Get All Access for $5/mo

'Silicon Valley' Actor Kumail Nanjiani on Failure, Purpose and Personal Growth The actor-comedian in a commencement speech encouraged students to explore new ideas, be open to failure and meet different people.

By Rose Leadem

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Twenty years ago, Kumail Nanjiani moved from his home country of Pakistan to attend college in the U.S. The comedian and star of HBO show Silicon Valley on Monday returned to his alma mater, Grinnell College, to deliver this year's commencement address.

Related: Mark Zuckerberg Encourages Harvard Grads to Create a Sense of Purpose

Impressed by the diversity of students at the school -- "white, black, queer, gender fluid, every religion, no religion" -- Nanjiani used his speech and his experience to encourage the graduates to meet people unlike them and to explore unfamiliar ideas.

From sharing his experience in a new country to falling in love to reaching success, Nanjiani had some powerful words for the graduating class -- and everyone else.

Here's what you can learn from him:

1. Don't be afraid to fail.

"Nobody is paying attention to your failure. The world is full of people failing. People are failing all around you. Failure is boring. Your failure will not be so spectacular that people will write articles about your failure or even remember your failure.

2. Live with purpose.

"You can go slow. Allow your dreams and goals to change, but live an intentional life."

Related: The Most Inspiring Quotes from 2017 Commencement Speeches

3. Meet different people.

"Populate your life with people different from you. Once you leave school you get to choose the kinds of people you're going to be around rather than forced to be around them."

4. Be able to grow.

"Being a fish out of water is tough, but that's how you evolve."

Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Franchise

The Top 10 Coffee Franchises in 2024

From a classic cup of joe to a creamy latte, grab your favorite mug and get ready to brew up success with the best coffee franchises.

Marketing

How Small Businesses Can Leverage Dark Social to Drive Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Dark social accounts for 70% of social media shares and is crucial for small businesses. Here's how you can tap into this hidden marketing opportunity.

Business News

'Jaw-Dropping Performance in 2024,' Says a Senior Analyst as Nvidia Reports Earnings

Nvidia reported its highly-anticipated third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

Business News

'Do You Sell Cars?': Tesla CEO Elon Musk Trolls Jaguar Rebrand on X

The team running Jaguar's X account was working hard on social media this week.