58, 68, or 78; It’s Never Too Late
I received a call yesterday from an old friend who I haven’t spoken to in more than 10 years. Now I know my first sentence is an oxymoron because how can one have a friend that you haven’t spoken to in more than 10 years? Life is funny that way. Suffice it to say that if I needed anything from him, he would be there. With that said, he is an old friend.
We started in the nail business together in the mid-80’s. He rose to stardom at his company in quick order. He wore perfect suits every day, had perfect manicured nails and brilliant white teeth. You would never seem him wearing a pair of jeans. While he had a sense of humor and could laugh, he was very serious about business and it became his life.
We met each other for dinner at trade shows, shot the bull on the phone during the week and we pushed each other for better deals and bigger orders. Back then everything was innovative and his ideas worked. My friend had the time of his life and was happy.
Then the company owner decided it was time to retire and the typical meltdown occurred when the owner sells and life at his company was never the same. He left and went to work at a couple other companies before settling down with his current company that he’s been at for quite a long time.
During our conversation I asked him how things were at the company and life in general. He told me that 2009 was the year he needed change in his life and that he needs to be challenged. I asked him what he meant by that. He said that yes I am traveling, meeting customers and making numbers, but my company doesn’t want to listen to any of my ideas and they want me doing no less or no more than what I have been doing for so long.
My response was if you have been doing this for so long, why the change? He shot back that he has been "comfortable" over the years but now comfort isn’t what he’s seeking. He wants another opportunity to experience the thrill of entrepreneurship and taking an idea to fruition and seeing it work. I asked him what brought this on.
A friend of his asked him when was the last time you saw the sun rise? Being a sailor and from California, my friend used to see the sun rise all the time. But sadly he responded to his friend that it’s been more than 30 years. He took his friends advice and went to the beach at 6:00AM to see the sun rise. The sun’s rays sparkling on the ocean and the peacefulness of it all brought the realization to his brain that it was time.
At 58, my friend is ready to make the change. I told him at 58, 68, or 78, it’s never too late and there are countless stories of individuals who were more successful later in life than earlier in life. I told him all you need is an idea, perhaps a partner to excel at the things you don’t and the will to take the risk in the worst economy since the Great Depression.
After nearly an hour on the phone we hung up. I know he thought about the conversation a long time afterward and is still thinking about it. At 58 or at any age, when is the right time to stop being comfortable and take risk knowing the consequences?
There is one thing I know. If America is going to get back on track, we need more people like my friend to get out of the comfort zone and make it happen. I hope he does just that.
Happy Friday!
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
What a wonderful story. Thanks Larry-I needed that today. We can’t afford to be “comfortable” any more. I plan to go watch the sun rise tomorrow!
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
That was an awesome story Larry! Thanks for that. That was a good, get my Friday going kinda read! I really needed that…I don’t think I’ll be waking up to see the sunrise tomorrow, but I will be in Florida in about 5 weeks…so maybe I’ll either stay up all night, or wake up early one morning and see the sun rise over the ocean…I’ll bring some pics for ya!
Thanks again for all you do for us.
Happy Friday All!
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Larry, your story is awesome and truly motivating!!
My husband has started a side-business and when he told me that he was going to do it, I was of course a little apprehesive at the idea; with the way the economy is, did we really want to make this investment no matter how small? Well, my husband went and did it and didn’t tell me until after he had invested $500 in this new thing. At first I was surprised and then I asked him to educate me on this thing so that I could understand it more. Instead of being mad, I chose to be positive about it….he had already gone out and invested the money so what was there to do?
He has already doubled his investment, and also he is so happy since getting involved with this. He and I talked about it, and I told him that he is the most happy at this time because getting involved in the side-business is something new and fresh and it has stimulated his brain. He has gotten out of his ho-hum wintertime slump that lack of sunshine can bring and he is so happy and it’s wonderful to see. Even though this is a very part-time thing, it has brought about a small profit and happiness and stimulation that wouldn’t have happened to him had my husband not taken a risk.
January 23rd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
As I thought more about this I was reminded about an awesome event from 7-8 years ago. My grandfather and his siblings grew up the poor children of share croppers in West Tennessee. The older children had to quit school to take care of the younger children. One of my great aunts went through the Adult education system and received her GED at the age of 74. What a great story of determination and showing how it’s NEVER too late. Thanks again for the uplifting Friday blog! Happy Weekend!
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I agree, that is a very motivating story. When my grandmother was 68, my grandfather became very ill. My grandmother decided to teach herself to drive and got her driver’s license for the first time. When there is a sense of urgency, it is a good time to step it up and make changes. These days, there is defiently a sense of urgency and I look forward to hearing all the amazing stories of people doing amazing things.
January 23rd, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I need to add that I look forward to doing amazing things also!
January 23rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I can truly understand the power of nature and how it moves us in different ways. (I used to watch the sunrise every morning before going to school in PR, when I was a child.) Personally it moves me to not be the same ol’boring “conforming” self. I like to be involved, take action, make a difference. Not just in my own life but in other people’s lives as well! And if that means taking risks, well then as long as we’re smart about it!!