{"id":7251,"date":"2017-05-23T07:00:26","date_gmt":"2017-05-23T14:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/scst\/2017\/05\/23\/the-plan-your-passion-opportunities-and-optimism-paul-cooks-2017-commencement-address\/"},"modified":"2017-05-23T07:00:26","modified_gmt":"2017-05-23T14:00:26","slug":"the-plan-your-passion-opportunities-and-optimism-paul-cooks-2017-commencement-address","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/scst\/2017\/05\/23\/the-plan-your-passion-opportunities-and-optimism-paul-cooks-2017-commencement-address\/","title":{"rendered":"The Plan, Your Passion, Opportunities and Optimism: Paul Cook's 2017 Commencement Address:"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paul Cook<\/a>, General Manager of Irvine Ranch Water District,\u00a0\u00a0delivered the keynote address to Schmid College\u2019s class of 2017 at its\u00a0Commencement ceremony on May 21, 2017. Below is the transcript of his address, edited for publication on this blog. You can also watch the ceremony here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Good morning to all of the family and friends, faculty and staff, and guests who are here\u00a0to celebrate this wonderful occasion.\u00a0And good morning Schmid College of Science and Technology graduating class of 2017!<\/p>\n

What a great morning, and what a great moment for you all.\u00a0 I am sure this will be one of those days you will remember for the rest of your lives.\u00a0 Maybe not all of these speeches, but that\u2019s what YouTube is for, right?\u00a0 Seriously, each of you graduates should be so proud of your accomplishment, as are we.<\/p>\n

Thank you for the kind introduction, Dean Lyon, and the invitation speak.\u00a0 It is a profound honor for me to address you all today.<\/p>\n

Like all of you, I started my career with a technical degree.\u00a0 My career path has taken some interesting turns, and today I\u2019d like to share some stories with you about my experiences.\u00a0 My hope is that these stories will illustrate the benefits of having a Plan<\/strong> and pursuing Opportunities<\/strong> in a way that you can relate to as you progress through your professional career.<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s start with The Plan.<\/h3>\n
\"Schmid
Schmid College graduates at the 2017 Commencement ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I felt very fortunate as I went off to college as a freshman because I knew what I wanted to do when I grew up: \u00a0\u201cBuild Stuff\u201d<\/strong>.\u00a0 A bit vague for a career objective, but knowing this really gave me the sense of purpose and drive that got me through the toughest classes.\u00a0 (For me that class was Differential Equations.\u00a0 It\u2019s like the math professor was speaking Italian!\u00a0 Though I\u2019ve heard Italian math teachers<\/a> are the BEST \u2013 right?)\u00a0 I purposefully developed my professional \u201cPlan\u201d to be very open\u2011ended because, at that time, I had no idea where in the world I would live, where I would work, or specifically what I would do.\u00a0 So where would this Two-Word Plan \u2013 \u201cBuild Stuff\u201d \u2013 lead me?<\/p>\n

My first position after graduation was helping to build some of those tall buildings in Downtown L.A.\u00a0 That seemed to fit The Plan pretty well, in spite of the fact that on Day One of my professional career I had no money and didn\u2019t know anyone south of Stockton, California.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing quite like the thrill of the first day of your professional career without much in your pocket but a strong desire to make a difference in the world…<\/p>\n

I also recall making quite an impression on my first day when I rinsed out the office coffee pot, which was glass and very hot, in very cold water.\u00a0 Obviously, Thermodynamics was another one of those tough classes for me.<\/p>\n

Five years and a few coffee pots later, I moved from the construction industry into the public sector, where I had the opportunity to do something all engineers and scientists should do: \u00a0operate a machine or process that he or she has designed or built<\/em>.<\/p>\n

While still working in construction, I had installed a large sludge press for the sewer agency that I subsequently went to work for.\u00a0 Since I installed the press, it fell upon me to solve interesting operational problems at the sewage treatment plant like: \u00a0Hey Paul, what\u2019s that smell?\u00a0 There was one mystery odor was particularly puzzling because I couldn\u2019t even smell it.\u00a0 I thought my co-workers were just messing with me, but the mystery was solved when I realized that the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the room where I was standing was actually too high to smell.\u00a0 Once the issue was identified, I was ultimately able to correct the design flaw.\u00a0 An educational (as well as humbling and a little bit nauseating) experience, but all part of the process.<\/p>\n

After many more years of Building Stuff, fast forward to today where I am the General Manager of a progressive water district that serves about 20% of Orange County.\u00a0 Now you might be thinking: Paul, what about The Plan? What about your hopes and dreams to Build Stuff?<\/p>\n

As the General Manager, I deal with just about every issue, directly or indirectly, at the Water District.\u00a0 Financial matters, legislation, droughts, personnel \u2013 you name it.\u00a0 Even though my primary job is no longer to physically Build Stuff, I still feel true to my Plan.\u00a0 While my Plan remains focused on building, my emphasis now is to \u201cBuild Organizations\u201d.<\/p>\n

For me, The Plan hasn\u2019t really changed \u2013 the output has simply evolved from tangible to intangible.\u00a0 As rewarding as it was to build things, I have found just as much satisfaction in building organizations.\u00a0 In their simplest form, organizations are simply groups of people.\u00a0 But so much more can be accomplished when people are organized to coalesce around a mission and succeed.<\/p>\n

As I have changed roles throughout my career, what really helped me tremendously was being ready to Adapt <\/strong>to each new role by\u00a0Applying\u00a0<\/strong>my experience and education to new opportunities as they came up.\u00a0 As the world evolves at an increasingly faster pace, you will need to stay Adaptable \u2013 one step ahead of the next opportunity \u2013 so you are ready when it arrives.<\/p>\n

Now a \u201cPlan\u201d, like any structure, will fail if it does not have a strong Foundation<\/strong>.\u00a0 The true challenge in developing a Plan is identifying your Passion<\/strong>.\u00a0 For example, my Passion is Improving the Environment<\/em>.\u00a0 Yours may be to Cure Cancer<\/em>, or to Improve Nutrition<\/em>.\u00a0 Whatever is your passion, it should run deep enough to reinforce your dedication and resolve to your Plan, even in the face of difficult challenges and set-backs.<\/strong>\u00a0 If your Passion doesn\u2019t do this, it may be time to find a new Passion.\u00a0 It is important to step back and check on this every once in a while.\u00a0 Does your Passion still reflect what you love to do?\u00a0 Your Passion should serve as the foundation of your Plan.<\/p>\n

It has been said, I believe by computer scientist Alan Kay in 1971, that \u201cthe best way to predict the future is to create it.\u201d \u00a0This is possible if you continuously Apply the lessons you learn from your acquired knowledge to the next phase of pursuing your Plan.\u00a0 If you can do this, then when you are much older (like some of the people on the stage behind me\u2026), you will realize that all of your hard work was worth it and you will have enjoyed the journey.\u00a0 You will have completed your Plan.<\/p>\n

Our Second Topic is Opportunities.<\/h3>\n
\"Schmid
Schmid College graduates at the 2017 Commencement ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Opportunities are everywhere in this world. \u00a0One of the reasons you spent all of this time earning your degree was so you will be better prepared to act upon opportunities as they arise. \u00a0But how does one find, or even recognize, opportunities worth pursuing?<\/p>\n

You start by Being Aware<\/strong>.\u00a0 Now, this sounds simple, but inevitably, you must answer the follow-up question:\u00a0 Aware of exactly what?\u00a0 Sometimes the answer to this question is clear, though in my experience this is more the exception than the rule.\u00a0 When the answer is not clear\u2026that\u2019s when you need to put your other resources to work.\u00a0 As scientists we are trained to use our heads.\u00a0 But many times, especially for life\u2019s biggest decisions, you will need to use your gut and your heart.\u00a0 My second story will hopefully illustrate this:<\/p>\n

I was about 8 or 9 years into my career and I had a pretty good gig going.\u00a0 I was the District Engineer for that small water and sewer agency I mentioned earlier.\u00a0 Nice office, decent pay, easy commute, good people.\u00a0 One day it occurred to me that I was watching the clock, which is inevitably a sign that the day dragging a bit.\u00a0 Upon further reflection, I realized that I had gotten into the habit of watching the clock at work.<\/p>\n

Now don\u2019t get me wrong \u2013 it\u2019s great to be done with work for the day and look forward to having some personal time.\u00a0 (At that point in my life, apparently, I just couldn\u2019t wait to get home and change some more diapers.)\u00a0 But my apparent dissatisfaction with my work situation at that time was confusing to me \u2013 I had all I needed to be comfortable\u2026was I just being ungrateful for what I had?<\/p>\n

I finally listened to my gut, which told me that I was bored \u2013 really bored.\u00a0 I also listened to my heart, which told me that I needed to do more with my career.\u00a0 It took a burst of optimism (along with the unwavering encouragement and support from my best friend to whom I happened to be married) for me to realize that there was more out there for me.<\/p>\n

I had to let go of the known and seek out the next step to continue the Plan.<\/p>\n

The opportunity I pursued and then secured was an engineering job in Los Angeles.\u00a0 This opportunity came complete with an hour\u2011long commute each way, longer work hours, and much more difficult projects for the same pay.\u00a0 And I could not have been happier.\u00a0 I was building a network of recycled water pipelines that would help improve the environment (my Passion) by reducing reliance on imported water in Southern California.\u00a0 Further, in the course of listening to my heart, following my Passion, and executing my Plan, I was rewarded with new opportunities and then promotions beyond my expectations.<\/p>\n

So, back to the original question: Aware of exactly what? \u00a0In my case, first I needed to step back enough to be Aware that I was bored in my situation and had to move on.\u00a0 Then I needed to push away the comfortable safety of the status quo and actively seek to be Aware of other possibilities and investigate those opportunities.<\/p>\n

Optimism<\/h3>\n
\"Schmid
Schmid College graduates at the 2017 Commencement ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The results of your search for opportunities is a direct function of your ability to maintain your sense of optimism. \u00a0The optimism I speak of is essentially your belief that if you are true to your Plan and your Passion, you will succeed!\u00a0 Let me show you what I mean by that.<\/p>\n

You are surrounded right now by one of the most striking examples of optimism that I have ever encountered.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • This University was established in 1861, its opening designed to coincide with the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. But remember that at that exact moment, our country was falling apart \u2013 it was the beginning of the Civil War.<\/li>\n
  • Fast forward to 1979 when this country was facing oil embargos, spiraling interest rates, a diplomatic hostage crisis, and disco. Meanwhile, Chapman College was struggling to meet payroll for its employees, and possibly facing bankruptcy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    So, what kind of people start a university when the country has just plunged into a civil war?<\/p>\n

    What kind of people commit to rescuing a struggling university in such uncertain times?<\/p>\n

    The answer to both of these questions is the same: An Optimist<\/strong>.\u00a0 Only an Optimist can see past all of the reasons not to do something and find that one reason to do something.<\/p>\n

    Today, you leave as a graduate of this outstanding university.\u00a0 Before you leave, please look around you.\u00a0 Look at the statues of the inspirational historical figures.\u00a0 Think of the individuals who believed in Chapman University, even in the worst of times.\u00a0 Then for the rest of your lives, remember this day, remember this university, and remember these people \u2013 the optimists who made this part of our world, Chapman University, a better place.<\/p>\n

    Along with your great education, I hope your time at Chapman has enhanced your sense of optimism. \u00a0At a minimum, it has provided you a great example of optimism at work.<\/p>\n

    Going forward, I challenge you to apply this same intense optimism to your own world \u2013 your career, your family, your community.\u00a0 If the goal is worthy, if your Plan is clear, if your Passion is true, you will succeed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    In closing, you are now scientists.\u00a0 You clearly have the mental abilities to accomplish anything you set your minds to.\u00a0 So consider this: \u00a0in a few words or at most a sentence, what is your Plan and what is your Passion? \u00a0\u00a0Once you have that firmly in mind, go and seek out the opportunities.<\/p>\n

    Be Aware, be Adaptable, and be ready to Apply the knowledge you have gained here.<\/p>\n

    And by all means stay Optimistic as you endeavor to make your world, our world, and the world of those yet to come, a better place.<\/p>\n

    Congratulations and Best Wishes to you All!<\/p>\n

    \"Schmid
    Schmid College Dean Andrew Lyon (left) on stage at 2017 Commnecement ceremony with keynote speaker Paul Cook (center) and Trustee Richard Schmid (right)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Paul Cook, General Manager of Irvine Ranch Water District,\u00a0\u00a0delivered the keynote address to Schmid College\u2019s class of 2017 at its\u00a0Commencement […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":478,"featured_media":7278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"custom_author_name":"Paul Cook","chapman_pin_hero_slider":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career-development","category-events"],"yoast_head":"\nSchmid College of Science and Technology | Chapman Blogs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/scst\/2017\/05\/23\/the-plan-your-passion-opportunities-and-optimism-paul-cooks-2017-commencement-address\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Plan, Your Passion, Opportunities and Optimism: Paul Cook's 2017 Commencement Address: - Schmid College of Science and Technology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Paul Cook, General Manager of Irvine Ranch Water District,\u00a0\u00a0delivered the keynote address to Schmid College\u2019s class of 2017 at its\u00a0Commencement […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/scst\/2017\/05\/23\/the-plan-your-passion-opportunities-and-optimism-paul-cooks-2017-commencement-address\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Schmid College of Science and Technology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-05-23T14:00:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/scst\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/64\/2017\/05\/MG_0428-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"M. 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