Is it Too Late to Start Your Own Business?

Who is the typical entrepreneur? What do this person look like? I bet the first thing many people would think of is a young male adult, maybe in his 20s, in a small Silicon Valley office (or garage) working on some high-tech invention.

This stereotype is slowly becoming outdated and research shows that more and more entrepreneurs are actually middle aged. So, the conclusion is pretty clear...

It is never too late to become an entrepreneur

Still, you are sitting at your office desk every Monday, looking at some information on a spreadsheet that you are not particularly interested in, thinking why you still haven't started your own business.

Sometimes it can be hard to imagine yourself being an entrepreneur. I certainly did not think I would be one when I was in college. What I imagined was that once I got my business degree I was going to work at a large corporation, sit at a desk, wear high heels and a suit every day (apart from casual Fridays), and be part of something big....

And I did that.

It turned out that, unlike some people, I did not thrive being an employee in such a large organization. Most of the decisions were already made for me. I rarely saw the results of my hard work and I felt I was just a cog in the wheel of this giant corporation that is meant to make only the top people in the organization richer.

Now don't get me wrong, I know that there are many large companies that take a very good care of their employees, provide various employee benefits, and opportunities for advancement. However, being a recent college graduate that came in the U.S. on a foreign student visa definitely did not make it easy to find those. In fact, finding any work while in school was close to impossible due to variety of visa restrictions, and after graduating things did not get much easier since (surprise) you barely have any work experience.

This is when I knew that starting my own business was the way to go

After taking my three months of (unpaid) family leave and all my vacation days, I went back to work. I felt terrible for leaving my baby in the hands of a stranger all day long and about me struggling to get through a day full of work, taking frequent breaks to pump milk, and then coming home exhausted and less motivated than ever before. I felt I was leaving my daughter, my most precious creature in the world at home while I was working my butt off for some person at the top (who I never even met) to get rich, while contributing practically nothing to the society.

I realized that working for others simply cannot be what I do for the rest of my motherhood. I needed my own business as well as some form of passive income, so I can spend time with my family.

My experience starting a business as a mom (so far)

Just like having a child, you are in for a lot of work and preparation. I researched what is necessary to form my own company, I made a business website, recruited reliable freelancers, and began my first digital marketing agency. The beauty of it was:

• I had the flexibility to do my work from home, anytime it was convenient for me;
• I met with clients virtually and in-person from all over the world.
• I was doing exactly what I wanted to do, for the sole benefit of me and my family.

It has been 6 years since the idea of my business first came into my head. Although I wish I started it earlier, it is better late than later! A 4 year degree earned after 6 years in college is still a degree. Graduating college at age 45 is still a graduation. And, of course, a business started at 66 is still a business. It is never too late to start over. So, do not let people tell you that your timeline is unrealistic.