Isn't it your time to shine, right now?

Why you are at the right place and time in your life, right now to change your life.

If you are reading these and thinking "I'm past it. I've missed the boat. I'll never succeed", let me give you a little inspiration.

How many times have you read about the "whizz-kids" that are changing the world with their new business venture?  Incredible funding, press & publicity, sponsorship, mentoring by world-renowned experts, public speaking at events, and all the other hoopla that goes with this magic roundabout, until they become that mythical 'unicorn'.

But this is not how things really work in the real world.

First, I'd like to give you some context, by relating a real-life story about a lady called Jenny, who was lost in the woods & and then address some myths & mistruths, along with three questions that can help you take action.

I love real stories about real people. Here is  Jenny's Story.

I took a call last week from a person who was lost; lets call her 'Jenny'. She felt like she had achieved little over a long career in professional services, always meaning to do her own thing, but because of obligations and responsibilities, had never ventured out on her own. And over the last few years, Jenny had taken a lot of 'personal hits'.  Family breakdown, being passed over in her career, losing a prestigious role, then not being able to re-engage in the workforce again. Now socially & professionally isolated, at 50, she felt like she was 'done'.

But I asked some questions, and probed a little, and talked about what she might've done if life hadn't kicked her so many times. So I quizzed Jenny a little further, politely, carefully and respectfully, listening for just one thing. And then I heard it in her voice - that little spark; that thought of what might've once been possible.

One thought; a single word, which by itself can encapsulate the entire reason for the pursuit throughout the whole history of struggle of the human race. It's existence has changed the course of history for entire nations, and it's absence has decimated populations of millions. It is HOPE.

And Jenny had thought that she had lost her hope. But she hadn't; it had just been buried under a mountain. And her story can inspire you too.

If you are feeling like life has past you by, let me share a secret that I shared with Jenny.

"At 48, I'm only just getting started. It's like I've just finished my apprenticeship, and now it's time to start being the true 'craftsperson' that I knew I was always meant to be. And so can you".

Jenny and I then talked for about an hour about what what might be possible, and by the end of our conversation, Jenny was energised, and inspired. She had re-discovered the source of her power - that it was because of the things that had happened to her, that she still can and will succeed.

Now let's see if we can dispel some mistruths and myths.

Why does everybody think that success only comes in your 20's

There's often talk about "hot & hungry young entrepreneurs" -those types of list are everywhere -with good reason. I've come to recognise they are talked (and often hyped) about because they are the exception, rather than the rule. After all, it's only the unique and interesting news that gets mainstream publishing attention, because that's what sells papers.

However, I know that there is a hotter, less spoken about group of entrepreneurs who are in fact the larger group of change agents actually driving entrepreneurship in startups - the 'over 30' set.

I should know; not only have I met hundreds of them in my last 4 1/2 years of pacing the startup hallways, but I'm also one of them. And I can give you stories throughout the ages, of people who didn't become successful until what many would consider to be in the twilight of their careers, but still went on to change the world. People like Colonel Sanders, Henry Ford and Walt Disney.

The ability to 'do' a startup in your 20's is made more possible often by the lack of entanglements - its much more difficult to take the plunge & follow your dream into StartUpLand when you have obligations that must be met; like a mortgage, kids school fees, car payments and other 'necessities'. 

How you you possibly meet those obligations with the meagre stipend from a VC-funded venture? You might be ok with living on beans & mince for 4 years, but how could you pay the school fees for your childrens' education at the same time?

Often the requirement for a steady pay-check to meet those daily bills is a set of 'golden-handcuffs' that keep would-be visionaries tied to their desks, a title or benefits, their careers and their current trajectory. 

In many cases, this group of aspiring entrepreneurs may also tied through family requirements, expectations, or 'what would my wife/mother/ colleagues/ etc think of me if I chased my dream?'.

And yet, there are many who are doing just that. Some have thrown caution to the wind (like I) despite their circumstances, others have transitioned slowly into the space, and yet others have made that leap after a successful corporate career, just like my friend Troy Westley has, even with 7 kids (but that's another story for next week). All of us do it to solve a real-world problem that is personal to us, and in which we have engaged our passion.

And scaleable/digital/disruptive startups represent an entirely new vehicle to achieve your dreams or vision. Instead of once just striking out on your own as a consultant, now you can use the same value proposition, but change the business model and service delivery method to create a world changing digital offering that touches millions.

What will it take for you?

One qualification here is that I am talking about startup founders that are actively engaged in driving their idea. Which means that I must, by definition, exclude the many people that attend startup groups & meetings as a 'wantapreneur'; those people that may have a great idea, but lack the drive, the passion or that catalytic event required to cause them to actually make a start. 

In a more mature entrepreneur, that catalytic event could be a layoff, a life-event, an awakening moment or even just a gradual awareness of the 'ticking clock of life', and that the time is now. 

Jenny is not such a person. She has had that 'event', but didn't realise that the challenging circumstance and events that she has faced, are in fact just the very fuel that she needs, to not only only re-engage with the world, but to truly shine in it again.

And Jenny is not the only one. Millions of people around the world are "aspirationally entrepreneurial", but feel like they will never get the opportunity to follow their passion and their dream. Hope plays a big factor, as it always has throughout history.

I've heard it said that "hope is not a strategy". But in my experience, unless your plan encapsulates "hope", it's not really a strategy.

There's a famous story that Mark Bouris tells of his first major meeting with Kerry Packer, in which Australia's richest man told him, that Mark wasn't in the mortgage business, he was in the "hopes & dreams business". (And my apologies to MB for the abridged version).

I can help people with their "venture strategy, business model, value proposition, channel strategy" ( and twenty other buzz-word that get bandied around).

But rather than searching for people's 'idea', I look for their hope. Because with hope, they too can change the world. And so can you.

I know that Jenny's story will have a happy ending. She is passionate and engaged again. She has a plan that could very well be a 'game-changer' in her industry, and has all the experience, expertise, connections and track-record needed to make it a reality.

And co-incidentally (or is it?) her idea dove-tails very well with our own mission at StartUp Foundation. If Jenny can't get to where she imagines by herself, we'll be hiring her "in a New York minute".

And if you know of a startup guy (or girl) who is "ready to shine", let me know - their story, just like Jenny's, also deserves to be told.

I like to ask 3 questions when I close a mentoring session.

If not this, then what?

If not now, then when?

If not you, then who?

If you like this article about "Jenny's Story", and you got value from it,  please 1/ share it, 2/ follow-me for more insight, and 3/ you can check out some of other my other posts. 

To your success, Daniel. 

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• HELP! Someone just stole my startup idea
• How to raise $5million for your startup (and why you shouldn't)
• Are you really an Entrepreneur, or just a small business person?
• How To Go Viral on Linked In, without being an 'INfluencer'
• Are you a startup amateur?

About Daniel

Also traveling under the alias of 'That Startup Guy' , I am a co-founder of StartUp Foundation (The Startup Accelerator for Experienced Professionals) and am intensely, deeply, passionately dedicated to "The intersection between personal mastery & business entrepreneurship".

My goal is to help you through the steps, and past the challenges and pitfalls, to turn that 'Great Idea' into reality, whether it's a business, a product, an app or just finding an answer to a common problem.

At the same time, I'll share with you my own journey, from which you might just draw valuable lessons of your own. I spent 20 years in corporate life before catching the startup bug. (My first venture as an 'intrapreneur' still generates over $10 million in per year). I've since designed, built & launched 14 startups across e-commerce, technology, hospitality, social networking, logistics, financial services and the not-for-profit sectors.

If you've got an experience about startup success (or failure), why not share it? If you've got a question, reach out to me via your preferred social media. My other posts can be found here on LinkedIn.