More from Jerry Yang

You shouldn't be afraid to let passion get behind the wheel — you might really love where you end up.

JY

Jerry Yang

University of Hawaii Commencement 2009, 2009

7:14

Video starts at 7:14 — the moment this quote was spoken

The Story Behind This Quote

Yang told the story of how Yahoo! was born from procrastination. He and David Filo were supposed to be researching algorithms for faster computer chip design at Stanford, but they became obsessed with cataloging links on the newly emerging World Wide Web. They slept on the floor of their graduate student trailer, taking turns programming and sleeping, never imagining their hobby would become a business. The lesson Yang drew was not to pursue frivolity, but to be open to serendipity and possibilities. If something feels right but doesn't fit into your master plan, take a chance and commit to it. Quoting Robert Louis Stevenson's advice to 'sit loosely in the saddle of life,' Yang encouraged graduates to let their genuine interests guide them rather than clinging rigidly to predetermined career paths.

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