My raison d’etre for creating my business and this web-site was to encourage other pre-retirement women to create a business on-line so they can have the funds to ensure themselves a good, comfortable retirement. My own journey these last two years continues to be my proof positive it can be done, no matter what age you are. Gumption and stick-with-it-ness are qualities we often have in spades by this age, so the learning curve is just another bump in the road or, at times, an inconvenience.
I recently found statistics that support my claim that you (Yes! You!) can do this! and be good at it! (and I would suggest good would correlate with successful!) These numbers are American but Canadian numbers are no doubt comparable.
“the number of businesses created by older entrepreneurs between the ages of 55 and 64 is rising drastically. In 1996, just 14.3 percent of new entrepreneurs were older than 55. By 2012, that number had risen to 23.4 percent.”
“Older people possess something younger people lack: namely experience, expertise, judgment, and performance,” he [Bill Zinke] says. “That’s why the older people who create new businesses have a better rate of success.”
“In more recent years, the economy has shifted from being industrial to knowledge-based. Older people can continue working well into their 60s, 70s, and 80s,” says Zinke, who founded the Center when he was in his 80s. “I guess I’m an example. And I do not think I’m an anatomical wonder. I simply reflect the reality of demographic change in America.”
The longer I am in this on-line space the more “mature” adults I find. Entrepreneurs in their 60s, 70s and 80s who are excelling in this space and funding the retirements they want to live. Developing into an on-line entrepreneur has been a walk in the park for some and a struggle for others, but we all are eager to share our experiences and smooth your path.
I would encourage you to look backward for just a few moments at how far you have come in the last 30 years! and those 30 years have held some challenges.
But here you are. and you are here reading this so you still have a dream!
My challenge to you is to become a statistic! become an “older entrepreneur”!
Show that “experience, expertise, judgment, and performance”!
Create your “better rate of success”!
“…reflect the reality of demographic change.”!
I’ve got your back!
Read the full article at: http://agnesknowles.ca/never too old
Great post! I think that you’re probably in a better position to start a business later in life. You’ve the life experience and skills to be able to go out there and really make the most of it. With the population becoming largely ageing then I think we’ll see more and more people who start businesses later in life.
Love the post. You know the concept of retire is relatively new. People didn’t retire before 1900’s. They continued to contribute and I think that is what we are all craving to do.
We are going to live longer, if we retire at 55, or even 60 we still 30 to 40 to 50 years to live. I can’t image not contributing.
Great post Agnes and will say the older generation are more willing to put in the hard work at the start. I started at the age of 66 so you are never too old. Thanks for sharing.
Great encouragement Agnes. It is never too late to start if you have the enthusiasm and the driveto succeed.