A friend recently reminded me of Baz Luhrmann’s “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen),” a viral sensation before we really knew what “viral” meant beyond the clinical definition. It got popular in 1999 as a pseudo-graduation anthem because it was based on a hypothetical commencement address published a few years earlier. With Y2K looming, 1999 was a big year for nostalgia. You may also remember the Vitamin C earworm, “Graduation (Friends Forever),” which offered less advice and more la-la-las.
Anyway, back to Baz. When I first heard “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” way back when, I thought it was the epitome of cheese. That’s right. Before everything was cringe, we had cheese, and boy, that song was cheesy. I say “was” because, listening now, I fear I agree with almost every lyric. Almost. There are a few parts that don’t really hold up anymore – very few of us send physical love letters or get paper bank statements. Calcium seems to have been replaced with collagen. Beauty magazines have been supplanted by Kardashians and other influencers. But by and large, the advice is solid. That’s important because most of the viral speeches I’ve seen lately have gone viral for the wrong reasons, which got me thinking … what would I say to the class of 2026?
If I’m honest, I don’t remember much about my various commencements. I know my high school graduation involved a protest against the school administration, which is a whole other story. I got to choose which ceremony to attend for undergrad and selected my college (versus university or school – also another story). That one involved a speech from Dr. Randall Pinkett, star of … The Apprentice. Yeah. He spoke with generic platitudes. I skipped out on grad school entirely. So, I don’t claim to be an expert, just someone with the benefit of hindsight and this here platform.
Figure out if you like being a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond. It will help you make more decisions than you realize.
People remain the world’s most powerful currency, so take note of the people you meet along the way and use your networks.
Support the people who support you and stop worrying about everyone else. They’re not paying attention anyway.
Learn your body’s natural rhythm and embrace it. Not everyone is designed to stay out all night, and not everyone is going to make a 7 a.m. yoga class.
Find a form of art to follow and invest in it – music, theater, photography, poetry, etc. – this will become increasingly important as AI becomes more prevalent.
If your gut tells you that it’s time to go, it’s time to go. Let someone know you’re leaving and find a safe ride.
Understand that fads take hold of our entire culture. One day, we’ll look back on the food from this era with the same disdain we have for the Snackwells.
No one person ever has all the answers. No one person knows what they’re doing all the time. That goes double for anyone in politics.
Keep active in all aspects of your life. Mentally, physically, spiritually. But define that on your own terms. It will take trial and error.
And when in doubt, I go back to this line from Coneheads for guidance: “Look good, be your own boss, never work at a desk, and take cash only.”
Oh, don’t forget the sunscreen. There’s a good chance it will also become more important as AI advances.
More from the archives. Graduation day at Rutgers. Note the empty can of Sparks.
Dear Laura,
I’m having a debate with a fellow recruiter about the hardest part of the process. I say it’s getting clarity around the role; they think it’s the persistent ask to see “one more candidate.” What’s your take?
Thanks for weighing in,
Curious in Santa Cruz
To Curious in Santa Cruz
Wasn’t it Newton who said every action has a reaction? He wasn’t talking about hiring, but I am. The “we need to see more candidates” pattern (a reaction) is an indicator that there wasn’t clarity at the start of the role (action).
Want to know where, after 23 years in recruitment, I’ve seen most hiring managers go awry? They rush without having clarity. They panic to see talent without knowing what they’re looking for. They can’t tolerate sitting down for a few minutes to do some deep thinking, brainstorming, and strategizing with their recruitment partners. In turn, all sorts of negative reactions occur! Jobs stay open for 4 months, 22 candidates get interviewed, analysis paralysis kicks in, and decision-making starts to feel impossible.
All of my clients know I believe in ‘slowing down to speed up,’ meaning the slowest, most deliberate part of the hiring journey needs to happen before we’ve even considered meeting candidates. What do we need? What do we want? What do candidates need? What do they want? What’s missing now? The list goes on ... but questions are being examined ... and, in doing so, the search is as breezy as can be from start to finish.
So, in the debate with you and your friend, you are indeed correct (and I suppose so are they, but only because the clarity wasn’t found!).
Your friend,
The World Economic Forum just released its “Future of Inclusion Lighthouses 2026,” which examines corporate inclusion efforts and strategies across global organizations, spotlighting several case studies from its own cohort alongside empirical evidence. And while the DEI acronym may not be as prevalent as it once was, this report shows the work is still very much alive and well.
On the AI front, because it’s impossible to avoid the subject, the new Executive Order is … perplexing. I keep using the analogy that the current pace of AI development feels like a roller coaster, but not a well-designed one at, say, Six Flags. Think of the local carnivals that come to town in the summer, staffed by distracted teenagers more interested in their vapes than the cars on the tracks.
A few weeks back, The Purse asked, “Where does the Millennial career go from here?” I think the larger issue is, where does the career go from here? Period. By definition, careers are long-term journeys, but is that concept even sustainable in today’s increasingly fractional world of work? Because as far as I’m concerned, five-year plans went out the window six years ago.
Adam DeRose of HR Brew wrote about the possibility of religious exemption requests in response to Pope Leo’s recent address on the perils of AI. Now there’s a take I hadn’t thought about previously. The question is, how will employers handle the matter?
Is 2026 the year of the vendor lawsuit? I see another HR tech company is facing scrutiny, this time for disability discrimination from the EEOC after failing to make accommodations for a diabetic employee. It might be time to start tracking all of these …
New UKG research looks at the impact of the World Cup on workforce productivity because of “secret streams,” hangovers, and other factors. I found this one rather amusing since the games are happening in my proverbial backyard, and it hadn’t even occurred to me to adjust my working hours.
Davinci Awards for Product Innovation (deadline June 26)
Ragan Top Women in HR (deadline July 24)
HR Tech 2026 Pitchfest (deadline August 20)
Reading: “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams” by Matthew Walker, PhD. Rest is not my natural state, so I’m working to understand how to improve this part of my life in an effort to improve other outcomes.
Watching: Like thousands of others, I finished “Hacks” last week, and I almost want to go back and restart it. So many laughs – and lessons – wrapped in five seasons centered around the power of unlikely relationships.
Listening: The Rapture played a one-off show at a small local bar last weekend, which put “Echoes” back into rotation at my end. Phoebe Bridgers is playing MSG for $1. Not sure what this artist trend is, but I like it.
Exploring: A bonus break to explore in the form of generational divides via Instagram from Black Circle Records in South Carolina. They challenge younger employees to decipher older bands based on their logos/artwork. Hilarity ensues.
With that, we’ve officially hit one whole year of The How. Twenty-six issues of whatever crossed my desk, entered my mind, and seemed worthy of pontification. The good news for me, and hopefully you too? This has the potential to be a never-ending conversation. So until next time, keep unlocking the how behind the hype.
- Katie
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