Alexis Ohanian

Reddit Co-founder
Carthage College | May 28, 2014

Failure is an option.

Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and a prominent advocate for the open internet, delivered an inspiring address at Carthage College in 2014. Ohanian's speech celebrated the power of the internet and the importance of entrepreneurship in the digital age, He told graduates to embrace technology, champion innovation, and use their skills to create positive change in the world.

10 top life lessons by Alexis Ohanian

1. Lesson: Embrace uncertainty and trust your gut. It’s acceptable not to have all the answers; trust your instincts, make informed judgments, and use the knowledge and resources you have to navigate challenges.
2. Lesson: There’s no syllabus; figure it out and hack it. Life doesn’t come with a predetermined plan. Use your acquired knowledge and available resources to solve problems and navigate your unique path.
3. Lesson: Not knowing what you’re doing is normal; most people don’t. It’s common to feel uncertain or inexperienced. Many successful individuals still grapple with uncertainty, and it’s part of the learning process.
4. Lesson: Failure is a part of the process; it’s okay to fail. Understand that setbacks and failures are inevitable, but they contribute to your growth and learning. Failure is not the end but a stepping stone toward success.
5. Lesson: Success in the past doesn’t guarantee future success. Graduating is an achievement, but life after graduation involves new challenges without a predetermined metric like GPA. Adaptability and resilience become crucial.
6. Lesson: Setbacks and failures are normal; they don’t define you. Anticipate setbacks and failures on your journey. It’s a natural part of growth and doesn’t diminish your capabilities or potential.
7. Lesson: No G.P.A.s after this; redefine success beyond grades. Life after graduation is not measured by traditional academic metrics. Redefine success based on your personal and professional achievements, experiences, and contributions.
8. Lesson: Failure is an option; it’s not the end of the road. Embrace the possibility of failure. It’s not a permanent setback but an opportunity to learn, adapt, and find alternative paths to success.
9. Lesson: Learn from setbacks; they contribute to your journey. View setbacks as valuable lessons. Each failure provides insights that contribute to your personal and professional development.
10. Lesson: Navigate challenges with resilience and adaptability. Approach difficulties with resilience and adaptability. Life’s uncertainties require flexibility and the ability to adjust your approach based on the situation.

Best quotes of Alexis Ohanian‘s speech

"It's O.K. to not really know what you're doing, and just trust your gut."

Video of Alexis Ohanian‘s Commencement speech at Carthage College

Commencement Speech Excerpts:

“It’s O.K. to not really know what you’re doing, and just trust your gut. Make the best judgment you can. There’s not going to be a syllabus assigned to you. It’s going to be using whatever knowledge you’ve gained, whatever resources you have, to just figure it out, to just hack it. I mean, most of the time, I still don’t know what I’m doing.”

“That’s not to say you won’t find your way. You are going to figure it out, and failure is going to be part of the process. You’re all here because you’re good at not failing, right? This is the culmination of doing a great job at not failing. However, There are no G.P.A.s after this. There are going to be lots of setbacks. There’s going to be lots of failures […] But that’s O.K. A failure is an option.”