Which Voice Will You Listen To?

Introduction

• Guest Speaker: Graham Weaver
• Context: Lecture to Class of 2024
• Theme: Listening to your inner voice and living life at full power

Personal Story: Finding My Truth

• Graham’s initial job dissatisfaction after Stanford GSB
• The escape plan during a brutal work offsite in Napa
• Epiphany during a run: hearing a powerful inner voice
• Immediate action: decision to leave the job
• Reflecting on the experience: listening to his “inner truth” or intuition

Two Internal Forces

• Voice of Fear: Survival Instinct
  • Associated with fear, doubt, worry, anxiety
  • Loud, in the mind
• Voice of Intuition: Inner Truth
  • Associated with calm, peace, true self
  • Quieter, felt in the body (heart, gut, chest)

The Impact of Ignoring Your True Self

• Living a life that feels “too small” creates conflict and tension within
• Fulfilling life comes from listening to the voice of intuition

Three Promises to Yourself

1. Take the Nail out of Your Head (Get Unstuck)

• Addressing “nails” or obstacles: bad habits, unresolved past experiences, restrictive rules, and fear
• Example: Woman with insomnia ignoring doctor’s advice about drinking
• Two reasons nails are hard to remove:
  • Not admitting the problem
  • Fear that life will get worse before it gets better
• Action: Acknowledge and speak your truth

2. Follow Your Energy (Not Just Passion)

• Energy vs. Passion:
  • Passion advice is often misleading and unrealistic
  • Instead, focus on what currently gives you energy
• Nine Lives Exercise:
  • Imagine nine parallel lives starting from today, each exciting and energizing
  • Extract energy-giving elements into your current life
  • Ask: "What would I do if I knew I wouldn’t fail?"

3. Go All In (No Hedging)

• Avoid the common trap of being partially committed
• Graham’s teaching journey: Overcoming a poor initial performance and fear of failure
• Example: Student Sarah’s transformation after confronting fears
• Key insight: You with energy and commitment is enough
• Energy is abundant and grows with use and sharing

Life at Full Power

• Personal anecdote: Son’s departure for college and existential reflection
• The quest for meaning: Love, presence, truth, and overcoming suffering
• Graham’s conclusion: Meaning of life is to find your own and live at full power by listening to your second voice

Call to Action: The Only Decision

• Students are encouraged to decide which voice to listen to: the voice of fear or the voice of intuition

Final Note

• Thank you message to the Class of 2024