Will Ferrell: Give Beyond Yourself

Will Ferrell - Trust Your Gut

Will Ferrell says that success is built on empathy, kindness and giving, and encourages those unsure of their calling to keep experimenting to find their own path.

Transcript:

"None of the studios were willing to take a chance on me as a comedy star. It took us three years of shopping Anchorman around before anyone would make it.

"When I left SNL, all I really had was a movie called Old School that wouldn't be released for another year, and a sub-par script that needed a huge rewrite about a man raised by elves at the North Pole. Even now, I still lose out on parts that I want so desperately. My most painful example was losing the role of Queen Elizabeth in the film, The Queen. Apparently it came down to two actors, myself and Helen Mirren. The rest is history. Dame Helen Mirren, you stole my Oscar!

"No matter how cliché it may sound, you will never truly be successful until you learn to give beyond yourself. Empathy and kindness are the true signs of emotional intelligence.

"To those of you as graduates sitting out there who have a pretty good idea of what you'd like to do with your life, congratulations. For many of you who maybe don't have it all figured out, it's okay. That's the same chair that I sat in. Enjoy the process of your search without succumbing to the pressure of the result. Trust your gut, keep throwing darts at the dart board, don't listen to the critics, and you will figure it out."