McConaughey told a story about visiting a voodoo shop south of New Orleans where vials of 'magic' potions were organized under headings like Fertility, Health, Family, Energy, and Money. The Money column was empty. He used this as a jumping-off point to challenge the graduates' definition of success, arguing that cultural values have been 'financialized' and that humility is no longer in vogue. He shared his own personal scorecard: five areas he measures daily — fatherhood, being a good husband, health, career, and friendships — checking whether each is 'in the red or in the black' and recalibrating when any one falls behind. Life, he said, is not a popularity contest.