It’s graduation season, and most of us have either attended a graduation ceremony or party or at least have written a congratulatory check. Like many of you, I’ve been immersed in the season and have listened to quite a few commencement speeches of late. Though I don’t claim to have any inspiring words of wisdom for the high school and college graduates, I have detected some common themes in the speeches I’ve been exposed to. I think there’s a message in there for us as business people, too.

Don’t settle: Especially in a tough economy, many recent grads will grab the first job they’re offered. It’s secure. It’s a sure thing. And in many cases, it’s also a terrible experience. They settled. They didn’t hold out for something that fired them up or felt like it was something they’d love doing every day. I know it’s tempting, but don’t give in to it. If you aren’t fired up about the job on day one, imagine what day 1,001 will feel like.

The business lesson: Don’t do something just because you think you should. In fact, do less but do it better. Do it with passion and conviction or don’t do it at all. Fire the customers who are never satisfied or never say thank you. Fire the employees who phone it in. Do what you love for people you love, as my friend and author Steve Farber often says.

Don’t be like everyone else: It’s an interesting human characteristic that we want to blend in. And yet, we want desperately to be noticed. The two are completely incongruent. Where you fall in that spectrum is really tied to your willingness to take a risk. When you’re 18, that’s scary stuff.

The business lesson: Being different is scary stuff when you’re an adult, too. But if you want to get noticed by a boss, a potential client or the marketplace, you can’t hide behind everyone else. You have to be willing to take the risk. If you’re not, then accept the consequence of being stuck in the middle of the pack – anonymity. If you own a business, that means you are choosing to be a commodity and be paid accordingly.

It’s not about you: We’ve all heard the sayings. “At the end of your life, you don’t regret what you did; you regret what you didn’t do.” Or, “you make a living by what you get and a life by what you give.” I think it boils down to this – how do you want to be remembered? Do you want to be the lady with 100 pairs of shoes or the guy with the coolest car? Or do you want to be among the people who stood up for what they believed in and didn’t just complain, but rolled up their sleeves and did something about it? How is the world better because you were here?

The business lesson: We earn a living in our community. It’s how we pay our mortgage and put food on the table. Which means we have an obligation to act out our gratitude. Every business, no matter how big or small, can help in some way.

These aren’t just platitudes or clichés. They’re solid business advice. Find your niche and do it better than anyone else. Differentiate yourself by building a bold brand. Give back in a way that supports your best customers and community.

The beautiful symbiosis is that not only will you build a successful business, you’ll also enjoy a successful life.

Drew McLellan is Top Dog at McLellan Marketing Group and blogs at www.drewsmarketingminute.com. He can be reached by email at Drew@MclellanMarketing.com. © 2011 Drew McLellan