JK Rowling: The fringe benefits of failure
By LawrenceMs. Rowling’s commencement speech at Harvard in June 2008. It is about 20 minutes in length.
The speech is 2 speeches in one.
First part of the speech focuses on her journey from youth to poverty and how that transformed her. Learning firsthand from poverty is not fun. For those who have a very strong will, it is a very effective tool. As Ms. Rowling says, it has profound impact on her and contributed to her success which was not something she has planned for.
Second part of the speech focuses on the inequalities in this world where she learned from her work with people suppressed by their governments. Ms. Rowling is trying to remind the graduating class that they have a responsibility too to make a difference in this world because of who they are.
It is an inspirational speech worth watching.
