Since the age of 6, I always wanted to be a professional cricketer.

By 11, I was lucky enough to be invited to a trial during the off-season for the county, which I guess is the equivalent of state tryouts. All you had was a letter sent to your house telling you if you’d been picked or not.

Each year after the trial, I would wait for the postman before school, and each year the letter told me I hadn’t made the final cut, but not to worry, there were plenty of opportunities to officiate games and not to quit.

I was rejected four years in a row. By year three, I started to think there was something wrong with me.

And the adults around me were right… or so I thought. As you grow up, you realise some gatekeeper making an arbitrary decision about you is largely winging it.

By 15, I hadn’t given up and got into the squad, and the same coaches had changed their language from “he’s out of his depth” to “where has this kid come from”.

This year, I’m in the World Cup squad representing the over 40s England Cricket team.

Provided you love what you do, no one is stopping you getting yours. Just put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

Whether it’s a business you started, writing, livestreaming, AI creations, getting your fitness sorted, content, or some obscure project, lean into the joy of it.

And make it happen.