Step 2.4: It’s Never Too Late
“Yes, there are two paths that you can go by, but in the long run, there’s still time to change the road you’re on.”
- Led Zeppelin / Stairway To Heaven
You think that you’re too old to pivot? Do you believe that the greats didn’t fail? Maybe these stories will inspire you to think otherwise:
Oprah: Fired from her first reporting job at age 23.
Vincent van Gogh: Decided to go to art school at age 27.
J.K. Rowling: Was a single parent living on welfare who was clinically depressed and repeatedly contemplated suicide at age 28.
Julia Child: Released her first cookbook at age 39. She didn’t get her own cooking show until she was 51.
Vera Wang: Didn't design her first dress until 40.
Stan Lee: Released his first comic book at 40.
Christian Dior: Founded his eponymous company at 41.
Harland Sanders (aka Colonel Sanders): Founded Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) at 62.
Ray Kroc: Slinging milkshake mixers until 52, then started building the McDonald's empire.
Martha Stewart: Stock broker turned lifestyle mogul at 35.
Jeff Bezos: Quit Wall Street job at 30 to sell books online.
Grandma Moses: Started painting at 76, sold paintings to MoMA.
Adolf Dassler: Founded adidas at 48.
When not in Narnia, author C.S. Lewis wrote that that “You’re never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream”, and he also said that “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
Point is: Your story isn't written in permanent marker. You can start over whenever the hell you want. Your past is just a story - once you realize this, it has no power over you.