Last lecture 2 - by Prof Charles Lee

Continuing on the take-aways on the GSB Class 2011 - Last Lecture Series.

Disclaimer: most of what i wrote here was what were presented to us during our last lectures, and I dont plan to re-organize any of the ideas. So you might find it a bit unstructured/unorganized

Our 2nd last lecture was presented to us by Prof. Charles Lee, who in my opinion is a genius in Behavior Finance, or anything investment-related. I did not have a chance to take his class (simply just because his class is too advanced for me to understand...). Yet my few interactions with him on a personal basis left me with superior impression about him - a great person with the brightest brain, yet a very very humble personality. Lots of life wisdom (nothing finance-related, as again i would hardly understand anything finance-related) I had got from him by knowing him, and I thanked him for that.

Here come the take-aways from his last lecture (and I must admit he has gone a bit too far to give us so many philosophical advice, that I havent fully understood it all). Yet I hope at some point in my life, I can fully embrace these wisdom...

Quote (from my note)
1. What does success look like?
- Success is something that doesnt need any external validation
- Is success a good thing? Most likely the answer is Yes.
- But how about, "Is being a successful thief a good thing then"?
- In other words, success might be just contextual depending on your goal.

2. Remember you are not your resume.
- Think what is there in you that is beyond a resume
- Understand the difference between Wisdom (meta knowledge) vs Knowledge, of Moral Reasoning vs Moral Conduct

3. "The pursuit of happiness cannot be without the pursuit of virtue"

4. Prof. Lee's very dear advice to us before we embark on our new journey:
- Hold things lightly - if you know what you are called to do, just do it but hold things lightly (and my understand from his example is that so you dont just have to achieve what you set out by any mean, or learn how to let go when things dont happen the way you expected/planned. Bear in mind how i interpreted what he meant can be completely off - but this is how i resonated with his advice when hearing him talk)
- Mind the gap/the difference between Moral Reasoning and Moral Conduct. Also be aware of the gap of what we want to do and what we actually do
- "If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked" (Epictetus)
- Regardless of what happened in life, what you will eventually face is YOURSELF
- "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
- A blessed man is someone who found something in life more important than himself ---> this is one of my most favorite quotes from his lecture.
- We are lucky if we can find a job that we wake up every morning wanting to go to work
Unquote (from my note)

Link to Prof. Lee's bio: http://gsbapps.stanford.edu/facultyprofiles/biomain.asp?id=07921309