Invest Like the Best
When a commencement speaker realized he couldn’t remember his own graduation address, he vowed to make his speech unforgettable. His solution? A bow, an apple, and a moment that had the entire crowd ducking and shouting his words.
If you only read one thing
At the end of his commencement speech, the speaker pulled out a bow, smashed an apple on the table, and the crowd erupted—ducking and shouting, 'Aim high and shoot straight.'
Determined not to deliver another forgettable commencement address, the speaker drew on his own frustration at not remembering who spoke at his graduation. He ended his speech with a dramatic gesture: pulling out a bow, declaring 'Aim high and shoot straight,' and smashing an apple on the table.
The crowd’s reaction was immediate—they ducked and echoed his words, cementing the moment in memory. Reflecting on the stunt, the speaker said, 'Oh, they're going to remember.'
Most speeches are quickly forgotten, but a single bold act can make a message stick. For founders, leaders, and anyone who needs to communicate with impact, this story is a reminder: if you want to be remembered, create a moment people can’t ignore.
The speaker’s inability to recall his own commencement speaker motivated him to break the cycle of forgettable addresses. He wanted his message to stand out, not blend in.
Instead of ending with platitudes, the speaker used a bow to smash an apple, transforming his message into a vivid, physical moment.
The audience’s immediate response—ducking and shouting the speaker’s words—proved the power of surprise and spectacle in communication.
I wanted to make sure I was going to say something that's memorable.
Commencement Speaker
Aim high and shoot straight.
Commencement Speaker
Oh, they're going to remember
Commencement Speaker