Small Business Doesn't Do Ageism

You're never too old to become an entrepreneur

I've often heard people tell me that:

“It's too late for me to start a business myself, I could never keep up with all the 30-somethings.”

And:

"If I start out now, no one's will take me seriously anymore, being an entrepreneur is a young man's game"

I used to think so myself… Starting a small business is not for people over 30.

Utter rubbish

Complete nonsense.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Believe me: Once the kids have finished school and are doing their own thing; by the time you’ve largely paid off the mortgage and you’ve noticed that you're coworkers are starting to treat you as a senior citizen: It's time to give them all the finger and start doing your own thing.

Seriously

We all know how much harder it gets to land a new job after you turn fifty. 

Ageism… it sucks and it shouldn’t matter, but it just does. Successfully getting through a job application process after you’ve turned fifty is hard, much harder than when you were 35, no matter how good your CV is and how suited you are for a role. But in business, your own business, grey hairs are a benefit. Trust me, since turning fifty myself 8 years ago, I’ve noticed I am being taken much more seriously by all and sundry. It’s quite funny actually, by default people assume I am the wisest person in the room. I have a distinct advantage these days, over my younger competitors, because of my age and grey hair (or lack of it anyway).

Sick of office politics

If you have the opportunity to take a redundancy; if you are simply sick to death of having to dance to the tunes of your inept managers or if the organisational politics are causing you a death-wish: Get out there and do it for yourself.

Let me be clear: life of an entrepreneur is not always a bed of roses. You may have plenty of worries and frustrations, but they are your frustrations and your worries… No one else’s.

I honestly believe entrepreneurship, becoming a small business owner, is a wonderful way to spend your fifties and your sixties and beyond. I’m fifty eight and I can’t imagine myself ever retiring. Sure, I’ll slow down at some stage (already have really), but being my own boss, standing in the centre of my life and knowing that it’s all down to me; The fact that I don’t have to report on my ‘deliverables’ and ‘targets’ to anyone, gives me a sense of freedom I never want to lose again. And why wouldn’t I want to continue doing what I do in my business? As a business coach. I get to meet and work with people who grab life by the scruff of the neck and give it a good shake… Much more fun than lawn bowling… For me anyway.

21-year-old consultant

Of course, the business you start when you’re 55 is not the same business you start when you’re 21. After all these years of experience you have something special to offer as a consultant or adviser or counsellor for example. You can’t start a business on the basis of that when you’re 21, you simply don’t have that kind of credibility. I would never engage a 21-year-old consultant, just like I probably also wouldn’t engage a 65 year old gardener. There’s a time for gardening and there’s a time for consulting.

So ask yourself. If you were made redundant tomorrow, and that in today’s world of work, as a 50+ year old you’re going to find it hard to find a suitable job … What would you love to create? What are you good at and passionate about and experienced in that you can build a nice small business in?

Got it?

Ok… So why wait for that redundancy?

Back yourself and get out there… You won't ever regret you did… I promise you