Success Advice
Why Entrepreneurship Isn’t Just for Young People

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” These are the words of the legendary American author and humorist “Mark Twain“. Age really is nothing but a number and this has been proven time and time again.
Read on as Author & Seasoned Entrepreneur Kevin D. Johnson breaks it down on why Entrepreneurship Isn’t Just For Old People.
Entrepreneurship Can Start At Any Age
“I’m too old to start a business,” said my forty-four-year-old friend when I encouraged her to become an entrepreneur. I shook my head as she rambled on about how she has too many responsibilities and how she’s not as creative as she used to be. Her excuses were ridiculous, but all too common for people her age.
As the media focus on young CEOs like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram’s Kevin Systrom, it is easy to assume that most companies these days are started by teenagers and people in their twenties. Consequently, many older people buy into this media hype and think that starting a company is for young people, accepting that their chances of success are limited by their age. This assumption and the media hype couldn’t be further from the truth.
First, the media hype is heavily focused on the technology sector, which tends to glorify young superstars. When it comes to what is most appealing to the media, the new social media company always overshadows the new bakery on Main Street. However, most new businesses in the United States aren’t tech-related and sexy. They will be primarily sole proprietorships and small businesses with fewer than five employees. Most of their owners will be old enough to a tech guru’s mother or father.
Second, older people are starting more businesses than people in their teens and twenties. According to a Kauffman Foundation study, Americans between the ages of thirty-five and forty-four represented the largest increase in entrepreneurial activity from 2008 to 2009. Americans between ages fifty-five and sixty-four constituted the second-largest jump. The reasons range from middle-aged adults wanting to supplement their income to retired individuals wanting to continue working. Regardless of the reasons, older Americans are catching the entrepreneurial bug, which is good news for everyone. Unfortunately, we don’t hear enough about these exciting data.
Interestingly, research shows that older people are more likely to be successful when they start businesses. Older entrepreneurs have the experience needed to better navigate the rough waters of entrepreneurship. During years of work, they have developed a treasure chest of skills that makes them highly valuable. For instance, if they go into business in the same industry in which they worked for many years, their understanding of the business is a tremendous competitive advantage.
In other good news, University of Chicago economist David Galenson contends that “experimental innovators” require time to reach their peak. His research, which is largely credited with cracking the code of the creative mind, concludes that experimental innovators do their best work in life at an older age. They accomplish their genius through trial and error. Examples of these innovators are Steve Jobs, Mark Twain, and Alfred Hitchcock.
Older people may give a bunch of reasons for saying they are too old to start a business, but they are just excuses, many of which are defended with misinformation. Now we have plenty of data and reasons to support why being in your later years is an asset, not a liability, when starting a business. If you are in your early thirties, forties, or older, it is not too late to start a business. Don’t let your age deter you from pursuing your dream. Ultimately, a solid business idea paired with flawless execution, not a fresh face, is what leads to success in business.
Article originally appeared here: The Entrepreneur Mind
Make sure you get your hands on Kevin D. Johnson’s Book: The Entrepreneur Mind: 100 Essential Beliefs, Characteristics, and Habits of Elite Entrepreneurs
This book is a must have for any aspiring entrepreneur.
Success Advice
Leadership Styles That Are Killing Innovation In Your Business
This approach is common in environments that demand discipline, fast decision-making, or secrecy

Throughout history, some of the most influential military figures, Genghis Khan, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Attila the Hun, and General Patton, shared a common leadership style: autocratic leadership. (more…)
Change Your Mindset
You Become What You Absorb: How Input Shapes Your Life
We let the world dictate who we spend time with and what input we allow in, rarely stopping to consider the effects it’s having on us

“Input” is anything from the outside world that influences your mood, mindset, and emotional state. It includes the media you consume, the books you read, the podcasts and music you listen to, and the movies and shows you watch. But it also encompasses much more: the environment you live and work in, the conversations you have, the people you surround yourself with, and the events, personal or global, that unfold around you. (more…)
Success Advice
This Overlooked Skill Drives Real Business Growth
It strengthens relationships, enhances decision-making, and fosters trust.

In every successful leader’s toolkit, one skill stands out above the rest: the ability to listen. While good leaders are known for making confident decisions, great leaders understand that those decisions are only as strong as the information they’re based on. And that information? It comes from truly listening to their teams, peers, and even critics. (more…)
Personal Development
The Real Reason Successful People Are Never Late
More than just good manners, punctuality is a vital professional and personal trait.

How do you feel when your flight is delayed, throwing your entire schedule into chaos? Or when a patient dies due to a doctor’s tardiness? What about missing a job opportunity because your driver showed up late? And how do you react when someone walks in late without the basic courtesy of apologizing? (more…)
-
Personal Development3 weeks ago
Why Top Performers Create This Powerful Plan Before Taking Action
-
Success Advice4 weeks ago
Passion vs. Paycheck: The Tragic Trade-Off Too Many People Make
-
Personal Development3 weeks ago
The Three-Second Pause That Changes How People Perceive You
-
Mentor3 weeks ago
The 3 Mentorship Moves Every Leader Should Master
-
Shift Your Mindset3 weeks ago
10 Powerful Traits Every True Thought Leader Possesses
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
Why Visionary Leaders Are Embracing Emotional Sovereignty Worldwide
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
Leadership vs. Popularity: Why You Can’t Have Both
-
Personal Development2 weeks ago
Why Humility Is the Real Superpower in Leadership
15 Comments