Regular readers in this United Plandom will know that from time to time, this Philosopher-In-Residence likes to run a themed blog series. As the big 4-0 approaches, my latest series is a sequence of letters to my younger self, framed around some Make Me A Plan-style motivational advice and guidance.

As Pete Tong would say - We continue - the next instalment in this series with a letter about the second decade of my life, reflecting on Anna Pascoe aged 10-19.

Dear Anna,

Well done on getting the best GCSE results in your school, young Anna. In due course, you will always remember that you were told “anyone with any get up and go, should get up and get out of Cornwall” and this unfair statement will burn like fire in your belly as you campaign for a better deal for people in your area.

This will also be your first hard taste of the adage “pride comes before a fall” (and sorry, young Anna, to manage expectations, there will be a few more falls amongst the many other proud moments in your life to come).

Two years later, you will be crushed by not getting the A Level results you had been predicted. It will take you a really long time to realise that you don’t have to be so hard on yourself, or try so hard to be socially accepted – but you will get there, and there will be times where you really and truly love and care for yourself like you do for others.

During this decade, you’ll grow up a lot and try many new things. You’ll be astonished that your natural shy and timid self actually had an aptitude for sales and business development, and well done on building that Avon and Betterware empire. Believe it or not, you’ll make even further progress shedding those shackles of shyness over the next 20 years. You’ll even have a career where you close sales deals all over the world and grow many different businesses, including your own one day. Whodathunk!

You’ll also start exploring your sexuality during this decade and have your first serious relationship. So all in all, it was a pretty busy ten years, young Anna.

Never forget that you can always go out there and get what you want if you set your heart on it and put your mind to it.

Lots of Love, from, 39 year old Anna. xx

Next fortnight, as we continue the countdown to this Philosopher-In-Residence’s fortieth birthday, I’ll be musing On 20-29. Join me and reflect back to your early years and what you have learned/what you would philosophise about in a letter to your younger self at that age.

Please get in touch with any particular aspects of this topic you’d like me to write about.

In the meantime,

Happy Planning

PS If you want some other free tips for your business life, check out the Working Well blog – out fortnightly on Wednesdays, courtesy of Make Me A Plan’s Productivity Expert, Penny Le Kelly. Browse the latest edition here: https://www.makemeaplan.com/news/whats-in-a-name/