This is J.K. Rowling, speaking at Harvard's graduation in 2008.

Seven years after graduating, her marriage was over and she raised a child with no job.

"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."

Failure cleared away everything that did not matter, and she stopped pretending.

Every hour she had left went into the one piece of work that still mattered to her.

A life is not a list of the things you achieve or the things you own.