Today’s blog post is from guest contributor Kelly Kilpatrick. Thanks Kelly for the great article.
There’s a prejudice associated with aging that can’t be dispelled from people’s minds as long as they’re young; it’s the best feeling in the world to be stepping into your twenties and having the rest of your life ahead of you. You think that the world is at your feet, and that all you have to for the results to show is work hard and get a little lucky.
Those who have age on their side feel sorry for and often have no patience for those who they feel are over the hill – they think that they’re on the downward journey towards senility and death, and that life doesn’t have anything significant to offer them after a certain age.
I beg to differ – if ever there was a misconception related to age, it’s that the passing of years diminishes the drive, energy and verve in us to achieve the kind of success that we dream of in our youth. If life teaches us something, it’s that nothing is ever too late if you have the determination to succeed and the vitality to work hard.
You can achieve success as an entrepreneur even when you’re at an age where society considers you old, as long as you:
1. Do your homework
A business thrives because the people responsible for it are knowledgeable about the work involved, the customers, the competition, and the environmental factors that affect its operations. Research your field of work thoroughly before you jump into the fray and make sure you have a viable business proposition that doesn’t depend too much on luck to see you through.
2. Are willing to work hard
Any startup requires a dedication that’s out of the ordinary – you may have to keep long hours, travel a lot and meet people to sell your ideas, go without sleep and food at times, and be disappointed most of the time. You need to keep your spirits up and your outlook positive if you want to enjoy the slightest chance of success. Hard work reaps its own rewards, as you will realize as time goes by.
3. Know that there will be ups and downs
Anything that goes up has to come down, and vice versa. Remember this on both your good and bad days. Don’t go on a spending spree just because one year has been good for you. Exercise prudence and concentrate on building your business before you start the celebrations. Likewise, don’t let a bad month or year get you down. Focus on how you can move forward, and learn from the mistakes of the past to achieve a better future.
4. Have backup plans
No businessman worth his salt will ever stop with just Plan A; in fact, they often have Plans C and D as well in case Plan B doesn’t work out too. Backup plans minimize your risk and let you keep things under control.
5. Are ethical
I know it’s a dog-eat-dog world where your competitors are almost at war, but it always pays to do business in an ethical manner. Similarly, treat your employees well to ensure that they remain loyal to you and do their best for your company. A fair employer is a rarity these days, so stand out from the crowd by being one.
This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of senior communities. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com
