These people found big success later in life, so it’s never too late to do it too!
As a society, we tend to label individuals, particularly as they reach a certain age. Age doesn’t define an individual! What if you decide to radically change your life two years before retiring? Or maybe soon after retirement? Nobody should stop us from finding big success later in life!
Success can be defined in various ways, but ultimately, it revolves around pursuing your passions, actively participating in your community, and uplifting those around you. Those who are succeeding in their later years demonstrate that it’s never too late to pursue their goals and make their mark.
These people were brave enough to do it, and they’re a thousand times happier now than before. Read on to find their success stories in the following lines.
Laurel Richie
Laurel Richie, the first African American to lead a national sports league, is one of the legendary figures in African American history. At the age of 52, Laurel was elected president of the WNBA in 2011.
At 52, she became the first African American woman to be the head of the WNBA, a major professional sports league in the United States. Before that, she influenced the Girl Scouts’ image and led nationwide campaigns alongside Ogilvy and Mather. Laurel’s journey demonstrates that leadership is a lifelong process. She is living proof that you can find big success later in life.
Julia Child
Julia Child toiled in advertising and media before she became well-known. She didn’t find her passion for cooking until her late 30s, when she relocated to France. She signed up for culinary school and battled criticism and rejection. Published at fifty, Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a classic cookbook that started her TV career and turned her into a culinary legend. Julia teaches us that a second act can be wonderfully successful.
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison is among the people who found big success later in life. She won both the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize, wrote her first novel, “The Bluest Eye,” when she was forty years old and working as an editor for Random House Publications. She received the Pulitzer Prize at the age of 56 and accepted the Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 62.
He passed away in 2019 at the age of 88.
Stan Lee
If you like comic books then you have to know mister Stan Lee! Over the past few decades, Marvel films have evolved into some of the most renowned narratives adapted for the big screen. The well-known comic book creator Stan Lee was responsible for the creation of a large number of superheroes. Films based on his comics frequently featured Stan Lee in cameo roles.
The publication of The Fantastic Four by Stan Lee, who was nearly 40 years old at the time, was the moment that brought him his big break. The rest of our heroes became a part of history after that point.
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson has been a mainstay in Hollywood for many years, but before landing an award-winning role in Spike Lee’s film “Jungle Fever” in 1991, he had only appeared in small roles. This was the first time he had ever accomplished this.
Ray Kroc
It was Ray Kroc’s dream to establish a chain of restaurants that would be renowned for the quality of their food and the uniformity of their preparation that they offered. He did that when he was 52 years old.
The McDonald’s System, Inc. was established by Ray in 1955. This company was the forerunner of the McDonald’s Corporation. Six years later, Ray purchased the exclusive rights to the McDonald’s name and operating system.
Vera Wang
Another example of a person who found big success later in life is Vera Wang. A former journalist and competitive figure skater, Vera Wang didn’t start her fashion path until 40. Her first bridal collection came after her wedding dress experience left her unmotivated by what was available.
She not only closed the gap but also went above and beyond. With influence far beyond the runway, Vera Wang today is a powerhouse name in bridal and couture design.
Martha Stewart
At the age of 41, Martha Stewart’s first cookbook was published, and it was at that time that she began to experience genuine success in the home and kitchen. In the years leading up to her becoming a household name, Martha Stewart was employed on Wall Street and owned a catering company in Connecticut.
The publication of her first book, “Entertaining,” in 1982, and the launch of Martha Stewart Living seven years later brought Stewart to the forefront of the public consciousness. Stewart was 41 years old at the time.
A further obstacle presented itself to her in the year 2004, when she was found guilty of obstructing a federal securities investigation and received a sentence of five months in prison. She is the author of almost one hundred books and has amassed millions of followers across various social media platforms.
David Baszucki
David Baszucki is another individual who gained fame after turning 40. He co-founded Roblox with Erik Cassel, who was 36 at the time, while Baszucki was 41. The platform was made available to the public in 2006, two years after its inception. In March 2021, Roblox went public through a direct listing.
Tom Allen
Even though you might not know who he is, 90-year-old Tom Allen is the oldest yoga instructor in Britain. Although he didn’t begin practicing yoga until he was in his mid-fifties, he has since shared his extensive knowledge of flexibility that belies his age. Tom transformed his passion into a way of life that motivates people of all ages, starting as a means of staying active and busy after an early retirement.
…psst! Hey, you! Was this article inspirational and made you trust yourself a bit more? Did this article inspire you enough to transform your hobby into a business? One thing is sure: it won’t be easy, especially in the beginning, but seeing your thing growing and becoming popular and appreciated will give you an instant boost.
Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity is a sublime guide that will support you in this matter more than you think. It will help you create a profitable art business out of your unique ideas. Order your copy from Amazon for $14.82.
Eric Yuan
Zoom was founded by 41-year-old Eric Yuan. In 2011, Yuan founded Zoom Video Communications after leaving his position as vice president of engineering at Cisco Systems. Yuan became a billionaire in 2019 when the business went public. During COVID-19, when businesses and individuals used the platform to connect with coworkers and loved ones worldwide, his wealth and the company’s success skyrocketed.
Kittie Weston-Knauer
Kittie Weston-Knauer is the oldest female BMX bike racer in the United States, and her scars attest to her toughness. When she first started racing off-road bicycles in the late 1980s, she was frequently the only female competitor.
Kittie, who is 75 years old, has no plans to slow down. She began her love of riding as a dare, and now she is the oldest BMX racer in the nation and continues to win titles.
I hope this article inspired you to find that amazing thing you enjoy doing and start doing it more often, and who knows, maybe you will be happy to call it your business sometime in the future.
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