I recently read an article where a famous financial planner was giving financial advise. What I read stopped me dead in my tracks. A woman in her 40’s 
wrote in asking for advise if she should leave her corporate job to live her dream as an entrepreneur. She had 8 months of living expenses in the bank. Suze told her “no” as she would go through her savings and her 401K. Then, to add insult to injury, she told them woman if she was in her 20’s she would approve of this but at her age (40’s) she inferred it was too old to take a chance to live the life of your dreams.
That made me so mad. Years ago, I would have followed along, giving the head nod and very much wanting to play it safe. But, there is an evolution going on right now of entrepreneurs right now. People who are heart-centered, conscious and wanting to create change.
Most entrepreneurs I know don’t even have 8 months savings in the bank before starting their business. I didn’t. I’m an accidental entrepreneur. I jumped right in about something I was really passionate about. Perhaps, you did the same. I earn multi-6-figures and it’s rising. What if I had listened to that advise? I wouldn’t be in business today.
How dare someone say “no” to your dreams to keep you playing small and safe because they’re coming from their story and place of fear.
The truth is we don’t need anyone’s permission to live our dreams.
Where in your life are you playing it safe?
-Work?
-Relationships?
-Finances?
-Personal Time?
Today, give yourself permission to do one thing that makes you show up in a bigger, bolder way. It can be big or small as the point is to take action to start living the life of your dreams.
Here’s the deal. Reaching your dreams isn’t an end point as we’re always creating new dreams. So, if you say you’re going to wait until something happens, you’re missing out on so much in your life.
So, today…do one thing that will get you out of your comfort zone.
I’ll let you in on a secret. The more of this you do and the more authentic you become, the more ideal clients you’ll attract and the faster your business will grow.
Be Brilliant,
Kate Beeders
Mindset, Money & Marketing Expert
P.S. Learn how to do this and much more at The Wealthy Solopreneur
Thanks so much Kate. I spoke with an actress today that was in the late 40’s range and she had so much story around why she had not been successful and then she called me POLLYANNA!! Boy that pissed me off and then I told her what being Pollyanna had gotten me— a huge acting career for the last 30 years is what it got me. You are right about the evolution going on–it’s really moving fast, so excited about my business. I am so glad that we are in the same mastermind, can’t wait to meet you. Oh and F#*!k Suzie Orman HA
I love this! I am in my 50’s and I am taking bold steps everyday, dreaming new dreams, setting big goals and taking great action. Thank you for the encouragement.
You’re very welcome, Vanessa and thank you for sharing 🙂
#1, I am no fan of SO. but beyond that, this post is really less than relevant with out additional facts.
1. What did the person want to do? Use their existing corporate contacts and years of experience to start a consultancy with likely guaranteed clients waiting to follow her? Or did she want to start a frozen yogurt stand in Maine? The likelyhood of success is vastly different.
2. Did the person have any experience in the area of her “dream job” that would be some indicator of future success, or like so many people who say… ” I love photography” and then start a photography business only to find that competition, margins, and the process of running a business are far more than they anticipated..
While I agree that it is always important to feed that part of our soul where passion resides and joy is created, suggesting that any and all people who are simply bored with their mid level management 6 figure job should chuck it all to chase their dreams is crazy as charged.
Susie Moron has given advice to people on a number of occasions as if she was Mother God; she is nothing but the man(person) behind the curtain.
I love your post, Kate. I retired two years ago and started a new career as a baby boomer coach. I can personally confirm that you’re never too old to dream and set new goals.
How right you are Kate, don’t let anyone tell you NO! when it comes to your dreams. You are the only one who can determine what’s right for you.
I’m currently going through a career transition and yes I have a lot of ifs. I’ve decided I want to go College and take a course I’m really interested in. I feel like what am I doing? What if take the program and can’t find work? How do I meet bills while in school? Will I pass everything? There are so many doubts and so many worries and yet something inside me say GO FOR IT! So you know what I’m going for it!
Look out world there’s a whole new me coming shortly!
Kate:
If there is a time that we say we are too old to do ANYTHING, we have given up on making our life the way we want it to be. I left a secure job to persue my career owning my own agency and am making more now than when I was in the corporate world.
Keep your dreams and follow them, they will work out!
I have a passion about this topic. For 12 years I taught something called Feldenkrais, which essentially helps people move more comfortably (very simply, it is thought to re-train the brain and habits of movement to more effective patterns). I saw people of all ages learn to do things they hadn’t done for years because of pain or simply thinking they were “too old.” I learned that people who are “older” _can_ still learn, and that their lives can take on more meaning and depth and pleasure because they learn.
A year and a half ago, I suppose I took a turn to walk my own talk, and I took a sabbatical from Feldenkrais work because I had the opportunity to do something I’ve wanted to do for most of my life–study a second language really in depth. I am now 52 and learning Arabic at a university. Arabic is no easy language even for traditional-age students. It has not been an easy path. However, I am about to go on a study abroad to a Middle Eastern country for 4 months with 25 or so younger students. I have not been cut slack because of my age. From my observations, I _think_ I have had to put in extra work–although it is hard to gauge if I just work harder because I am more mature or that’s my personality or whatever–probably some of both I work harder because I just do that, and partly because my brain does take more repetitions to keep new vocabulary in there. There does seem to be some truth that an “older” brain does not retain things such as new vocabulary _as easily_. “Easily” being the operative word there. Wish I could put italics here, things may not be as easy, but things _can_ be done. I _am_ speaking and reading one of the hardest languages in the world for an English speaker to learn. One of the top students in the program (who now has graduated) told me that _most_ students he knew (i.e., even younger students) who did well in Arabic had taken at least one class at least twice or more. It’s tough. But I’m doing it. And I’m 52.
I agree with Curtis above to the extent that a person needs to see their situation in as realistic a way as possible. I think Suze’s advice was thoughtless and uninspiring, but very practical, which is kind of what she does. Her answer about needing to look differently at taking financial risks, I have to say is not a fool’s answer. For example, I would like to go to graduate school. It has become more apparent that a huge block for that will be our finances. I would take out _some_ loans, but it probably wouldn’t be wise to take out $80,000 in loans at 52. It just wouldn’t. I’m not going into our 401K; the economy hit that hard enough. I actually think that some of the problem with the financial aid system at universities is that they are not geared for people in various financial situation. You fill out a FAFSA, even if it is not relevant to your situation. But that is another blog post that I could fill. But I have had to say that part of what has made my path difficult is that my situation _is_ different than a 20-year-old’s situation. It _is_ a consideration.
However, I (obviously, because I’m studying Arabic at 52) completely disagree that a person who is in their 40’s or 50’s or 60’s… or whatever…is “too old” to live their lives in a meaningful way. People in their 40’s or 50’s or 60’s are not too old to contribute, to learn, to love life and to thrive. I think way too many people in their late 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, etc. _think_ they are “too old” to do a lot of things and thus sit back in their chairs and disengage from life. I have literally seen it happen with people I know.
Physically, we can change and slow down the aging process with changing our behaviors. Mentally, we can continue to grow and challenge ourselves. The brain continues to learn, re-form connections and reshape itself, even as we age. Emotionally, we can learn that we do not have to just plan to lie down and die, in many cases, _years_ before we actually physically shut down.
Keep working on those dreams. Do take life situations (such as financial) into _consideration_, but as many have stated here, those are only factor in a bigger picture. And never consider yourself “too old.”
(Haha. I guess I’ll need to start blogging myself. Clearly, I have a few things to say. Thanks, Kate for the forum.)
Wow. I’ve never been a big fan of Suze Ormon (love how someone renamed her!) but this shows who she really is. And lets me know some of why I don’t care for her advice.