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40 is the new 30s and life really starts after 50. Until then you’re spinning your wheels trying to pay back loans, raise kids, work, save, and not fall victim

40 is the new 30s and life really starts after 50. Until then you’re spinning your wheels trying to pay back loans, raise kids, work, save, and not fall victim to vices. Colonel Sanders started KFC in his 40s and didn’t come up with the signature recipe until he was 50. KFC as we know it didn’t exist until he was 65. Truth is, most successful business owners start in their mid 40s or around 40.

pinkmuffinere 1y ago
I’ve seen this (“most successful businesses start in their 40s”) a couple times, but I always wonder if the people who start a successful business succeed in their 40s _because_ they’ve been trying since their 20s, and learned a bunch on the way. And if the secret isn’t some combination of business experience/connections/etc, then what is it about being 40+ that would make one intrinsically better at starting a business?
- reactordev 1y ago
  The secret sauce (even yc will confirm) is relationships. It’s not necessarily what you know, but who you know. Sometimes they are offered in your 20s. Sometimes they are built over time for 20 years.
- jvanderbot 1y ago
  What's the difference? The message is "keep trying and don't give up just because you're 40". It's fairly dubious to say "You can feel free to start a new hobby/business at 40 and expect to succeed quickly", but it's in line with this thread to say "If you haven't felt the success you want by 40, it's ok, greatness comes as often as not after".
  - pinkmuffinere 1y ago
    Ya, i think “keep trying” is absolutely the right message! But some people will read the statistic and say “i shouldn’t start yet!” — just trying to argue against that.
    - jfengel 1y ago
      I'm not so crazy about "keep trying". I tried at my business for long after it was obvious to everyone that I should have quit. I wasted well over a decade of my life, and I learned no lessons other than "don't". But they won't be writing articles about me. As the poster says, "Winners never quit and quitters never win. But those who don't win and don't quit are idiots." This idiot affirms that advice.
      - jvanderbot 1y ago
        Yeah that's the thing. Nobody writes articles about someone who stops, whether they stop at the right time or not. What would your advice be?
smeeger 1y ago
i was asking myself what is the point of succeeding if its so late in life. then i wondered what is the point of succeeding young? having a ten year period of not working when you otherwise would be? but business owners and other rich people work harder than most… so the only way to succeed is to not only succeed but make enough to stop working? i just dont understand what im chasing anymore. the only two clear objectives that i can identify are to avoid discomfort unless its deliberate discomfort and to become rich just to prove to myself that i can
- freetime2 1y ago
  > the only two clear objectives that i can identify are to avoid discomfort unless its deliberate discomfort and to become rich just to prove to myself that i can IMO any fulfilling goal needs to be about more than just yourself. Not just avoiding discomfort for yourself, but also providing stability for a family (note: not saying this needs to be a "traditional" family). And in business the goal should be to contribute positively to your community, which can include seemingly mundane things like producing things of value, establishing trust-based relationships, mentoring others, providing employment opportunities, etc. I also don't think the goal of early retirement should just be to quit and do nothing - I think that's actually quite unhealthy. But rather to free up time to focus on the things that are most important to you. Self improvement, health, family, charitable causes and other causes that are important to you, and of course some leisure time as well. I think by those measures, Kurt Vonnegut was a very successful person. I don't know that always translated into happiness, though. Although I think he was about as happy as he could be - which is the most we can ask for.
- reactordev 1y ago
  Ask yourself what would you do with the time given? Would you be a better version of yourself? Because that’s what happens. Money amplifies you. If you’re an asshole, money is going to make you even more so. If you’re a provider, money will make you able to provide more. Ask yourself some serious questions in the mirror. Why would you pursue early retirement and money? To get rich? For what purpose? You lack the vision right now to even see it through. Take a step back, focus on your immediate needs, stop chasing other peoples dreams and start dreaming of your own future - who would you be?
moralestapia 1y ago
>40 is the new 30s and life really starts after 50. If you're poor, yes. I don't mean this in a derogaroty way.
- natebc 1y ago
  What? What's the secret that you know which makes poor people have a better life after 50? I'd love to hear it and quit working so damn hard. Hell these days the middle class is getting their ass kicked at the grocery store. I can't even imagine how hard it would be if you cut my income by what it would take to get me to the poverty line. That amount won't even cover my rent.
  - moralestapia 1y ago
    You go it backwards. Not-so-poor people enjoy their life since their 20s, because they're not worrying about all the other things that you wrote in your comment ...
- reactordev 1y ago
  Even the rich, get richer… this comment definitely misses the point. The point isn’t about money, it’s about spending time doing the things you enjoy doing. Without commitment to doing so because it’s your job. Some people find their ikigai early. Some decide to work to provide for others and put their own ambitions aside. Selflessly. So sure, the kid genius who struck it rich at 22 that now lives in a mansion is “living his best life”. By what standards? We have different measuring sticks.

pinkmuffinere 1y ago

I’ve seen this (“most successful businesses start in their 40s”) a couple times, but I always wonder if the people who start a successful business succeed in their 40s _because_ they’ve been trying since their 20s, and learned a bunch on the way. And if the secret isn’t some combination of business experience/connections/etc, then what is it about being 40+ that would make one intrinsically better at starting a business?

reactordev 1y ago
The secret sauce (even yc will confirm) is relationships. It’s not necessarily what you know, but who you know. Sometimes they are offered in your 20s. Sometimes they are built over time for 20 years.
jvanderbot 1y ago
What's the difference? The message is "keep trying and don't give up just because you're 40". It's fairly dubious to say "You can feel free to start a new hobby/business at 40 and expect to succeed quickly", but it's in line with this thread to say "If you haven't felt the success you want by 40, it's ok, greatness comes as often as not after".
- pinkmuffinere 1y ago
  Ya, i think “keep trying” is absolutely the right message! But some people will read the statistic and say “i shouldn’t start yet!” — just trying to argue against that.
  - jfengel 1y ago
    I'm not so crazy about "keep trying". I tried at my business for long after it was obvious to everyone that I should have quit. I wasted well over a decade of my life, and I learned no lessons other than "don't". But they won't be writing articles about me. As the poster says, "Winners never quit and quitters never win. But those who don't win and don't quit are idiots." This idiot affirms that advice.
    - jvanderbot 1y ago
      Yeah that's the thing. Nobody writes articles about someone who stops, whether they stop at the right time or not. What would your advice be?

smeeger 1y ago

i was asking myself what is the point of succeeding if its so late in life. then i wondered what is the point of succeeding young? having a ten year period of not working when you otherwise would be? but business owners and other rich people work harder than most… so the only way to succeed is to not only succeed but make enough to stop working? i just dont understand what im chasing anymore. the only two clear objectives that i can identify are to avoid discomfort unless its deliberate discomfort and to become rich just to prove to myself that i can

freetime2 1y ago
> the only two clear objectives that i can identify are to avoid discomfort unless its deliberate discomfort and to become rich just to prove to myself that i can IMO any fulfilling goal needs to be about more than just yourself. Not just avoiding discomfort for yourself, but also providing stability for a family (note: not saying this needs to be a "traditional" family). And in business the goal should be to contribute positively to your community, which can include seemingly mundane things like producing things of value, establishing trust-based relationships, mentoring others, providing employment opportunities, etc. I also don't think the goal of early retirement should just be to quit and do nothing - I think that's actually quite unhealthy. But rather to free up time to focus on the things that are most important to you. Self improvement, health, family, charitable causes and other causes that are important to you, and of course some leisure time as well. I think by those measures, Kurt Vonnegut was a very successful person. I don't know that always translated into happiness, though. Although I think he was about as happy as he could be - which is the most we can ask for.
reactordev 1y ago
Ask yourself what would you do with the time given? Would you be a better version of yourself? Because that’s what happens. Money amplifies you. If you’re an asshole, money is going to make you even more so. If you’re a provider, money will make you able to provide more. Ask yourself some serious questions in the mirror. Why would you pursue early retirement and money? To get rich? For what purpose? You lack the vision right now to even see it through. Take a step back, focus on your immediate needs, stop chasing other peoples dreams and start dreaming of your own future - who would you be?

moralestapia 1y ago

>40 is the new 30s and life really starts after 50. If you're poor, yes. I don't mean this in a derogaroty way.

natebc 1y ago
What? What's the secret that you know which makes poor people have a better life after 50? I'd love to hear it and quit working so damn hard. Hell these days the middle class is getting their ass kicked at the grocery store. I can't even imagine how hard it would be if you cut my income by what it would take to get me to the poverty line. That amount won't even cover my rent.
- moralestapia 1y ago
  You go it backwards. Not-so-poor people enjoy their life since their 20s, because they're not worrying about all the other things that you wrote in your comment ...
reactordev 1y ago
Even the rich, get richer… this comment definitely misses the point. The point isn’t about money, it’s about spending time doing the things you enjoy doing. Without commitment to doing so because it’s your job. Some people find their ikigai early. Some decide to work to provide for others and put their own ambitions aside. Selflessly. So sure, the kid genius who struck it rich at 22 that now lives in a mansion is “living his best life”. By what standards? We have different measuring sticks.