May 7. Day 127. What motivates you to get out of bed

The former PM and The Boy who one day wants that job

I used to think it would take a bomb to get my boy out of bed early. It turns out there is another way - a former Prime Minister will do it.
For reasons I can't explain the only thing that comes close to motivating Theatre Boy like the stage is politics. So when the school put on a breakfast exposing the students to the many and varied political and public service career options The Boy signed up even though it meant being in the school grounds at 7am.
The messages from all the speakers - which included former PM and local Federal MP Kevin Rudd, State representative Jackie Trad, councillor Helen Abrahams and Queensland Board of Studies chairperson Bob McHugh - was that being in a public service role offered great rewards.
For students weighed down with the burden of working out what they want to do when they grow up, there was also a strong message that their career would and should take them in many directions and to follow their passion.
Kevin Rudd delivered five key messages to the students
1) Work out what you believe in. What are your core values? What do you care most about?
2) Work out your passion. What is it that motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?
3) Work your guts out to be the best as you can be at whatever it is you are passionate about. Mr Rudd told the boys to think of the television talent show contestant full of passion who is still awful. Passion alone isn't enough. You have to work at it
4) The happiest people are those who give back and the saddest people are those who think only of themselves and
5) You guys can change the world. This, he said, was not just KRuddy words. The students should lift their vision and work to make change.
OK, it's been said before but it doesn't hurt to remind young people especially when the words come from someone who is the political equivalent of a rock star - where taking photos on one mobile phone isn't enough.
All in all it was worth getting out of bed for.