We often see people celebrated who’ve accomplished something very early on while they are extremely young. It’s not as often that we hear about those late bloomers out there whose accomplishments or milestones happen much later on in life. For example, I have a friend who is getting married this weekend for the first time ever at age 54!
There are many other late bloomers out there too. Morgan Freeman didn’t have his acting breakthrough year until he was 52. Julia Child published Mastering the Art of French Cooking at age 49. I also published my first book later on in life. Barbara Cororan got her big break on Shark Tank when she was almost 60. You just never know.
So what can we learn from all of the late bloomers out there?
- Never give up on your dreams. The quality that separates the most successful people from those who are less successful is their ability to hang in there no matter what. It’s rare for someone to strike gold on their first attempt. They have to keep swinging and have faith that it will all eventually work out.
- Success doesn’t have an expiration date. You don’t have to be youthful to achieve what you want. You can accomplish whatever you hope to as long as you stay the course.
- Persistance pays. So many times I’ve been on the verge of giving up but still continued along the path by looking for new ways to accomplish what I’d hoped for. I’ve found that the more persistent you are, the more likely you are to get what you want even if there is a long wait!
- Love or anything else worth having can happen any time. It’s never too late to fall in love or write that book or launch a business or do just about anything. Lightning can strike at any time. Be ready.
- You get out what you put in. Late bloomers have probably put in a lot more work than most, and with fewer rewards along the way. They know the value of grit and hard work and are willing to grind steadfastly towards their goals.
- Late bloomers are no strangers to rejection so their successes taste that much sweeter. The more you struggle, the more you will enjoy the reward at the end. I can assure you of one thing, late bloomers have seen a lot of rejection while they’ve chased after their dreams. But, at the same time, that rejection has built character in them and taught them some great lessons as it unfolded.
So, if you feel like you are too old to go after your dreams, know that you’re not. It’s never too late to compete in that triathlon, launch a new career, or do something that you’ve always wanted to. There are plenty of other late bloomers out there already doing the same thing. Why not join in on the fun?