Back in 1973, early in my nursing career, an "older" colleague said to me: "When you stop having fun at work it is time to move on." And that resounded with me. As I look back over a varied career and much lived life, I believe the underlying message was yours, said a bit differently. I have always pursued what was of interest to me and kept on learning, filling my soul and finding my bliss. You are so right! Hello from Minnesota!

Hello from WV USA. 68 years young here. A few months ago while drowning in winter depression I suddenly had a break through. Suffering many regrets in my life I realized that I was wasting my time thinking of things I could not change. What I could do was make the rest of my life meaningful. I joined the Civil Air Patrol and was accepted into a graduate program reflecting my own intrests rather than being career driven. I may not change the world but I am much more comfortable in my own skin.

Well said Guy I realised the very same in my forties. I no longer chase other people's dreams. D.

You did the right thing totally agree we are just a nine day wonder but in her case they forgot her in a day 😢

Thanks Guy, that's very wise advice. Many folk would have thought, well I may have a good career with the BBC, I'll stick with it. You made a brave choice and I am sure you don't regret it.

Thanks, Guy. Well spoken and well received.

Guy, Great Advice !!! I wish I had heard this many years ago. You work all your life for a corporation and you are forgotten history the minute you walk out the door. You made the correct decision !! Best wishes to you !! Dave Wentworth California, USA

This reminds me of something I heard once from a movie I believe... "When your life is truly miserable it is not in fact the worst it could be because true misery will make you at least try and overcome it. But when your life is just barely tolerable, that is the real horror." Well done my friend well done.

The lesson I would have taken was: If you quit or get fired, be sure to steal the furniture.

really worth hearing both your story and bbc world service. greetings from romania.

I had the very same epiphany in my early 20's. I was working for a large telecoms company, surrounded by people who routinely went above and beyond the call of duty out of a sense of loyalty and dedication. I was too young and too green to know why that didnt sit right with me, my gut instinct was "do your contracted hours, work to the best of your ability for those hours, after that, your life is your own" I was proven correct when this profitable company decided to maxmise profits just a bit more by closing the doors of the branch and scrapping 100s of peoples livilhoods in the middle of the worst recession in decades when very few other opportunities were avaliable. That's when I woke up and grew up very quickly. Don't put any stock in anything beyond your own selfish interests. Because no one else sure as hell will.

I know all about it my brother died he was just 18years old ready to go to university it was his last day in college a careless drive ran into him he died almost instantly,it changed my life and started my nursing career because of my brother ,his death also had a positive effect on all his friends,particularly one person who was standing next to him when he was killed who became a very successful and famous musician,he told me that he had no direction at that time and my brothers death gave the strength to pursue his musical career,

Very valuable story to relate Guy. I have seen stories similar to that of the woman at the BBC play out a number of times in my own life.

Great advice! Greetings from the Dominican Republic.

I majored in Classics in college, and I’ve spent the years since graduating trying to “fit” that degree into a career instead of following my passions, which led me to the degree in the first place. Missing that passion has been on my mind recently, so funny that this was uploaded today. Needed to hear this, thank you.

had something similar happen. I was a package handler for a large shipping company. i was a normal worker but delivered time specific packages, and stayed late delivering packages to areas. and then working other shifts on top of that, granted by my own will, loading or unloading more packages faster than other employees. i started having back pain, went through workers comp and i was put on a 10 lb limitation, and watched 3 people do the jobs i used to. after x-rays and an MRI showed it was just skoliosis, and not due to work, doctor said its not works fault and discharged me. after still having issues and calling in, i was told to resign on the phone or walk in and get immediately terminated. asked old colleagues and it's buisness as usual. i was 20 years old, worked hard and never moved up because when i talked to managers or heard conversations between managers and building managers, it was negative feedback (other than the money and benefits). higher ups yelling at them because they couldn't fulfill their unrealistic expectations, sometimes even seeing lower managers cry during the job. HR doesn't intervene because of favoritism, prioritizing the output of the building, and company budget. even harassment cases go mostly dismissed or unsolved, nation wide and probably even globally. try and find something where you arent just a number. and if you have to be a number, atleast enjoy the job. know your limits, and set boundaries. and know that even if you work a single or double shift, you are enough. prioritize your happiness, theres always other opportunities.

I agree. I decided to work on my own life vision at the age of 21, I'm now 52. I have always followed my heart, and it lead me to be a long-term caregiver for 17+ years for my father WWII vet. Now I fight for Veteran and Elder rights, and I'm starting a film and media company at my age. I have never deviated from my master plan. This is extremely edifying to hear. One big dream I've had is to do a film on ancient Kemet, and that's why I watch your channel. I enjoy your videos very much.

Bravo! Words to live by!

I could not agree more with you fine, Sir...

Everyone is expendable. Some more than others... Beautiful words at the end. Thanks for the advice. Life is short.

I am going to take this to heart

Thanks for sharing, Guy. Great perspective.

A truer word never said, I'm going to run off to Audible and order one of your books right now, Pharaohs of the Sun looks good !

I'm very excited to learn about your forthcoming book on the Ptolemies Guy ! Apart from Cleopatra VII, I feel that they have been sadly neglected by historians and Egyptologists. The last book I bought about them was J.G. Manning's 'The Last Pharaohs' - very scholarly but it focusses on their statecraft and their economic and 'institutional reforms' rather than a reign by reign social history of the dynasty which is more what I was looking for. Great news and great life advice too. Cheers.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race and to forget about ones own self. Always be mindful of what you are putting your energy into and try to avoid the energy vampires.😊

Greetings from Alabama USA, I enjoy your videos. Take care.

An excellent thing for me to hear today. My dream was to work in fashion, and I got pushed out of it by a well meaning but misguided head of sixth form. Five years ago I started my own business which I've loved doing. But this week I've had to recognise that I don't make enough money so I'm back out looking for a job. And that's okay too. I'm making this decision and that's what's important

You've probably read David Attenborough's autobiography, he talks about the desks being cascaded down the management hierarchy when someone leaves.

I was lucky enough to realise this early on too from a similar experience. What I didn't realise until a bit later but pass on now is the crucial importance in quality of life of the word NO deployed firmly from time to time !

Well said!

I wish I had this talk a bit earlier. Thanks for sharing your experience

Wise words and worth absorbing. Life is so precious, so short even when it is long, and fear or naïveté can keep us travelling a road we don't even question, we don't even to stop to survey: then life is over. Everyone, young and old: it's never too late to stop and change direction.

I had a similar experience Guy so I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment

Brilliant advice Guy for a career and life in general. 👏👏👏👏👏

Well put, and so very true.

Thank you for this lovely advice, the story, and your insight, but most of all, the reading of Ozymandias by the wonderous Percy Bysshe Shelley. 💜💜💜💜💜💜

Great advice! I’m looking forward to the book about the Ptolomies!

Recently read John Bauschatz's book on law enforcement in Ptolemaic Egypt, really interesting. Why are they the last dynasty though: why are the Persians considered a dynasty but the Romans not?

In Egypt's sandy silence, all alone, Stands a gigantic Leg, which far off throws The only shadow that the Desart knows:- "I am great OZYMANDIAS," saith the stone, "The King of Kings; this mighty City shows "The wonders of my hand."- The City's gone,- Nought but the Leg remaining to disclose The site of this forgotten Babylon. We wonder,-and some Hunter may express Wonder like ours, when thro' the wilderness Where London stood, holding the Wolf in chace, He meets some fragment huge, and stops to guess What powerful but unrecorded race Once dwelt in that annihilated place. Horace Smith Think we can agree Shelley won that one?

How do you know she doesn’t?didn’t feel the same way about her life? Maybe she liked what she built and you are just being judgmental?