Advice for People over 50 looking to Start a new Career
Colonel Sanders. Laura Ingalls Wilder. Ronald Reagan. Tim and Nina Zagat. What do all of these famous folks have in common? They were all over the age of 50 when they started their second careers. Sanders, the man behind Kentucky Fried Chicken, started out as the owner of a gas station. Laura Ingalls Wilder, the author of the beloved "Little House" series of books, was a teacher who eventually made her mark in the literary world at the age of 65. After a moderately successful film career, Ronald Reagan decided to try his hand at politics at the age of 55, and became President at the age of 69. Tim and Tina Zagat, whose restaurant guides became famous, were both corporate lawyers who turned their hobby into a full-time career.
What useful advice can be gleaned through these success stories? Surprisingly, most people who found success after the age of 50 share some common ground.
In most cases, those who found fame and fortune later in life started out in a career which failed to ignite the fires of their passion. It wasn't until they followed their passions that they found their true niche. The Zagats and Colonel Harland Sanders both had a passion for food, which is a far cry from their original professions. Another fine example is Takichiro Mori. A Japanese college professor, Mori retired from academia at the age of 55 and pursued his interest in developing real estate. At the time of his death in 1993, Mori had a net worth of $13 billion.
Another common thread is that most of these people put their life experience to good use, which provided them with the insight necessary to become successful. Laura Ingalls Wilder's books were based upon her own experiences growing up on the American frontier. No doubt her career as a teacher provided her with the skills necessary to write professionally. Ronald Reagan's silver screen fame earned him a stint as a spokesperson for General Electric, a gig which required Reagan to give speeches to GE factory workers. Little did he know at the time that he was gaining the public speaking experience which would aid him in his political career.
Anyone over the age of 50 can learn how to be successful in a second career by drawing inspiration from these examples. These success stories teach us that it is important to follow your passion and engage yourself in an activity which appeals to your hobbies or interests. These success stories also teach us to rely on our life experience, knowing that the wisdom we have gained and the knowledge we have acquired will provide us with the skills and confidence necessary to become successful.
Perhaps the most important piece of advice can be found in a quote by the famous 17th century haiku master Basho, who wrote, "Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought." In other words, do not seek the motivation of fame or wealth, but seek your true passion. It worked for Colonel Sanders, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Ronald Reagan, and countless others, and it can work for you too.
