We can agree that most of us live life worrying that success has already passed us by. In fact, with every passing day, we worry we might end up dying without accomplishing anything of value in life. But the truth is, it’s never too late to make that big career move.
Do you feel bored, trapped, and unmotivated in your current professional path? If so, this is a good indicator that your current job isn’t a good fit for you and that your abilities and enthusiasm are better suited to something else. Also, if you have huge goals in mind for your profession, don’t let self-doubt stand in the way of getting started. Of course, you should be practical, but never to the point of self-limitation.
Over the years, we have seen many well-known people make unexpected career transitions. And this demonstrates that people’s success is often dependent on their ability to summon the courage to make substantial career changes. That said, in this article, we will discuss seven famous late-life career changes of successful people to show you that it’s never too late. So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
The Purpose Driven Life
by Rick Warren
⏱ 14 minutes reading time
🎧 Audio version available
Alan Rickman
Rickman is a well-renowned actor, but his journey to the top was not easy. At 18, Alan Rickman didn’t think drama school was a sensible choice; therefore, he took a degree in arts. As a result, Alan became a graphic designer later in life. He went ahead and opened a graphic design studio with his friends.
He later realized he has a passion for acting, so he decided to drop the graphic designs business and professionally pursue acting. Rickman worked as a dresser to support his daily needs. Then, he got his break when cast as a lead in Les Liaisons Dangereuse, stage version.
This was a hit play that made the leap on the big screen. Rickman experienced so many challenges along the way, but his perseverance and passion for acting served him through the many roles that he played over the years.
You would be surprised to learn that Rickman was 42 years old when he got the opportunity to play the role of Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. But, as we can see from Rickman’s story, it takes a lot of courage to pursue what your heart truly desires.
Sometimes, when you make a major career change, you will have to give up a lot, and at some point, you will even be criticized. You may feel because of the possible challenges that come with changing your career late, but don’t leave yourself to have regretted it in the future because you never tried.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Wilder moved all over when she was younger. She became a teacher due to the need to help her family. However, after getting married, Laura quit her job and helped her husband on the farm. Later, after their one-month-old son passed, she was left with her husband, who had been partially paralyzed. At 43 years old, Rose, her daughter, encouraged her to write a memoir of her childhood.
However, her autobiography was rejected several times. Nevertheless, Laura did not give up. She went on to spend the following years honing her skills. Even after all the effort she put in; publishers could only agree to publish her work as a fictional story for children. It was only later, at 65 years old, when Laura Wilder got her book ‘Little House in the Big Woods’ published.
She continued the ‘Little House’ series, and the last one was published when Laura was 76. Her stories show that age and challenges should not stop you from unveiling your talents. Laura’s story shows us that the challenges, pains, and triumphs are part of your success story, and each part serves as inspiration for the future.
Peter Mark Roget
Roget was an accomplished inventor, doctor, and lecturer. Yet, despite all his achievements, he struggled with depression. So when Roget retired from his professional life at the age of 61, he started pursuing one of the things he liked as a way of coping with his depression. He had a thing for making lists. Therefore, he devoted most of his time to creating catalogs of well-organized words, along with their meanings.
Roget began to prepare to publish his work at the age of 69, and the first printed edition of his project came out when he was 73 years old. After that, the publication was known as the “Roget’s Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases.” But Roget didn’t stop there. He continued working on his publication until he passed at the age of 90. Later on, his son and grandson expanded and revised his work. So, as you use your thesaurus, remember that it’s a work of pure passion.
Roget’s story shows us that if you love something, nothing should stop you from pursuing it. Whatever your passion focuses on, empower and pursue it. At some point, you will be happy that you started. But, always remember that the obsession you have will only prosper if you give it a chance to thrive.
Kathryn Joosten
Joosten, in her prime, had a great career as a nurse. However, she gave up her professional life after she got married. Unfortunately, the marriage ended after ten years. But since she still had to provide for her sons, she decided to pursue an acting career at the age of 42. This was such a huge change, from a nurse to a housewife, and now she wanted to pursue acting, even though nothing in her resume related to acting.
For a while, Joosten supported her sons by painting houses and hanging wallpaper. At the age of 53, she was even hired as a street performer at Disney World. Three years later, Kathryn moved to Hollywood, taking multiple guest roles in various TV shows. Finally, at the age of 60, Kathryn Joosten became popular for her secretary role in West Wing.
Later on, at the age of 66, Joosten won her first Emmy Award for starring in Desperate Housewives. Joosten’s story shows us that success is never about glitz and glamour. Often there are many setbacks that the successful person has to endure beforehand. Likewise, Kathryn’s story shows us that even when things get tough and life pushes us to a stop, we should never quit. Whatever challenges you are going through, learn to take a moment to remind yourself that whatever situation you are in won’t last forever.
Ray Kroc
After volunteering in World War 1, Ray Kroc spent his days selling milkshake machines and paper cups. When he went to California to visit a restaurant that wanted to purchase his milkshake machines, he was amazed by the smooth and simple production process he found there. He was convinced of the efficiency of the entire process; therefore, he joined forces with those owners. At the time, Ray Kroc was 53 years old. At 59, he purchased the company and developed strict procedures and guidelines. Kroc’s dedication transformed McDonald’s into what we currently know as the biggest franchise in the world.
Kroc was not the founder of this whole fast-food idea, but he saw the bright future it held. For that reason, he jumped right in. Kroc shows us that life is all about taking risks. No one in this life has achieved great success without taking risks.
Rihanna
She isn’t necessarily a late bloomer because she’s been famous from a young age, but she’s worth mentioning in this list. Rihanna is a well-known singer who made a subtle switch to the cosmetic industry in 2017. Even though Rihanna continued with her music career, she has concentrated more on her Fenty Beauty company over the years. Recently, Forbes ranked Rihanna as a billionaire, making her the second wealthiest woman, right behind Oprah Winfrey.
The craziest part is that it’s not music that made her a billionaire. Most of her wealth comes from the Fenty Beauty company. Rihanna is now ranked as one of the most successful businesswomen using social media platforms to build her brand. This career change made her one of the richest people in the world, and she continues to thrive. Clearly, starting a cosmetic company was the wisest decision Rihanna ever made.
Michael Bloomberg
In 2002, Michael Bloomberg left his role as the CEO of a financial software data and media company, Bloomberg. He went on to become the Mayor of New York City. Michael was able to hold on to this position for twelve solid years. Michael is the co-founder of Bloomberg and owns 88% of the business.
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