President Roberts, thank you so much! And Thank YOU! – for having me as part of YOUR celebration! I LOVE Auburn and I’m so honored to be here. Alright, so I get it. Your probably wondering, “Who IS this Guy?” I mean, you paid your graduation fee. You at least want somebody famous. I can see the next headline in the Plainsmen:

AU Provost Loses Bet on Graduation Speaker
First the IRON BOWL, now This – What’s Happening at Auburn?
Roberts on Hot Seat Over Commencement Speaker Debacle

And finally, Average Guy Delivers Commencement Stunner at Auburn! Woo Hoo! YEAH!

(just reading what ChatGPT wrote for me here….)

Well, I’m Tom Dempsey – Auburn Industrial Design Graduate, Entrepreneur, Futurist, Advocate for wild outdoor spaces - and, I make Outdoor Gear. When Dr. Nathan asked me to speak today, I truly set out to do the best job possible, so I’ve been preparing for months - which turned out to be an unexpected gift, as it forced me to slow down and reflect on Life.

As I did, some Life Lessons became clear that seemed quite miserable while enduring them, but actually gave me the greatest armor and wisdom to face life’s challenges.

I started out just like you. Along the way, life took some pretty big whacks at me. They changed MY perspective on what success means.

As I understand, I am the 1st Industrial Design graduate to speak at commencement in the 78-year history of the program. I am honored, but in no way the most deserving. Since 1945 there have been 1,603 Auburn IND graduates, whose work has physically touched the lives of roughly half of our fellow earth inhabitants through leading design at companies like Boeing, Ford, Coke, General Motors, Patagonia, and a little company in North Carolina called SylvanSport. Shout to the 7 more graduating today!

Legendary Auburn professor, Dr. Walter Schaer defined industrial design as, “the creation of physical objects that enable our capacity for personal transformation.” He called it, “Eco-Humanistic Design,” and was truly ahead of his time. Learning from him, and Professor Tin-Man Lau who still teaches here at Auburn after nearly 40 years, has served me well.

Just before my graduation, I remember a conversation with my good friend, Kent Brewer where we were dreaming about our futures and I boastfully declared that I’d be so successful by the time I was 40, I could retire. Things didn’t quite turn out that way, but I did START on that plan much sooner than expected.

While here at Auburn, I was blessed to have the love and support of family – especially my dear sister, Cynthia. I treasured her support, and we’d spent hours talking about the challenges of school and life. She even loaned me the money to pay my last 2 quarters of tuition.

After she and my parents were here for graduation, I landed what seemed like my perfect job - designing outdoor gear. Barely a week into that job, the phone rang in my new cubicle. My sister had died. I can still feel every bit of that pain as I share this now. I made it through nearly a year on that job, and during that time discovered my FIRST BIG LIFE LESSON: Do things NOW! Don’t wait!

I was shocked to learn that my sister left me and my brothers $14,000. At first, I hated that money. It was the last thing I expected. But as I accepted reality, I concluded that it was my obligation to do something with it to honor my sister, and benefit future generations.

I quit that first job, and began a new path with fellow Auburn graduate, Clay Johnson. We started a company in Huntsville designing and making emergency medical products, and after 5 years of incredibly hard work, we sold that business and paid back all of our debts. I had turned my sister’s $14,000 into $35,000. I was now officially, an Unemployable Entrepreneur. And I was ready to do it again!

Next, I started a kayak company, but that didn’t exactly work out the way that I had planned. After 5 more years of sacrifice, blood, bruises, and tears, and winning an award as the best kayak company on the planet, it turned out my partners weren’t quite as nice as I thought, and they kicked me out of the company - that I started.

Well by then, I was 40 years old alright, but I wasn’t successful and retired. I was unemployed! No job. No income. No savings. It was the lowest point of my professional life. But with no time to wallow in misery, I took stock in what I did have: my wife Linda who I met here at Auburn, 2 delightful young kids, and some beautiful, grizzled experience. And at least, I got my sister’s $14,000 back.

I’ve always said that to be an entrepreneur, you have to be an Irrational Optimist. So, despite everything, I still felt like the luckiest man alive. But I questioned: Do you have to be a ruthless and cutthroat person to be successful? Cause if so, I just couldn’t do it. The answer brought me to my SECOND BIG LIFE LESSON: Be true to YOURSELF. I was me. I couldn’t be anyone else. If the world doesn’t like that, too bad.

So, at age 40, with an empty bank account, but full of hard-fought wisdom, I began a new venture - SylvanSport. I pledged my house and borrowed money, took on investor partners, designed and launched our first product, and the economic collapse of 2008 nearly drove all of it into the ground. For 2 years, I took on every gig that I could get to keep the family afloat. I was about to give up, when my amazing current partner believed enough in me to make an investment that completely restored our forward progress. But during those few years, I let go of my earlier definition of success, and found true peace.

I realized that I wasn’t chasing the dream, I’m living the dream! Success isn’t about ticking off accomplishment boxes, it’s not a destination, it’s an action-verb. A way of life where you’re transforming your God-given talents to make your life and the lives of those around you better. And really, there is no higher calling.

It’s amazing that Dr. Schaer’s definition of Industrial Design, and the definition of success are almost identical. – both are about transforming gifts into better things.

My company, SylvanSport is still very much a work in progress, but it incorporates my life-lessons pretty well.

We create products that enable everyone to experience the best of nature, and for people to come together at the most meaningful times. My co-workers have tremendous opportunity for personal growth, and can live well, with their families in our exceptional community. I get to be a leader on big-picture public policy that impacts millions through conservation and access to our public lands.

For these reasons, and for the beyond-belief experiences I’ve had along the way, I truly feel like the richest person alive!

So, as you go forward from this spectacular day into the holidays having received one of the greatest gifts that you could ever give to yourself and your families, - your degree from Auburn, be joyful.

Go for things NOW. Don’t wait.

Be true to YOURSELF, as you discover your personal definition of SUCCESS. I cannot imagine any building in the world right now that is more overflowing with success.

Thank you so much! - for letting me offer these thoughts with you today!

War Eagle and Congratulations!