.There are lots of reasons to start a business.

And, there are plenty of reasons to NOT start a business.

The truth is, while being an entrepreneur is not easy, and definitely not for everyone, it is also an extremely rewarding career path.

And, many of the reasons people don’t make the leap into business ownership, are not really good reasons at all.

These reasons are really just based in fear, lack of information, and lack of confidence.

One of the worst reasons to not go into business for yourself, is thinking that you are too old to do so.

We see a lot of glamorous images and videos, particularly on social media, of the ideal entrepreneur: they are young, fit, single, and full of “hustle.”

Hustle all day. Hustle all night. No time to eat, sleep, see your family, or take that multivitamin… just hustle, hustle, hustle. 

Don’t fall for the hype.

The media’s portrayal of entrepreneurial life is very limited. It leaves the false impression that you need to be in your twenties when you begin to think of venturing out on your own.

The truth is, anyone can be a business owner. Not all entrepreneurs look like the ones you usually see on Instagram or on television.

You can be any age. You can have kids and a family to look after. You can have a “day job”. You can drive a mini-van or work where you live. You can invest as little as a couple of hours a week when launching your business.

You are NOT too old.

Here are just a few reasons that prove you are not too old to follow your dreams and start a business…

Age is just a number

Do you know what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

Resilience. Tenacity. An ability to take calculated risks and thrive in uncertainty.

You have to have the discipline and stick-to-it-iveness to see a plan through, and at the same time, you need to be humble enough to know when it’s time to pivot or change directions.

You have to rise above the noise while you fend of loneliness because there will be times when you will feel like you’re he only one who sees things a certain way.

Are these qualities only gifted to the young?

Do they disappear when you pass some meaningless milestone birthday?

Of course not.

When it comes to having the emotional intelligence and characteristics of a business owner, age is irrelevant.

Some people live until they’re in their eighties and never develop discipline. Some people are plenty tenacious when they are young, but they lose their fire as they age.

But then, there are some people who only get better with age, and cultivate all of the above as they get older.

These people don’t grow older, they evolve.

Many “older” entrepreneurs found great success

Being an “older” entrepreneur might feel very isolating. Perhaps you believe no one else knows what you are going through.

You must fight this negative belief – because, it just isn’t true.

Think you’re the only one? Think again. Many entrepreneurs started “late” and found great success.

Fashion mogul, Vera Wang didn’t even begin to design clothes professionally until she was 39 years old. She started her career path as a figure skater (of all things), then went on to become a senior fashion editor at Vogue. After doing that for 15 years, she became a design director for Ralph Lauren. After designing her own wedding dress, she struck out on her own, opened her own bridal boutique, and launched her own bridal collection.

Before Martha Stewart became the lifestyle guru, she was a mom and model. She didn’t start her catering business until she was in her mid-thirties and she was almost 50 years old when she signed a deal to develop the Martha Stewart Living magazine. Now, she’s a household name and she’s raised the bar on living with style.

Colonel Sanders had a terrible start. He was fired from several jobs, including one time when, as a lawyer, he got into a courtroom brawl… with his OWN client! At the age of 40, he set up a gas station, where he started gaining a reputation for cooking delicious food for weary travellers. He didn’t have a proper restaurant yet, so the customers would eat at his own personal dining table. The gas station was destroyed in a fire, but Sanders didn’t let that stop him – he built a motel and restaurant in its place and that became the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. He was 62 years old. The rest is finger-licking history.

You’re farther ahead than you might realize

Starting something new can be terrifying, especially when you’re at an age where few people have the guts to start fresh.

And, while you are embarking on a new adventure by starting a business, you need to realize, you’re not really starting from scratch.

Your biggest asset when starting a new business venture, is YOU, the business owner.

And, if you are experienced, connected, and knowledgeable, you have a big advantage over those who are just cutting their career teeth.

Throughout the years, as you’ve worked for other people, you’ve picked up industry knowledge, and developed an instinct for trends and patterns. You’ve also gained valuable insights regarding your target audience.

It’s also important to realize that you have developed a ton of soft skills that are transferable to running a business. These skills might not be noticeable to you at first, but they are there and they will be very important to your success as a business owner.

Transferable soft skills include: leadership, decision-making, ability to collaborate, negotiation, project management, customer service, and time management – just to name a few.

You may just be starting out on the road to entrepreneurship, but you are no rookie.

Starting a new business can be daunting, especially if you are starting “later” in your career. Do not fall into the trap off thinking that you are too old to start your own business.  Age is just a number, and your experience and maturity probably mean that you have developed many of the attributes that are necessary for successful entrepreneurship. Many great entrepreneurs, including Vera Wang, Martha Stewart, And Colonel Sanders, got so-called late starts in entrepreneurship. Just because you are choosing to start a business later in life, doesn’t mean you are starting at zero. In all likelihood, you have acquired many of the soft skills that are transferable to a career in business ownership. Your chances at succeeding at running your own business are great, so take that leap!

Start your business on the right foot with a free copy of Branding on a Shoestring, How to re-create your small business identity and increase sales results in 83 days or less.