"I knew what I was doing that day," he wrote in the introduction of his best-selling book, also titled The Last Lecture. "Under the ruse of giving an academic lecture, I was trying to put myself in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children." [USA Today]

Here's his video -- it's long but amazing and inspiring. Well worth a sit down for an hour with a cup of cocoa and an open mind.

Summary of lessons learned:

• Loyalty is a two-way street.
• Never give up.
• You get people to help you by telling the truth. Being earnest. I'll take an earnest person over a hip person every day, because hip is short term. Earnest is long term.
• Apologize when you screw up and focus on other people, not on yourself.
• Get a feedback loop and listen to it. ... Anybody can get chewed out. It's the rare person who says, oh my god, you were right. ... When people give you feedback, cherish it and use it.
• Show gratitude.
• Don't complain. Just work harder.
• Be good at something, it makes you valuable.
• Work hard.
• Find the best in everybody. ... No one is all evil. Everybody has a good side; just keep waiting, it will come out.
• And be prepared. Luck is truly where preparation meets opportunity.