As people, we’re always so enamoured by youth. Where 12th-century explorers searched for the fountain of youth, we now search for the next young prodigy or child genius.
We’re so quick to crown the next big thing. We put kids through rigorous academics at an early age to test their potential. In sports, we keep our eyes peeled for the next Lebron James or Serena Williams. And in the business world, this often means finding the next Mark Zuckerberg or Jack Dorsey – the young and bright who’ve traded the classic suit for sweatpants and running shoes.
Is Youth All It Takes?
If you’re a little on the older side, this can be a terrifying prospect. After all, if youth seemingly has the advantage when it comes to success (where time and opportunities are concerned), where does that leave older people? It could even be a little daunting (or for some, demoralising) to pit yourself against a driven younger crowd – including high school kids who might already have some marvellous accomplishments under their belt.
These are valid fears. However, the truth is, there is always time. I’d argue that as an older person, you have advantages that younger people aren’t necessarily equipped with. It might not seem like a lot, but trust me, some things only come with age.
Leverage Your Experience
Firstly, as someone with more life experience, you’ve objectively encountered more difficulties and failures in life than the average young person. Do not discount your accumulated experiences – these setbacks would have gifted you with resilience in the face of adversity, a wealth of knowledge and discernment. Those are valuable things that not a lot of young people might have or be able to grasp until they’ve experienced hardships themselves.
Over the years, you would have also learned how to overcome struggles that come your way. Where younger people might have quit, your seasoned self is more than capable of staying the course and remaining focused on your goals.
This focus shows itself even more, when you consider how at an older age, you’re able to support yourself financially. Yes, many kids who initiate start-ups are already well-funded by their parents. However, as an adult with the advantage of experience, critical thinking and foresight, you’d be able to better manage your own finances, make the right adjustments to effectively operate independently and set out a strategic plan for yourself and your business.
Trust Your Keener Eye
Your experience and interactions throughout your life would also mean you’d know your way around different people and can rely on a network that is possibly broader and more diverse. This is especially useful in helping you reach out to even more contacts to help you start your business and for finding reliable support systems.
Your access to a richer network, deeper understanding of real customer needs and keener obeservation of multiple trends would also help you better recognise what you can offer others and discern how best you can do it.
There are so many advantages to being an older person looking to be a first-time entrepreneur. The question now is – how do I get it done? Well, friend, you just have to start. Trust yourself and the things you’ve learned in your years. It’s never too late to chase after your dreams, and it’s always better to be late than never getting something done at all.
So the next time you think you’re way past that age to give the world of entrepreneurship a shot, think about Intel, LinkedIn and Vera Wang (just to name a few!) – their founders all got their start later in life. And if their stories have taught us anything, it’s that success is a possibility at any age.
To your success,
Mario
[Visit www.mariosingh.com now to enjoy a FREE e-book of my latest “37 Essential Principles for Massive Success” when you subscribe!]
