Proof It’s Never Too Late to Become Successful

The pressure to “make it” is out of control today.

When I say “make it,” I’m referring to the phrase society uses to say someone has achieved success. Success, in this instance, is often referred to as wealth, riches, and fame. Everyone reacts as if life stops sending tragedy when people reach these heights.

It’s not true.

Sure, success and money help with many problems, but it isn’t a cure-all.

In the age of social media, where society glorifies 20-year-old millionaires, it can cause distress for many who haven’t had the same “lucky breaks” as those whom Instagram worships. It’s important to remember that success shows up when it shows up. And as long as you have breath in your body and are taking action daily, you still have hope.

Here are ten people who “made it” later in life to help you persevere toward your dreams.

1. Colonel Harland Sanders

Harland Sanders left school in seventh grade and worked several jobs, often quitting in anger or getting fired.

At age 40, he ran a small gas station and opened a small restaurant in the apartment next to the station. Word soon spread, and business grew.

In 1952, at 62, Sanders opened the first Kentucky Fried Chicken and made history.

Today, the KFC Brand is worth over $6 billion.

2. Charles Darwin

Darwin received an M.A. from Christ's College in 1831.

He entered medical school but didn't finish. Instead, he chose to join the crew of the HMS Beagle when he was 21 and see the world.

When he returned home, he suffered an illness that he was to fight off and on for the next few decades. When he could, he wrote of his voyage.

Finally, at age 50, Darwin published On the Origin of the Species.

3. Toni Morrison

She earned an MA in English. She taught for a while and became the first black female editor at Random House.

But she dreamed of writing–not just publishing the writing of others.

She would wake up before work and start writing at 4 am daily while raising two children. What a badass.

When her first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published, she was just shy of 40. Morrison has since won both the Nobel and Pulitzer prizes for her books.

4. Ray Kroc

He was only 16 when WWII broke out.

He lied about his age and was assigned to drive a Red Cross ambulance throughout the war.

Once his enlistment was over, he spent the next few decades as a traveling salesman who sold paper cups and milkshake machines.

He teamed up with the McDonald brothers in his 50s to start the first McDonald's fast-food restaurant in 1954.

5. Stan Lee

Stan Lee graduated with a BS degree when he was only 16-1/2.

While studying, he also worked several part-time jobs. He started working in comics but only moved up the ranks once he was in his 40s.

At that time, he hit on the idea for The Fantastic Four, and success was imminent.

After that, he created Spiderman, Black Panther, X-Men, and many others, cementing his name as the “One Above All” in the comic world.

6. Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson first got into acting when he was 24.

However, success didn’t come quickly.

In fact, Jackson struggled to get consistent work and, as a result, resorted to drug use. He became addicted to crack and would often smoke it behind the theaters during the plays he was a part of.

He wouldn’t get his first big break until he did Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction.

He was 45 years old when he got the role.

It took over twenty years for Sam Jackson to find his success.

7. Henry Ford

Henry Ford Started as an engineer under Thomas Edison.

This tutelage showed Ford how to “tinker.”

He founded Ford Motor Company at 40, learning how to develop cars. He made many innovative changes in both work processes and design.

Five years later, Henry Ford introduced the public to his first creation–the Model T.

8. Vera Wang

Vera Wang started figure skating at eight, but an injury ended that career.

She then tried her hand at journalism and a handful of other professions with little success.

When she was 40, she opened her first bridal boutique, which has now grown to include locations in New York, London, Tokyo, and Sydney.

Her net worth sits at $750 million.

9. J. R. R. Tolkien

Tolkien was initially homeschooled but attended Oxford College, where he graduated with first-class honors in English and Literature in 1915.

But the literary success he desired didn’t come quickly.

His first novel, The Hobbit, was published at age 45–22 years after his graduation, and he didn't complete Lord of the Rings until he was 56.

10. Sam Walton

Sam Walton graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in economics.

He joined the Army and eventually rose to the rank of Captain. After his discharge, he made many attempts at running retail businesses, but each failed.

With each failure, he took what he learned from every attempt and finally applied these lessons when he started the first Wal-Mart at the age of 44.

Upon Walton’s death in 1992, his estimated net worth was $21-$23 billion.

The BMM Takeaway

We don’t know when the scales will tip in our favor, with fortune blessing us with success.

It could come quickly, or it could take a lifetime.

Our stance is this: Don’t focus on outcomes.

You can’t ever control the timing of what you want. And if you relentlessly focus on keeping score, checking to see if your dream has come true, or pondering how much longer it’ll be until it does arrive, you’ll get discouraged and eventually give up altogether.

Instead, focus on your actions and the process.

You must be patient with the results and impatient with your actions.

The above individuals all achieved what they wanted.

Did it come when they wanted? Of course not. It came much later. But you can't produce your best work if you focus on the results (or lack thereof).

Focus solely on the process–the actions that are within your control.

Each day, execute those actions. Take steps. Chip away little by little.

In time, provided you stay consistent and persevere, you’ll most likely get what you want.