girl from Pakistan, Malala — one person can change the world by giving people hope. So, if you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.
Verified source2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin · Watch at 17:32 · UT News, The University of Texas at Austin
17:32 of 19:29
If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.
Verified source2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin · Watch at 18:22 · UT News, The University of Texas at Austin
18:22 of 19:29
Text from the university's own publication. The recording is the university's; we link to and embed it from the university's channel and quote short excerpts.