Have an idea that you want to turn into a business? What are you waiting for? It’s never too late to start a business, you just need to work hard to make it happen. Many people think they need a ton of experience or a lot of money to start a business, but that isn’t true. You just need passion for what you believe in, and the will to do what it takes to see it come alive. Did you know the average age of startups is 42 years old according to the U.S. Census Bureau?
If you need inspiration, look no further than Vera Wang herself, who was 40 years old when she opened her own boutique in 1990. Yep that’s right…..40 years old! In an article written by the Harvard Business Review, Vera cites the reason for deciding to become a fashion designer at age 40, was because she probably wouldn’t have been equipped to know what it takes to own a business when she was younger. She goes on to say that even at age 40, she wasn’t sure she should be doing it. But look at her now. Growing up, we are taught to get a good job, and make good money. Rarely did we hear to follow your dreams and do what you’re passionate about. You work to provide and pay the bills and that was that. Vera says she didn’t feel qualified to start her own business, let alone run and sustain one.
I bet that’s how many of you feel when it comes to starting your own business. You don’t feel qualified, as if there is a rule book. But there isn’t. If you have the passion, that alone qualifies you. Would you rather stay in a career where you’re not motivated, which probably means you don’t give your all at work. Or if you do give your all at work, you’re doing so to make someone else richer! Imagine putting all that effort into your own business, where you reap all the benefits. Plus, you get to do it your way.
Vera said she got the idea to start her own business from her father as she searched for the perfect wedding gown with no luck. She was engaged at the age of 39, which she mentions is a little late than most brides. See, even Vera Wang second guessed herself at what age you’re supposed to get married. Society has made us believe that you have to be a certain age to accomplish goals, which creates a society of fear. Fear to go back to school later in life, fear to get married older, fear to start a business, fear to learn a trade, etc. If Vera had stopped at her thoughts of fear, she wouldn’t be the powerhouse she is today. She realized she needed to do something she was passionate about to make a difference, and that’s exactly what she did. Her advice to young designers is to work with somebody who is smart, successful, and you respect so you can learn from them. Who was her mentor you ask? Ralph Lauren.
It’s never too late to start a business.
Source: Alison Beard. www.hbr.org. Harvard Business Review, July-Aug. 2019 https://hbr.org/2019/07/lifes-work-an-interview-with-vera-wang. Accessed 19 January. 2023.