Friday, December 28, 2018

Something to Think About for the Coming New Year: You're Not Too Old to Be an Entrepreneur


The myth that entrepreneurship is only for the young is upside down.

The majority of startups are launched by people over 45.  We have the knowledge, the networks, and the wisdom to put our skills to work on our own terms.

Do you need a New Year's resolution to help make your life more independent and resilient?  You can take early, thoughtful steps in 2019 to make this transition for yourself.

Don't just wish for a happy new year.  Put yourself on a entrepreneurship path to make it a productive new year.

Here's a bit of inspiration just published in Entrepreneur Magazine.  I especially like the idea of older entrepreneurs choosing younger mentors.  I'm doing this with my newest launch and it's paying off wonderfully - in many great directions.

Something to Think About for the Coming New Year: You're Not Too Old to Be an Entrepreneur

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and IRS, researchers from MIT and Northwestern University found that 2.7 million entrepreneurs started businesses between 2007 and 2014.  And their average age?  42.  If that’s not surprising enough, the researchers also learned that the entrepreneurs with the highest-growth businesses were even older: 45 on average.

Connect with Younger Mentors and Mentees
Mentors don’t have to be graying old folks who start every story with “Back when I was your age …”
There are plenty of young people, too, who have a lot to offer, including valuable social connections with up-and-coming members of the workforce. After all, networking has likely contributed to your career success thus far. So, keep networking with members of the new generations entering the workforce, and they’ll be a huge help when it comes time to hire top talent. In addition, having a younger mentor or mentee could inspire you to keep an innovative mindset.

Networking that works...
If the word “networking” makes you cringe, relax. You don’t have to attend stuffy functions and scatter business cards to strengthen your network. Instead, help out the people around you as best you can. If you have experience hiring, and a fellow entrepreneur is looking for his or her first employee, offer to take that entrepreneur to lunch and explain the hiring mistakes you’ve made in the past.

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Ageless Entrepreneurs have the skills, knowledge, and networks to set sail on their own carefully planned venture.  Make 2019 the year you launch your own vision of that journey.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Are you waiting for the perfect time to start? The Rise Of The 'Accidental' Entrepreneur - Forbes

Friends in the second half of life.  Are you waiting for the perfect time to start something new?  

Holding your breath is not a strategy.

Put a toe in the water.  Learn something new.  Take a small chance. 

A new piece from Forbes puts this in context.

The Rise Of The 'Accidental' Entrepreneur - Forbes

"A third of business owners never planned on starting their own company. And in spite of the challenges they faced, from raising finance and finding customers to managing with little personal income, only 1% regret their decision, while 12% wish they’d started their business sooner. Ninety per cent say they are happier than when they were employed."