Tim Minchin, the Australian comedian, musician, and creator of the musical 'Matilda,' opened his now-famous nine life lessons with a deliberate subversion of commencement speech clichés. While Americans on talent shows always talk about their dreams, Minchin advocated for passionate dedication to short-term goals instead. He argued that if you focus too far ahead, you won't see the shiny thing in your peripheral vision — the next worthy pursuit that might change your life. His own career proved the point: he never had a grand dream but followed his curiosity and craft from one opportunity to the next, eventually becoming a globally celebrated performer and composer.