“Jim, in the early days, he had a hand in literally everything I did”.
In May, 2025 at the University of Maryland, the commencement address was delivered by one, Kermit THE Frog. A cute tribute to the genius of Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets and alumnus of the University.
I’ll take advice from this amphibious, high-pitched existentialist any day.
He has been managing chaos (Animal), egos (Miss Piggy), creators (The Swedish Chef) and the haters (Statler and Waldorf) since before LinkedIn was even a glimmer in Reid Hoffman’s eye.
He had a few lessons for these new grads.
- Be humble, not heroic – “I know what you’re thinking — what can a frog possibly teach me about life?”
- Be yourself, different is good – “It’s not easy being green… but it’s what I am.”
- Be empathetic – “We all feel like we don’t belong sometimes. Even frogs.”
- Be clear with your advice – “Work hard. Be kind. And never stop believing in yourself.”
- Be true to who you are – “I’m not a scientist or a business tycoon. I’m a frog who sings songs and tells stories.”
What a delight.