The 37-year-old Take That star has been helping his bandmate Gary Barlow mentor his X Factor contestants and spoke about making it in the industry.
He said to UK newspaper Daily Star: 'Because I am on the other side of the net I have a different perspective.
'It's amazing how much of your hopes and dreams and your life quickly becomes 'this is it and if I haven't got it then everything's broken'.
'Well, it's not as simple as that. Some people who don't make it might have got off lightly. I know that's a weird thing to say. I wouldn't change a thing. I'm happy on this side of the fence.'
He added: 'But this life is not for some people. It's tough.'