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	REMARKS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER DENTAL SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONIES SAN ANTONIO TX MAY 13, 1989

20 MINUTES

Thank you, John (Howe)

It’s a pleasure to be here, and I want to begin by extending my sincerest congratulations to those graduating today.

It’s good to see so many family members and friends. They are surely proud of you today.

I know you’re a committed group of professionals because the field you’ve chosen requires the utmost in standards and dedication.

Many of you will be entering a private practice and will be dealing with bankers so I’d like to start by sharing this joke with you.
— Joke: Could be worse

In the past five years, I’ve spoken to more than 80,000 college students. I’m always encouraged by the spirit of youth and by the enthusiasm and ambition that comes with it.

What I see with today’s young people is a new entrepreneurial spirit, a return to free market principles... students look the same from coast to coast.
— They have some of the same goals that your parents and I had when we were graduating from college.

However, there is a difference and that is you’re a new breed. You are truly the leaders of tomorrow... not the 60-year-olds.

You are facing more opportunity today than ever... public and private sectors are beginning to reduce the size of bureaucracies, and are downsizing for efficiency... We’re returning to basic principles that made the U.S. great.

Graduates want to know how to succeed.

I have a simple philosophy that has served me well. It has helped in business, civic involvement and even with my family.

Learn to analyze well:
— Assess risks and prospective awards. There is no substitute for good research.

Be willing to make decisions... that’s the most important quality in a good leader:
— Avoid the “Ready-aim-aim-aim-aim” syndrome

Be a team player.

Be patient. I have to remind myself and our people at Mesa about the old adage “Patience is a great virtue.”

Be realistic... Dream, yes, but don’t be a day dreamer.

Learn from mistakes... not just a cliche. Maybe the most important advice I give today; “It’s all right if your fingers get mashed in the door, but don’t let the same door mash them twice.”

Stay fit... don’t want to get old and feel bad!
— If you’re physically fit, you’ll make better decisions and you’ll have more ambition. That’s important in all professional fields, but especially in yours.

Practice moderation... balance family life and work; the key is organization... plenty of time for play, but plan it.

If you’re organized, you’ll find time for everything... take as big a bite of the apple as you want... that’s what’s great about America.

Keep success as well as failure in perspective.

Most important... always play by the rules:
— Never think you have to cheat to win; don’t even need to bend your principles

Like sports... Cheating to win is a hollow victory, at best...

There’s a lot of talk about an ethics crisis in America:
— I don’t see an ethics crisis... if anything, it’s a leadership crisis.

It all goes back to the top... must lead by example.

Leading by example takes effort and involvement. It takes a dedicated commitment to a unified set of goals.

Know that leadership occurs on all levels, including the professional level. Your getting involved and taking a leadership role in the community will build a better environment for all of us.

In today’s society, professional leadership is essential but it’s very often neglected.
— Young professionals often feel they don’t have the time to get involved.
— Taking the time to get involved is necessary as you begin pursuing a career.
— Don’t ever get to the point where you can’t go back to eating hamburgers.
— Both the private and public sectors will need your support and involvement. I think all of you will encounter a time when you’ll want to support the institution that helped you achieve success.

So don’t forget your alma mater.

In a nutshell, if you work hard, analyze well, organize time and play by the rules, I promise you you’ll succeed and have a ball doing it.

I’ll conclude with one last thought. You’ve been prepared, so now make the commitment to succeed. You’re a new breed who will lead us toward success. Decide now where to go from here, and then go do it.

Thank you and good luck.