“Alright, alright, alright.” If you do not recognize these three words together, I am sure you know of the person who built his career off them. Matthew McConaughey is one of the most famous actors of our generation. He is an Oscar Award winning actor, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and the centerman for the greatest car commercials possibly ever. (Thank you Lincoln Motor Co.) Being someone of international fame, Matthew McConaughey has never forgotten his foundation, and that is his key to being a true public role model and has made him a very successful person.
Sounds like a joke, right? Why do we need to look up to and model our lives after just another actor? It is not because of his on-screen skills but his ability to create a path to success by continuously creating new goals and dreams. As the youngest of the millennial generation begins to enter the workforce and take the leap of faith in finding career paths after school, it is time we start working toward finding our own forms of success. When Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar Award for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club in 2013, he gave an acceptance speech that went viral on the internet and is still referenced now, almost 4 years later. In just a couple of minutes, he managed to thank everyone involved in the film, God, and his family. He hit all the bases of an acceptance speech, but something happened towards the end of his speech that left those in attendance – and the millions across the world watching – speechless and inspired to conquer the rest of their lives (until the twitter feed refreshed, at least)!
In the last minute of Mr. McConaughey’s acceptance speech, he spoke about his hero and the person he is always aspiring to be. The thought stemmed from a question he was asked as a teenager about who his hero was. His answer was, “Me, 10 years from now,” and this is how he approaches each day of his life, with the attitude of chasing the person he wants to be but never reaching it because his hero is always 10 years away. It is amazing to think that a man who has become so successful is completely aware that he will never be his own hero. He is determined to be a better man, father, husband, and person every single day of his life so that in 10 years, he can look back and be happy, but never satisfied.
This is an attitude we need to take and expand on because whether it is with a career, significant other, or one’s daily mindset, we want to look ahead and do whatever it takes now, to be the person we want to be in the future. This is a thought process that the new-comers to the business and corporate world need to be open to. Though McConaughey’s message can inspire anyone of all ages, it is most crucial for the young adults of today. As students in the prime age for learning and taking chances, we may not have all the answers, but we must constantly learn from past successes and mistakes those before us have made and use their experiences to shape our attitudes towards life. With all the controversy going on in the world, all the pressure of getting into the right schools, making the best grades, and finding a great job, it is easy to fall off track, distracting us from what we are working towards. We need to be content with ourselves as we are, be open to change, and be happy with what we are doing before we can measure any type of success or action plan.
We are in the midst of changing the world, and the individuals that make up the millennial demographic are so smart and competitive, it is second nature to us. We are creating new ways to push through the difficulties of life but are making success harder to accomplish. There is one way our society defines success and not enough room at the top for all of us. Today, we measure success with fame, power, and /or money; so much so, that a report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce stated that colleges are beginning to encourage students to study majors like engineering and sciences rather than education or public service because of the money associated with the more specialized degrees.
It is great to encourage students to push themselves and drive for success in terms of money, but cash is not the end all, be all. The message from McConaughey’s speech was about chasing the person 10 years from now that makes you happy every day, and the person you want to be not just for yourself but for others. He is quoted saying he loves money, as financial success is not a bad thing, but he puts his humble values and wealth of knowledge first, which has lead him to where he is today.
If there is one thing I have learned from being an intern and college student, it is to not get caught up in the unimportant aspects and distractions of life. Set goals for yourself and take strides toward accomplishing them. Strive to be the person you want to be in the future. I have my list of goals and try to approach every day as a chance to improve and take one step closer to achieve that goal. My dad always told us growing up, “Today is a new day, you can either get better or worse, you never stay the same!”. I hope each one of us finds our path and are happy with and confident in the people we are and strive to become. And if ever a situation arises where you could use some advice, don’t be afraid to turn toward our wise friend Matthew McConaughey and know that everything is going to be “alright, alright, alright!”