Redstone challenged the MBA graduates to reject the safety of conventional career paths. He noted that for years, hordes of business school graduates had flocked to management consulting, Wall Street, and Silicon Valley — most lured by the promise of instant wealth rather than genuine passion. The post-9/11 economic downturn, he argued, gave them an unexpected gift: the chance to ask hard questions about where they were going and why. He emphasized that for those who chart landmark roads to success, there is no textbook, no template, no track record — just tools, along with 'a brash, unshakable faith in your own convictions and unequivocal confidence in yourself — despite what may be overwhelming adversity and a deafening chorus of criticism.'