Are you a 39-year-old entrepreneur feeling like you’re in a unique position in the business world? Wondering why you don’t see many posts from people your age? Want to know how to stay productive and successful in the game? Let’s explore why age and experience can shape your entrepreneurial mindset and actions. #entrepreneur #businessadvice #productivitytips #entrepreneurmindset #successstrategies
I am 38, almost 39, some of us are here
I agree. Sometimes it’s just not helpful to focus on metrics that take the wind out of your sails
Im 38 too!!
I’ve read before that 38 is the average age of people starting a business
I’m 36.. and I feel the pain. I think being too old for certain types of businesses is very real though.
I used to run businesses that put on events.. 10 years ago. They did really well back then. I restarted the business recently (under a new name) and man is it disappointing what time and age does. When I was 26, I had 100 friends to throw at all my problems; if an event didn’t sell out, I would reach out and ask them to attend. It was never really a problem. Today, I don’t have 100 friends; I just have a cat.
Also, advertising has changed dramatically. I used to post Facebook events, etc. and sometimes put money into them. It would sell like hot-cakes. I would make my graphics in paint (and eventually Canva), and it would work fine. Today, without influencer marketing, it feels hopeless to garner a following. I’m not young or hot enough for this anymore.
Anyway, with that being said, my lesson learned, start an age-appropriate business (unless you have a really strong product / competitive advantage). It’s hard selling to 25 year old singles if you’re not 25 and single.
We’re here. I find myself (40) have been trying to carve out a regular salary for 15 years, but never quite making it. It’s the constant hustle that keeps me busy, however I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m making a situational change to improve my future odds. Good luck to you, fellow entrepreneur.
My mom’s boyfriend is 60 and just started a handyman business and is popping off
I’m 41 and am starting out of necessity. I was in marketing before so I’m using everything I’ve learned.
I’m 46 and left a full time career at 42, ran a business for 2 years (which sadly didn’t work out) and currently pushing forward with ideas for what’s next alongside some consultancy work and growing my YouTube channel which is all about productivity and related topics. (link in bio!)
I agree, you can be an entrepreneur at any age, if you have the right mindset to be, and being action biased so that you are taking positive steps and decisions to push your ideas and new goals forward. Remember too, we have the benefit of experience, learnings from previous failures all of which can help us potentially fastrack our way to our next venture.
We’re the same age but I’m just starting my journey now. I used to have a lot of doubts and tell myself it’s too late or too hard. I realized I just needed to zero in on what I’m passionate about and what I value, if that makes sense. That in turn feeds my motivation.
I’m 37. I’ve been a lurker here for a while, never posted. Just started my own tree care company this season. launched my website a week ago. This is my first go of being an entrepreneur so I may be in your shoes in two years.
It’s scary, not knowing what the future holds, but I get excited thinking that it’s pretty much only up to me to make this work. I have the skill set, I have the equipment, now I have to see if my ideas will pay off. Time will tell.
Good luck with your business
I started at 38, I’m 54 now. I still have questions daily about business and life and still in the game. I’m launching new a business now and have new ideas daily. I lurk more than post.
Welp…I’m 52 and I’ve had my business for over 15 years, and I’m still learning. Every. Day. It’s evolved a lot, and it’s still evolving. Keep at it. ❤️
The average age of a startup founder is 42 and the average age of a startup founder that receives funding is 45.
I’m 60 should I just say fuck it I’m too old?
Shush. I’m 52. Tried a lot of things in my life, I’m ready to be serious about ditching corporate life (again) to follow my dream (can you call being in a metal band in my 20’s being an entrepreneur? Seeing as I did all the marketing, booking, promotion, etc, I’d say so!). I don’t care that I’m older. Just means I have patience, and I know myself and my strengths and weaknesses better than the vast majority of 20 yr olds.
Just do you, who cares how old or young folks are, you’re not dating them (right??). If you have the fire you have the fire. There are freaking KIDS NOT EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO GET A JOB who have started companies (albeit with a lot of help but still, it’s their drive and passion that inspired that help). Do you think they let age stop them?
So, from one cranky, fired up 52 year old: Shush.
Dude, the most successful entrepreneurs are in their 40’s.
https://www.clifford-lewis.com/blog/most-successful-entrepreneurs-are-older-than-you-think
Which is good news cause I’m rounding those bases pretty quickly, it would seem.
But most of them aren’t on here. And most people have no responsibilities in their late teens and early twenties and there’s been a cultural pull towards entrepreneurship at that age. So they are all here. I was one of them. It’s a different game at that age. I’ve been in the corporate world for half a decade now learning software in service of getting back to startups.
Age isn’t the determining factor. Like you said, action that works is.
I’m 39. And I’m here with ya. Let’s do this.
Story 1 (Me, Age 58)
I’m 58. I have 3 patents that were inspired by my 30-year career in educational entertainment. After a lot of effort and research on product-market fit, I’m submitting a new patent that folds all that market research and fresh innovation into a 2.0 invention. I hope to sell it to contacts at organizations in my industry at about a $15K price point. By now all of my friends are CEOs or Vice Presidents at nonprofits–one of the benefits of being in my age bracket. I just need to get to them before they start retiring!
Story 2 (My Dad, age 54)
My dad sold his first best-selling novel at the age of 54. It became a best-seller.
First, there was a failed novel. His agent believed in that first novel and shopped it around, but nada. My dad admitted defeat.
Then, my dad picked himself up and wrote a second novel. His agent went back out there and he and my dad weathered 36 rejections. There were almost no more publishers left. Finally a small publisher bought it. Those folks put their hearts and souls into promotion and marketing until it became a best-seller. (This was in the 1990’s before the publishing industry started to decline.) So wow, best-selling novel. This was life-changing for my dad, and mom. He did book tours, became a mini-celebrity at the college where he was an English professor and also in our home town.
Third novel: Now instead of 36 rejections, publishers came to him offering a $500K advance. Nice. His agent works on commission. Nice for him too.
He wrote several more novels, He travelled with my mom to places mentioned in the novels, made friends with new people while doing research, etc. Worth the struggle. He died of cancer at 78, a fulfilled and happy man. He didn’t just think about writing a novel–he did it.
Story 3: (My Dad’s agent: early 40’s)
My dad worked with his agent again for this third novel. This guaranteed his agent enough $$ to leave his job and start his own literary agency. Nothing was formalized until the agent left his employer or he would have had to leave that contract behind. He signed my dad as his first client and his business is still going strong 40 years later. Royalties trickle in, nothing big. He sold the film rights for that first novel too. We’re still hoping to see it on the big screen. If that happens there will be another payout.
….can someone here answer how in the hell you put your and your family’s entire livelihood on the line to create a business (job market sucks right now so no guarantee safety net if you don’t have connections to get something if the business fails) and somehow still come out the other side able to keep failing and trying?
Is this another rich person game where you can’t start playing until you already have money or am I missing something just clearly drastic as to how the average person is supposed to try and create a business?
How do you know the age of people commenting and posting….
39 here 🫡
Im 48 and contuine to start different business in the Ecommerice side of things oddly enough i see more kids ( 16 to 25 is a kid) wanting to get into dropshipping or digital products most because they fall for the bullshit. I simply say do you, dont try to compare yourself to other people best of luck!!
The longer the journey the less players there are👍
34 here and mid-30s is pretty much where people in my field decide to finally do their own thing.
Unlike all the overnight successes you see in magazines (mostly from luck and connections), most people need to actually have experience before they even start a business.
I’m 41 years old, still striving and giving my best to improve. I work half the time in a company and half the time as an entrepreneur. Keep your motivation up; it never stops!
Hey, your resilience is a masterclass in entrepreneurship! 🌟 At 39, it’s not about being back at square one; it’s about being at a new starting line with a wealth of experience in your toolkit. 🛠️
39 here. Getting started on my new venture. We’re here.
Im 35 and most people around me have stop trying or never did at all
>people my age
Bro you’re not even 40 and you’re talking like you’re in a retirement home
Only 39?? Spring chicken.. Everyone has a different life path and experience. Not everyone starts off as an entrepreneur. I am 40 now. I started off as a teacher, then managing teachers, then managing in the corporate world for a few years while setting up businesses. Some of them worked, some of them didn’t (opened a brick and mortar business in January 2020…that didn’t last very long haha).
One thing we should make an effort not to lose with age though is the sense of adventure of starting something new . Many people when they get older just get more defeated and want to play it safe and try to avoid challenges. That usually doesn’t make for a fun life.
All the best!
You generally have to add value to be able to start a business. You can’t really do that without years of experience in an industry. Sure, some strike it lucky early on in life – but I’d say the vast majority of business owners are around your age.
It also seems to depend on industry. In the US it’s 42 for small businesses such as a laundromat etc, software start ups the average age is 40, biotech it’s 47.
Older entrepreneurs also have a much higher success rate.
https://hbr.org/2018/07/research-the-average-age-of-a-successful-startup-founder-is-45
I started at 19. Being foolish I was not afraid to make moves and risk a bit. Now I am 36. After all theses years I am now more secure in my choices and dont really waste my time with unprofitable projects. Thruth is, It would take me about 5 years to build back my attraction park instead of 17… but I guess experience cant be bought, just learned.
Anyway, its all just a ride in the end. Enjoy the process, not the prize.