(Expansió) – Young people are full of energy, dreams and creativity, they have a whole life ahead of them and, therefore, they are daring and intrepid. This is also clearly seen in the business ecosystem: young entrepreneurs venture, risk and win.
Now past 40, and with youth left behind, there is no point in even trying: the ingenuity and possibility of innovation of a person was forgotten. Or at least that is often thought.
(Expansion) – Young people are full of energy, dreams and creativity, they have a whole life ahead of them and, therefore, they are daring and intrepid. This is also clearly seen in the business ecosystem: young entrepreneurs venture, risk and win.
Now past 40, and with youth left behind, there is no point in even trying: the ingenuity and possibility of innovation of a person was forgotten. Or at least that is often thought.
But is this really so? Does energy run out at 40? Can no longer generate good and innovative ideas? Does creativity disappear completely? Is it only left to dedicate yourself to crocheting, while drinking chamomile tea and waiting for someone younger and more talented -with knees that don’t creak- to replace us in a job or develop an idea for a disruptive company that is going to eat the market?
Of course, youth is wonderful, but largely because it paves the way to adulthood, in which experience is gained, habits are solidified, and robust foundations (family, affective, and professional) are available. In this way, new ideas and the desire to change the world, although they begin in youth, are consolidated in adulthood, which is why starting a business after 40 is the best bet.
Myths to demolish
There are many myths behind the entrepreneurship of people in full adulthood. But perhaps one of the most pernicious is the belief that a person after 40 is no longer creative. It is often said that to the extent that vices of thought are grasped, it stops opening itself to the possibilities of new ideas and that its logical framework is already given and, therefore, immovable.
However, creativity also depends on the stock of knowledge and the ability to put it into practice that is only gained through experience, that is, acquired and developed over the years. And to the extent that more and more connections are generated from everything that is known and known, there are also greater possibilities of reaching a new idea.
Creativity is also a habit, and an entrepreneur who is over 40 has nurtured it; probably even at the expense of failed projects coming their way.
The power of experience
But not only enhanced creativity is part of the toolbox of an “already old” entrepreneur. Starting a project after 40 has other clear and incredible benefits. For example, having the family support of a nucleus that already has well-established dynamics and routines. If you have children, for example, in those cases they are older and may even end up being business partners.
With age and experience comes maturity, which includes something fundamental for an entrepreneur: emotional intelligence. An ability to discern what reactions one should have in the face of obstacles and frustration in order to make the best decisions, even in difficult times.
As divine as the treasure of youth is, it is unlikely that this can be done adequately without personal growth, professional experience, and socio-affective development.
Life doesn’t end at 40
It is time to forget the idea that life ends at 40. On the contrary, at that age there are golden instruments that do not appear spontaneously in a person: solid family foundations, knowledge, experience and stability; in short, wisdom.
Entrepreneurship after 40 has turned the image of these people upside down and has resignified them, since at that age it is even more difficult to find a job, thousands and thousands are rejected just for that and you can feel that the opportunities to grow professionally they are practically finished. But entrepreneurship has shown that there is no age to be successful, you just need to believe in yourself.
There are plenty of successful examples of companies founded by people over 40 years of age, as was the case with the designer Vera Wang or the titan of the automotive industry Henry Ford. Youth is precious. Those who are in that process should make the most of it. But adulthood also has its charm; Not only that, but also great benefits that are well worth putting into practice to start a new project and undertake with enthusiasm, strength and security.
Editor’s note: Lillian Mezher is a business leader and marketing specialist. Follow her on . The opinions published in this column belong exclusively to the author.
