• Blog
  • Archives
  • Bio
  • Awards
  • Speaking
  • Book
  • Contact

Stop the world, I want to get off!

Published: Tuesday, 03 February 2009

Uni, business, studies, networking- like clockwork, life never seems to stop moving.  Rushing through breakfast to get to lectures on time, quick conversations with friends before rushing off to the next meeting on time, following to-do lists, making sure weekly objectives are met; it sometimes seems like life just keeps going and going!

 

But then it starts snowing.  Suddenly, the tubes are all part delayed or suspended, the buses aren’t running and drivers actually slow down when you’re walking on the middle of the street.  Lecturers can’t get into uni, 20% of your peers show up for the first lecture, the rest of the day’s classes are cancelled and you’re given the liberty to do what you want.  What do you do?

 

Structures of fulfillment fly out the window and minutes drags into hours as you don’t do what you say you’ll do.  A committee meeting flows on for 3 hours… and then 4 hours… and then 5 hours…  And ends with a massive snowball fight in the park with friends, followed by the building of a massive snow apple.

 

So it snows and you have a great day hanging out with your friends.  Don’t beat yourself up.

 

You’re a student entrepreneur.  You work your arse off.  Whether your goal is the dollar, because you never want to work for anyone else or you want to change the world.  Have a break sometimes.  Relax.  Enjoy your friends, have fun.  Smile!

About Me

Marita ChengForbes named me a world's top 50 woman in tech & 30 Under 30. I founded Robogals and Aipoly and was Young Australian of the Year 2012. Currently working on robotics company Aubot. I'm the youngest Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and I give speeches around the world.

I tweet @maritacheng and I'm on Facebook.

Subscribe

Enter your email address to receive my latest blog posts: 

 

Random Articles

  • TEDx Aipoly

    Alberto and I gave a speech about Aipoly at TEDxMelbourne, where we showcased Aipoly Vision being used via glasses.  Aipoly has now been downloaded...

  • Think more

    All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone. Blaise Pascal One of my favourite things to do is to sit there and...

  • The Year of a Young Australian of the Year

    In 2008, I founded Robogals as a response to there being hardly any other women in my engineering classes. Our organisation is run by university...

  • Hot Desq

    My company, aubot, was recently invited to go to Queensland for 6 months, as part of Advance Queensland's Hot Desq program, to inspire local...

  • My lockdown life

    Lockdown is certainly a change of pace for me. I used to fly around the world twice a month! Now I’m stuck inside my 768 sq ft apartment for months...

  • City of Darwin Robotics Workshop

    I was invited to Darwin for National Science Week on 19 August where I ran a robotics workshop for the kids.  The next day, I gave a speech to 400...

  • Don't kid yourself on your priorities

    What are your priorities?  Work?  Family?  Relationship?  Start-up?  9-5?  Non-profit?  Volunteering?  Watching television?  Reading blogs?  Eating?  Meetings? Don't...

  • Manufacturing Leadership Summit, Grand Rapids Michigan

    After a long pandemic hiatus from giving speeches in person, I was invited to be the in-person keynote speaker at The Right Place’s Manufacturing...

  • The worst that can happen

    When I was growing up, my mum earned about $20,000 a year to support herself, my brother and I.  By living very frugally and only spending money on...

  • YouthActionNet Global Fellowship Day 1: What makes a great leader

    The first day of the "YouthActionNet Fellowship" program began with a welcome email read out, written by Bill Clinton!  How exciting!  I've always had...

Enter your email address to receive my latest blog posts: 

 

Scroll to Top