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Most career talks are given by younger speakers who have just started out or experts in a particular field. I, however, am in sight of the end of a haphazard, unplanned career and found myself wondering how I could inspire these students.

My challenge last week was to turn my CV into a captivating story and extract valuable lessons to pass on to the younger generation.

Make a difference, live meaningfully

Unprepared, I found myself talking straight from the heart. I recounted how, after twenty-five long and unfulfilled years, I began to live meaningfully by working to make a difference rather than to make money, by contributing rather than consuming. My career became life-changing at fifty when I concentrated on making a difference to others and not myself.

I found myself extracting other essential lessons from my career, one of which was to accept you make mistakes and deal with them. I told my audience that my biggest mistake was not dealing with my mistakes.

I explained how, when I eventually did decide to deal with my mistakes, it was by finding and talking to non-judgemental people willing to listen. I was not seeking sympathy but simply sought some perspective.

Conversation and reflection change lives

When I did talk, it was again life-changing. I recalled how my confidant broke down in tears the first time I did this. Then, a little surprised at this reaction, she told me she had never felt so honoured to have been chosen to help me deal with my mistakes.

Conversation changes lives, I told my audience. However, you can also, of course, talk to yourself. It’s called reflection, and conversation and reflection are both powerful aids to dealing with our shameful mistakes.

I suggested, in summary, they decide what enough means to them, follow their passion and not the money, and face and deal with the inevitable mistakes they will make.

Above all, I told my audience if they set out to make a difference, they will have a life-changing career. And, of course, that applies whether you are twenty, fifty or seventy.