I wish I started earlier, now I am too old ...

Starting a new year made me reflect on where I was 6 years ago...

I am too old ....

I hear that a lot whether it's to start a business as an entrepreneur, or to start a new sport, .... It was my belief as well.

But in reality it is often in your head, you are building your own walls and fences around you to stop you from trying. You keep yourself in this "comfort zone", this nice little place you know well between the walls you've built.

When you are older, you feel it is too late to start something new because you have obligations and responsibilities to your family and your job, but you never know when the time will be right to take a leap of faith. Even if it feels too late or not the right time now, it might be in the future when your children have grown up and left home.

I never dreamt that one day I would be an entrepreneur, nobody in my family never was. It was too scary for me, I thought I didn't have the right skills, the knowledge, the money, etc ... and I must admit I never really thought about becoming one. I worked in the corporate world for big corporations with a stable job, feeling "secure" ... in my "comfort zone".

Then 6 years ago at 49 years old?I suddenly lost my "safe" job. It was a shock and I was not prepared, but for some reasons it was also a relief ... maybe the fact that for the last 3 years in the job I was not aligned with the company culture anymore ... I was in the "fear zone"

I needed help and reached out to a transition coach to help me know what I really wanted and who I really was. A long and hard journey of introspection ... At the same time I applied to several "safe" traditional jobs, not completely convinced but "hey I need to work". It didn't lead to anything concrete, maybe I was "too old" or "too experienced" .... ??

Then the hard work with my coach paid off (thanks Virginie Scuvée ??), I started to understand how to use the "keys" she gave me to open my own doors.

I decided that I wanted to create my job and that I was not too old to do it. Didn't Colonel Sanders create his company KFC when he was 62 years old ? If he was able to do it, why wouldn't I be able to do it as well !

What were my main assets compared to someone younger ?

• I had experience in the mobility industry
• I knew the Luxembourg market well
• I was branch & country manager for 22 years in two different countries and had a good understanding of running a company, preparing budgets, etc ...
• I was a good "integrator" to set up the business and put processes in place and run it.
• I partnered with a "visionary" (my wife) who would bring fresh ideas and challenge me when needed.

It was time for me to get out of my "comfort & fear zone" to get into the "learning zone" of being an entrepreneur.

What an exciting and stressful 5 years it has been, with up (growth, new customers, new team members,...) and downs (Covid-19). But the rollercoaster journey was worth it as I am now aligned with myself.

So if you have a dream and are not happy in your job, don't let anyone tell you that you are too old and go for it.

You are never too old ! You have experience, knowledge, connections and maybe more time than when you were younger and were busy with a family.

I am a fan of kitesurfing and I know some people who think they are too old and that it's not for them .... Well, have a look at this 78 years old kitesurfer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouheMnmjx9U.

Again, you are never too old !

I will conclude by quoting Darren Robinson :

"LOSING MY JOB WAS THE BEST DECISION I NEVER MADE"