Spent my entire working life, after the RAF service, working to be able to afford to go back to work the next day. Never had a career plan, just took the best money I could get. Always wanted to run a pub and did for a while but too little return for the effort involved. Discovered that I had organisational capabilities and an ability to sell and that's what I ended up doing. Too late now for ambitions.
I don't think I regret not having followed a predetermined path and am constantly preaching to my children that the future is all about (i) Being Happy (ii) Have multiple income streams so that if one ends it isn't devastating and (iii) Do not wish for a high income because if you achieve it some b@st@rd will only tax it.
When I think of all the people who saved all their working lives to ensure a decent pension and G Brown has robbed them blind

I am pleased that my first wife's solicitor insisted on my cashing in all savings plans, pensions etc in order that my ex could have her 50%+ when we divorced. Too old to restart many of them and by then having heart problems such insurance as I could find was too expensive so I had nothing left for Gordon to take.

Frankly life is too short for working all hours so if given my time again that would be the thing I would change. No more 14 hours days, no more taking work home at the weekends and no more working for one employer.