Wisepreneurs Podcast: Independent Professionals Building Expertise Laurie Smale Digital Storytelling at 79: From School Dropout to YouTube Creator Through Mentorship
Digital storytelling at 79 after leaving school at 13 — proof that reinvention has no expiry date when mentorship meets courage.
Laurie Smale walked away from school after brutal treatment by a maths teacher and began working in a junkyard under the guidance of Old Bill, his first mentor.
Decades later he returned to education, graduating with honours at 37.
Most recently, he launched his Magic Minutes YouTube series at 78 with the support of digital mentor Sue Ellson.
Laurie's journey from sleeping beside a furnace to building a personal brand online illustrates how lived experience becomes professional asset when fear is faced with humility and support.
For experienced professionals questioning whether it's too late to learn new technology or pivot careers, Laurie's story is the answer.
Wisepreneurs explores how independent professionals turn accumulated expertise into sustainable practice.
Key Themes
- Confronting lifelong fear and self-doubt with small, intentional steps
- Reinvention in later life using digital tools and social media
- The enduring value of mentorship and human connection
- Lifelong learning as a mindset—not a timeline
- Legacy, storytelling, and the quiet power of older voices in business
Mentions
People & Mentors:
Sue Ellson (LinkedIn expert) https://sueellson.com/
Old Bill Menzies (junkyard mentor)
Dave Stokes (audio producer) https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-stokes/
Systems & References:
Magic Minutes video series https://www.youtube.com/@lauriesmale
National Speakers Association https://www.professionalspeakers.org.au/
Grandma Moses (artist & reinvention symbol) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandma_Moses
Contact
Explore Laurie’s books, Magic Minutes videos, and speaking work at lauriesmale.com
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriesmale/
Connect with Nigel Rawlins
website https://wisepreneurs.com.au/
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelrawlins/
Twitter https://twitter.com/wisepreneurs
Downloads
- Embodied Intelligence Self-Assessment
- Professional Reputation Audit
https://wisepreneurs.com.au/free-assessments/
Please support the podcast
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2311675/supporters/new
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