In our early lives most of us are lucky enough to be given chances. Chances to learn, to grow, and to develop. How we take these chances and what we do with them shapes our lives.

Later on in life, if you’re really lucky, you get to give other people chances, to help them learn, grow and develop. These people might be your children. They might be other people’s children. They might be work colleagues, friends or family.

Seeing how people use the chances you give them is incredibly rewarding and in my professional life became one of the most satisfying aspects of my career.

When I took early retirement in 2012, looking back over a career in the energy industry spanning 40 years reminded me of the many people I’d met along the way. I’ll always be grateful to those who trusted me and gave me chances – Harry, Dave, Chris, Steve, Ian and Alan. And their names remain important to me in this new phase of my life, a phase which involves helping children who deserve to be given a chance.

So whatever else you do today, make the best of the chances you’re given. And be generous with the chances you give to others.

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Julian Reeves
Retired Director of Corporate Relations at SSE,
Trustee of a children’s charity,
and Friend of StudioLR.