Connie Paglianiti Speaker Author Educator

THE NEXT CHAPTER IS ALWAYS WAITING

This week I spent three incredible days at The Next Chapter Bootcamp with Kaley W Chu and over 180 speakers from around the world.

One of the highlights was learning from Michael Tracy, son of the legendary Brian Tracy. Listening to him share lessons, wisdom, and success principles passed down from one of the world's most respected business minds was truly special.

But what struck me most wasn't just what was taught.

It was the reminder that growth never stops.

Too many people believe there comes a point where it's too late to start over, too late to learn something new, too late to chase a dream, or too late to become the person they were always meant to be.

I know that's not true.

At 61, I went to prison.

At 66, I went to university.

At 67, I became a bestselling author.

Today, at 68, I am continuing to learn, grow, speak, and build a future that once seemed impossible.

Your past is a chapter.

It is not the whole book.

No matter where you are right now, there is always another chapter waiting to be written.

Thank you to Kaley Chu for creating a community that challenges people to think bigger, dream bigger, and become more than they thought possible.

And thank you, Michael Tracy, for reminding us that success principles may be simple, but they remain timeless.

The best part?

The journey continues.

💛🖤💛🖤

Well, this is a bit exciting.

I've officially progressed to the next round for TEDxKew 2026.

Out of hundreds of applications, around 50 speakers have been shortlisted. From here, just 15 to 20 will be selected to take the TEDxKew stage.

I have just submitted my next-round application, so it is officially out of my hands now.

Looking back on it, life has certainly taken some unexpected turns.

Prison at 61.
University at 66.
Bestselling author at 67.
And now, TEDxKew Speaker Finalist.

Not bad for a late bloomer.

A huge thank you to everyone who has encouraged me, supported me, challenged me and believed in me along the way.

Now we wait.

Let's see what happens next.

It’s never too late to start again.

I know that because I have had to do it myself.

This Sunday 31 May at 10.00am AEST, I’ll be speaking at the Level Up Summit 2026 with my free one-hour masterclass:

**It’s Never Too Late to Start Again™**

I’ll be sharing what it really takes to rebuild after setbacks, find your confidence again, and stop letting your past decide what comes next.

This is for anyone who needs a little reminder that you are not finished.

You can still rebuild.
You can still reinvent.
You can still rise.

**Register here:**
https://levelupsummitlive.com/

I would love to see you there.

Connie x

450 pages. Two proprietary frameworks. One proper industry manual.

EventCore™ is here.

The S.A.F.E.™ and P.R.O.V.E.™ methodologies bring together everything I have learned from years working across events of every shape and scale: the systems, the frameworks and the real-world lessons behind events that actually work.

The foreword is written by Richard Henderson, the brand architect behind the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

If you run events, speak at them, plan them, or want to understand what really happens behind the scenes, this was written for you.

Book launch coming soon.

I am honoured to share that I’ll be returning as an Official Judge for Next Top Speaker Season 6.

Second time judging, and this year I also had the privilege of training the judges as well.

That part means a lot to me.

Because judging speakers is not just about who has the best story, the loudest voice, or the most polished delivery.

It is about listening for truth.
Watching for presence.
Seeing who can hold a room, move an audience, and deliver a message that actually lands.

I know what it feels like to stand on that stage.
I know what it takes to find your voice after life has knocked the wind out of you.

A special thank you to Kaley W Chu, Richmond Dinh and Russell Brunson for the vision behind and for creating a platform where everyday people get to step up, be seen, be heard and change lives through their voice.

And I know how powerful it is when someone stops hiding and finally speaks from the heart.

To every speaker stepping into Season 6, back yourself.

Your voice matters.
Your story matters.
And the room is waiting.

The tournament runs from 7.00am to 4.00pm, with 100 speakers stepping up.

For anyone who would love to attend, here is the link:
https://www.nexttopspeaker.com/registration

Let’s go, Next Top Speaker Season 6.
I cannot wait.

I’ve been thinking a lot about fairness in prison.

When I was inside, we were earning around $6–$9 a day.
Not per hour. Per day.

And people forget this part… you still have to buy your own basics. Toiletries. Phone credit. Stamps. Extra food if you need it. The small things most people don’t even think about.

Yes, you get the bare minimum. But the bare minimum is exactly that.

Now here’s what never sat right with me.

If you wanted to do arts and crafts, some of us had to pay for every single item ourselves. Paints, brushes, materials. And we weren’t allowed to sell what we created. If you wanted to keep it, you had to send it home at your own expense.

I wasn’t a painter, but I saw incredibly talented people inside. Work that deserved to be seen. But it never left the prison walls.

At the same time, there were exhibitions organised where artwork was sold, some pieces going for serious money.

Then there’s food.

Most of us ate what was dished up. And let’s be honest… it wasn’t great.

But there were situations where different arrangements were made. Special meals. Separate storage. Additional provisions.

I understand there may be reasons behind some of these arrangements.

But from the inside?

It didn’t feel equal.

My issue is not with any person’s culture or religion.
My issue is with a system that creates different levels of access, opportunity and dignity depending on which category you fall into.

If we’re going to have a system, it needs to be consistent.

Because when things don’t feel fair, it chips away at people even more.

I’m not saying prison should be comfortable. It shouldn’t be.

But if we truly believe in rehabilitation, then fairness has to be part of that conversation.

Because rebuilding a life doesn’t start when you walk out.

It starts while you’re still in there.

Today would have been my dad’s 92nd birthday.

Eight years without him, and yet it still feels like he’s here with me.

This photo was taken in 1968, just before he made the journey to Australia to find a better life for our family.

Because of that one decision, everything changed.

Happy heavenly birthday, Dad.
I love you. I miss you. Always.

Today is ANZAC Day.

A day we pause to honour courage, sacrifice, service and the people who gave so much for the life we get to live today.

But today is also very personal for me.

It is my beautiful mum’s birthday.

She would have been 92 today, and even though she has been gone for two years, not a day goes by that I don’t miss her.

My mum taught me strength in the quietest ways. She carried so much, gave so much, and loved without needing applause.

So today, I honour our ANZACs.

And I also honour my mum.

Two kinds of remembrance.
Two kinds of love.
Both held in my heart today.

Lest we forget.
Happy heavenly birthday, Mum.

One post this week reached over 33,000 impressions on LinkedIn.

I’m grateful for the reach, yes.
But more than that, I’m grateful for the response.

Because behind the numbers were real people.
People who felt seen.
People who said the message hit home.
People who needed the reminder that fear does not have to be the thing in charge.

That is why I do this work.

I speak about reinvention, resilience, second chances, age diversity, and the red flags we ignore for far too long, in ourselves, in workplaces, and in life.

If one honest post can open up that kind of conversation, imagine what can happen in a room full of people ready to listen, reflect, and act.

Thank you to everyone who has read, commented, shared, and supported my message.

The numbers are lovely.
But the impact matters more.

Most people don't want a second chance.

They want the outcome of one — without the discomfort of becoming someone different.

And that's exactly why they stay stuck.

I've written about what a real second chance actually looks like — from the inside.

Not the highlight reel. The real version.

Read it here 👇
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/you-havent-missed-your-chance-youre-avoiding-connie-paglianiti-huntc

You Haven’t Missed Your Chance. You’re Avoiding It. You Haven’t Missed Your Chance. You’re Avoiding It.