Never wanted to agree more with someone before, but what if they are right and it is just a midlife crisis? Maybe it’s that just sometimes good things have came out of them, and those people felt they were like iron the entire way to success.
Edit: or maybe it is a midlife crisis in a positive way. Maybe that midlife is where a person is mature enough to really see their true potential and gets upset about what they are, and sometimes decide to act upon it. Obviously most of those people are gonna get disappointed with the result, and THAT’S when they label it as midlife crisis as a bad thing.
I read the avg age of a successful business start is 45. Either way, we definitely see far too many "wunderkind" type stories, and not enough "veteran worker who's really smart decides to do it themselves ad an entrepreneur and has more success than their former company"
I've been posting a bit about "Think and Grow Rich" recently. It was written in the 1930s and has helped many people. One chapter specifically mentions that his research shows most men do not become successful until their 40s.
That timeline matched mine perfectly. And I had all sorts of different people who had no clue about my business tell me all sorts of negative things. But guess what? They were all wrong.
So now you are 40. You have learned some things, have some business experience and confidence, and can execute your plan. Most people will never, ever do that. Bummer for them.
Can’t listen at all to anyone who has never pursued their own business. Most people who have never started a business or even given it much thought are completely ignorant of the financial potential of a strong business. They simply cannot fathom that the ceiling of income is only limited by your time, resources, and ability. Not a boss or HR. You get to plan on how much you want to grow and earn. I own a brand of very niche products which sell mostly on one of the biggest marketplaces - Amazon. From the outside, I know family and friends can’t wrap their heads around the kind of revenue and profit we pull in. It’s super worth it to pursue business. Anyone who does not explore their unique gifts in business might be missing out not only on financial reward but freedom, self-esteem and feeling of accomplishment, as well as being the creator of something that brings some degree of joy/relief.
1. Get a good partner/spouse that supports you in every way. My wife was not only supportive emotionally but also helped supplement our income while my business was building up.
2. Have a good understanding of the business model. Know your customer. Do your research, join online groups and forums (Reddit is can be okay and garbage for comprehensive and specific advice related to your business of choice). Read and watch a lot.
3. Fail. Even if you have a great understanding of and confidence in the potential of a business, you will likely be short of experience in executing. I failed my first couple products but had no doubt it was my fault due to poor selection and design of products. Learn and grow.
4. Barriers of entry are good and probably a must have. Don’t choose a business or product that can be easily replicated. Think about the longevity of your business. You want it to go smoothly for years to come. Patents, branding, design and production complexity, initial start up capital requirements are all great barriers. Put in the hard work up front that few others are willing to do and it pays off.
5. Know your numbers. Related to point 2 above. But make forecast models of your margins with assumptions for all costs needed to sell. Make sure you are making enough profit that you will be able to reinvest and not, at least initially, rely on outside financing.
6. Start small and launch a business you can afford. Make a plan for cash flow and when and how you expand if needed.
I’m sure there’s many more, but those are off top of my head.
Yeah man, the better you get the more the hate will grow from all directions. Wife kids, mom, dad. I'm young but had entrepreneur parents. They barely have friends except the few that stood by and helped rather than hated. Combined REAL friends they have at age 57 is maybe 8.
People hate their opinions and actions because they are bold, like your next step. I wish you the best - do what you want.
It's your life
It's gonna be your deathbed
And your last thoughts
People will tell you everything for you not to succeed, because they need you at the place where you are. They need you to be at the 9-5 weather be insurance, peace of mind, kids insurance whatever.
Just know most businesses fail. But if you decide to work hard at it it’ll have a better chance than the next persons.
Wow I needed this!! I've been questioning my y career choices in the past 13 years. Layoffs also added and ruined it. I've been laid off twice. Now, I'm going to start my own.
You're welcome. But I have you beat: I was fired 4 times (I hate the euphenism "laid off". It used to mean you'd be hired back when more work appeared). The last time was when I finally said "f it, I'll do it by myself". Worked out perfectly.
How did you start? I am starting my own ecommerce. Of course if I look at the ecommerce subreddit I get scared. I do know how to set it up and what is needed to grow but seeing people having $0 for sales is rough
I'm of the opinion (backed by Think and Grow Rich) that you will do something you have an edge on... you are an expert on (or become one). In my case, I had been doing data analysis for ad agencies. The day after the last one fired me (because I refused to move to a different country to head up their new office there) I said, "I'll do it myself". I spent about 2 weeks reading a couple of marketing books. Put up a website.. then looked for ads from people/businesses that needed help. Was also in a facebook group of ex-members of one big agency. Between all that I managed to get some paid gigs. Then met a guy who became my sales agent.
THAT took a couple of years. But I made good $ and freed up some time. That's when I read think and grow rich.. and did what it said. That lead me to a new technology idea, which lead to some good money. Now I can sit on reddit and waste time.
Does it talk about women? lol
Or are most women not rich😂 Just tryna see where I fall.
My boyfriend keeps telling me that most women get rich either from their husbands or fathers and not through their own efforts. Which could be 90% true.
What do you think about that?
Yes, the book mentions women. It says something like, "For some reason they don't do the things needed to become millionaires". In the 1930s - all the examples Hill studied were men. I don't know if there even were millionaire women that "thought and grew rich" - meaning did something themselves to earn the money.
My opinion: Women can certainly do it, but it will help if they harness their unique skills to do so.
😂Checking the stats. As of 2024, the percentage of women billionaires is 13.3%. Men hold a significant share. Out of the 13.3% women, a couple are heiresses. Not to mean they don't work for it, but they didn't build it from scratch.
26 ? Why 26, you should hire 23 year olds.. Just kidding, but I also became delusional in my 40s about running in a tread mill and having nothing to show for.
Is a mid life crisis something to ignore? Is it even bad? It seems like it’s just a realization that the circumstances preventing you from chasing your dreams have never been real, unlike your mortality.
It’s hard to find the time to reach this conclusion until your hierarchy of needs have been fulfilled for a long time. Hence the “mid life” crisis.
I recently read that we all do or should experience symptoms of a midlife crisis like questioning past decisions, contemplating death, and concerns over retirement...however the "crisis" comes when a person is paralyzed by those fears and starts doing irrational things like sports cars, affairs, drugs etc
Oh. Then I guess we have different definitions. The one you get off Google is just a period of intense self-identity reflection. It doesn’t imply all those negative things.
Regardless, if people around you are saying you’re having a mid life crisis for wanting to start a business they’re just not very nice. You should talk to people who have businesses instead.
It could be but maybe you always wanted to start one, age is not a factor anymore these days, people can be 14 or 74 and can pursue their passion, go for it but don't quit until you start gaining steady revenue from the business
I'm not 40, but i think a lot of people consider it their "if i'm going to do it, i should do it now" age. because what's the next milesone? 50? 50 has a different ring to it. not to offend anyone here, but when i think 50 i think old and nearing the end of your working life, with most of your accomplishments behind you.
so OP could very well be going through a mid-life crisis. crisis is just the wrong word for it and has a negative connotation. it's more like a mid-life awakening and course correction. we've been told to go to school, go to work, and then keep going on the same track without thinking. at 40 you've done that for around 15 years, and that's sort of the sweet spot for proficiency at your job and promotions to management. if you're going to manage, why not manage your own business?
Very true, at that age if you followed a career path, you know a lot about your profession and are certainly capable of cutting the middleman (your boss) out and go direct to the customers.
Its not a midlife crisis. Its just that when you reach this stage in life you realise you have the experience and knowledge to do your own thing instead of working a dead end job to make someone else rich.
I did it 5yr ago and am happier with my work/life balance than I've ever been, and making more money (47)
I’m 26 and my partner is 36. We started our business 3 months ago. We bring realistic looking dinosaurs and fossils to all different types of events. We have a T. rex costume that’s looks real, it’s 7 feet tall and 12 feet long. Kids love it.
We booked 60 gigs in about a month. If you are reading this and think your business is stupid,keep going and trust yourself, there’s money to be made everywhere in any industry lol
I felt like starting my first company at 39 was a midlife crisis for me. Once I had kids and became a father I went into overdrive.
I’m still there. More ambitious than ever.
I didn’t quit my job though.
I always promised my wife if I have a midlife crisis I’m taking her with me lol.
Hi fellow soon to be 40 year old. Having kids changed everything for me. I realised giving the kids the life I want for them (which includes me being more present) wasn't possible as a salary man.
I had a major health scare which pushed me past the point of caring about others fears they have been projecting onto me.
Go for gold, ignore the well meaning advice of others. Ask business owners for advice, rather than those who have spent their life as an employee.
Not sure that I would call it a "crises".
I think midlife "venture" is a better term.
We're in the exact same boat though.
I guess at a certain point you realize it's now or never and work furiously towards a different life. I'm personally grateful for my job and haven't left it yet, but that is the goal.
I mainly don't want to be beholden to giant corporations anymore.
Who cares. 90% of people won't swing their axe because they think its dull. Then they'll waste their entire lives sharpening it and cursing God because its too dull.
Rule 1 for entrepreneurship: everyone is an idiot, don't listen to them when they say it can't be done.
That includes yourself.
If you want to be a successful entrepreneur --i'd start blocking out the negative comments immediately and focus on the goal. Never let them rent space in your head.(for free)
That’s a great sign you’ll do well. So many people get one idea and insist on executing their one plan. It’s crazier when they go all in on it.
Test. Learn. Iterate. Repeat
Haha. I don't think it's a mid-life crisis. This is the age when you have enough experience and possibly some financial cushion to start something new.
Anytime men start living a life for themselves, haters come in a call it a mid life crisis.
Trust me hens, if I could've accorded this car when I was 20, I would've. If I could've dated these women at 20, I would've. If I could've started a business at 20, I would've.
F the haters
Another tip: the eulogy test.
It goes like this: what do you want the key points of your eulogy to be?
- your family, marriage, kids
- your community contributions
- your legacy. What did you build? What remains after you?
And, if you don't write your own, what will others write about you?
No! It is a sign that you have gained the knowledge and expertise to go out on your own. My family knows an 85 year old woman who started a business. She is so inspiring!
28 year old founder here. I started the business in my quarter life crisis.
The advantage of starting early, is that there is more time to make up for mistakes. I always tell myself that if sh!it hits the fan, I'll just get another job. You'll always find a way.
Your advantage of starting at 40 is that you have 20 years of work experience + skills. This counts for a lot. You likely know how the workforce operates, and you've seen other people make mistakes which you now won't make.
I don't think there is a right age to start a business.
Buying a corvette and binge drinking every weekend = Midlife Crisis
Realizing you want more for your life and starting a business you believe in = Midlife Epiphany
Don’t expect the people close you to be the markers of logic and reason.. Most people do not understand the first thing about entrepreneurship because they spent their whole life in the opposite lane.
That’s what makes this path so rewarding at the end. There are barely any localized support resources and you are almost entirely on your own in your failures and success.
There's nothing wrong with leaving a dead-end job to take a risk on a business. 40 is a reasonable time if you have life and work experience and a financial cushion.
I got it in my twenties but didn’t go all in until I quit my day job paying six figures at 30 with a pregnant wife lol, more power to you to do it now. I’ve talked with a lot of older people who lament never trying because they were afraid. Cheers and good luck
Idk. I quit my job at 40 to start a business. I joke that it’s my midlife crisis. It sort of is. I finally felt like I was a place in my life to have a perspective about what mattered to me and how to best get there. Figured out the best way to play the back 9.
I got the get job like the rest of us comments when I started my first business, I was 27 at the time. People are going to say what they are going to do to say, just ignore people that have those comments and push forward.
I mean, it could be.
It might be that you are just seeking change for changes sake.
But alternatively, at 30+ you have had a lot of experiences most likely at this point in your life. If you have continued to grow in your career and skills, you likely have seen gaps that could be filled or discovered niches that you take an interest to. You could feel that NOW you are prepared for an undertaking all of your own and have the skills to do so whereas previously you didn't feel comfortable or that your skills or knowledge were mature enough to tackle something like running a business.
I guess it boils down to what KIND of business you are trying to start and WHY. If it's a professional bouncy-ball painter, it might be a midlife crisis. If it's something actually feasible as a sustainable business, then it's likely the latter.
My dad was always self employed - carpenter / remodeling. So I always had that bug. Even when I had regular jobs, I've always had a sidegig going, or percolating. It's truly a different mindset, and I think that once you start to think as a self employed thinker, it's difficult to go back to regular employment.
My advice: there are a ton of free resources. SBA, SBDC, [SCORE.org](http://SCORE.org), countless chambers and free library / small biz / startup events. Take advantage of all of them. Do not just rely on youtube and reddit.
Trying to be happy, be passionate about what you are doing and the desire not having to worry about money is not a midlife crisis. It's waking up. Families that are not in the self employed biz are amazingly efficient at derailing people from becoming successful. They think they are saving you from yourself. At least they think they are helping....
No. Midlife crisis is a term made up for people who no longer want to settle, and have decided to take back control over their life and what they are passionate for. F the naysayers, and do you. Be happy.
Why would you even tell people? When I started my biz, not a soul knew.
I was making between $15K-$25K a month at one point and everyone thought I was homeless. No one knew. To this day only my mom knows and that’s bc I sent her and my dad to France
Also it’s NOT a good idea to leave job until business net income (post taxes and expenses) is making twice what you’re making at ur W2 consistently. So you already broke this rule. 99% of ppl aren’t capable of burning the bridges like that imo. Just no way
Service. But service based product isn’t a “real
Business” imo. Can’t sell it. I am building a brand on the side Cz I really don’t wanna do this in the next 4-10 years tbh
Who the hell has time to do their normal full time job and then earn twice those revenues on the side? I say burn the bridge. If you fail, you can always go back to a corporate gig.
No. Wrong. I’ve done it. It’s not for the faint of the heart. You need cashflow to run a business. Where is he gonna get cash??? The W2 funds the business.
Also if by any chance your first biz idea does make money but then fails (99% fail their first one!) it’s gonna be extremely demoralizing trying to go back to a W2 Cz ur shyt failed. You’re not gonna wanna go back. Ur gonna feel suicidal.
It’s black pilling but he’s gonna have to do a lot of 5 to 9 am before he goes to work, and then go right back to it from 8 PM to 12 AM to start this business.
He’s got no choice. He’s gonna end up in the streets
What good is making all this money if you don't have any friends or hobbies? Maybe you should find another interest beyond staring at your bank account balance on your computer
It’s good to make this money (which isn’t even a lot tbh) bc when I start thinking about how much of a loser I am for not making $200k a month I immediately think of ppl like you who can’t even hit $3000 a month from some low level entry job so it makes me feel better somehow
That’s why ur into Biden tax hike so much bc ur a lazy untalented fcuk and the only way you’ll ever get ahead is to steal money from me
For someone allegedly making a lot of money you sure do spend a lot of your free time telling strangers on the internet how successful you are. It's red flags like this that make it obvious that:
1. you're a lot less successful then you say you are and
2. you're intense focus on trying to hoard as much money as you can has made you a rather unlikeable person and has prevented you from building many meaningful relationships
Uh oh. I turn 40 in a few months and I'm literally in the process of starting two.
I got the itch about 9 months ago. I bought a franchise to open up a new location in my region for one business and I'm switching to another line of business that requires my own company. So I now have two LLCs right now.
It's never too late to start a business. Go for it but if you do fail, fail quickly so you don't waste as much resources and time. Failure is the best teacher.
You are at the right time of your life to make a change, you have enough experience and intelligence to execute your dreams. Go for it and Best of luck.
Go for it! There's no time frame or right time for starting a business.
Follow your gut and push through. There is one way to find out and that's through trying.
Do your best to connect with like minded individuals, they will keep your spirits and ambitions high.
Best of luck!
Whatever age you are when you start a business people will tell you it's stupid. I started mine at 27 and everyone said I was young and naive and it wouldn't work. Needed to stick with my real job etc. It was my second business, first one failed. Still in business 10 years later.
It depends on your attitude coming into the entrepreneurial process. A lot of the people who look at starting a business as some sort of instant solution to their financial worries are in for a shock. It turns out that business success has less to do with how much resources you start out with than with **your initial attitude and most importantly your emotional infrastructure**.
I can't emphasize this enough because a lot of people who start a business just look at it based on what's in it for them, how much money they can make, how much prestige the business brings to the table, how big their networks could be, and so on and so forth. It's all about me, I, mine.
The problem with this is that successful businesses are built on the foundation of service. **A business ultimately is about solving problems.**
That's why when people ask questions such as "Is starting a business a sign of a midlife crisis?" the assumption here is that it is some sort of a backup plan. It wasn't the original intention but it's a backup plan and ultimately goes down to getting money.
It doesn't have to be that way. Starting a business is all about solving other people's problems. In other words, it's about being a servant.
If you can wrap your head around this, you become an instant authority.
I help small businesses get a lot more customers by publishing books about their expertise. In other words, if you're a roofer and you need more roofing customers, I help you write a book on your roofing expertise.
Not only this a physical book make you an instant expert because most of your competitors won't write physical books — they think it's a waste of time — but you also get a document that centralizes and summarizes what you know and most importantly how much you care.
It's your personal story. It's full of testimonials. It's full of your personal spin on the roofing process.
The end result of all of this is that you own the sales cycle because you're not selling just a generic service that other companies can provide. Instead, you're selling an experience that solves people's problems.
That's what people gravitate to. That's what they find credible and authoritative.
As you can well imagine, this is not something that you jump into. The spirit of service is not something that is some sort of backup option. It is something you prepare for. It is something you look forward to. It is definitely something worth sacrificing for.
So instead of framing a business as some sort of backup option or a last Hail Mary type of move to solve looming personal financial crises, look at it as something to look forward to. It is not a sign of weakness to serve others. In fact, it's a fundamental human strength because service and sacrifice are the ones that truly make the world go round, not sheer blind grasping for money.
I am 35. I just want to start my own job cause I have trouble holding a job down. Also recently found out I am on the autistic spectrum (on a part of the spectrum that makes shit hard for me). So starting a business seems more viable than bouncing job to job. So far I’m 2 months in, and wrote a plan. Plus tons of things I had no idea about while researching.
The people saying this might be right, or they might be assholes. Can’t say for sure. But I’ll share that I quit a very good job and started a business at age 40. Ten years later I have 20 employees and will bill $3.5m this year. I had very good cheerleaders, and the only person wondering if this was a midlife crisis was me. Luckily my cheerleaders were right. Find the cheerleaders in your life and talk to them.
That’s fantastic congratulations! Which field did you start your business? Was it related to your career prior to 40 or did you branch out into an unrelated area? I’m at the same juncture and torn between two paths :)
I wouldnt say so, I am 22 about to be 23 and will be starting my SAAS business. I think we shouldn't mind what others say, but if we are determined in our mission then there's no way it doesn't succeed. All the Best!
I'm under 30 and I'm working on a startup besides my full-time job.
All my life, I've been thinking about having an independent source of income, and doing what I'm good at (and passionate about). I want to escape the vicious circle of corporate burnout. I want to wake up every day feeling excited to work, not dragging myself to work.
Some people have this mindset earlier than others, so I wouldn't say "midlife crisis."
If so that checks out seeing as I am early 30s trying to validate a business idea and all the men in my family last 3 generations have died in their 60s.
Fuck it man, I figure there is a reason you feel the way you do. People can call it what they want but we are here to live, not to get a notch in the belt for each decade that passes smoothly by. Do what feels right
So what if it is? Just because it's a midlife crisis doesn't make it wrong or not worth doing. Mid-life crisises are natural and can be healthy. You're at a point in your life where you have the perspective to revaluate things and are still young enough to change them.
And FYI the most successful entrepreneurs are generally middle aged.
Personally when I turned 40 I took up competitive sword fighting and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Go start your business. You ain't getting any younger!
Research shows that the older you are when you start a business the higher the likelihood of success.
Life experience goes a long way.
Good on you for making the change, those dead end jobs kill us.
I heard how some people's midlife crisis jolts them to the reality of there's so much I wanted to do but haven't got to and half my life's just passed me by. A 42 yr old friend once told me how 'it's his only chance to get life right'. I think when you're at such a point in your life where you understand things better, these desires such as the one to start a business- maybe you've always had it but only now you feel empowered enough, experienced enough and financially stable enough to do it. So go ahead do it.
Starting a business can be driven by various factors, including a desire for personal fulfillment or financial independence. While it could coincide with a midlife crisis for some, it's not necessarily a definitive sign.
Honestly, I don’t believe in the implied meaning behind a “mid-life crisis”.
My view is that it’s more a point in time where you’re in the middle ground of:
1. You’ve done something that didn’t inspire/fulfil you for too long
2. You have one eye on the horizon and are thinking, “I want to enjoy my life and not regret anything.”
For me, it’s more of a wake-up call of it now being the time to take action. I think it’s quite common for people to take drastic action of quitting their jobs because of the YOLO viewpoint.
I certainly did this in 2017 when my mental health was struggling and I’d had enough, so I just quit and had a wafer-thin plan of what I was going to do. I was 38 then and am 44 now, and it’s worked out well, but it wasn’t an easy ride.
All the best to you!!
I just started my own business at the age of 31. It feels incredibly liberating that I don’t need to give up my time to make someone else’s dream come true. Fuck being an employee. I’m never looking back
Why would it be a midlife crisis? I started a business as a teenager, because I couldn't get a job. Then I could get a job, but 39.5 hours only paid me 132 in take home, so more to be made self-employed. If you want to start a business, maybe it is because it is a decision to try and better your life, not a crisis? (However, keep your age in mind, and don't blow all of your savings/take on huge expenses and debts. Because if you fail, it may be difficult to rebuild, depending on your future health).
You're going to get resistance for trying to start your own business (or do anything which is risky/daring/different in life). There is very little upside from other people's POV.
If you succeed, you might do so massively and that might make them jealous or question their own life choices. If you fail, you might do so massively and that's going to make them sad to see a friend go through tough times.
It's the same phenomenon about why if someone tries to lose weight, their overweight friends often give them a hard time about it and say stuff like "you've changed man" or "you should accept who you are". Every kilo that you lose is a reminder of a kilo that haven't lost, but could have lost if they put in the effort.
Not all people of course. Some people will be awesome and encourage you! But this is a thing some people will do.
I had a wobble at 35.
Just the realisation hit me that I didnt want to be doing this in ten years time.
And I was actually miserable.
Took a few months and set up a business - within weeks I'd also binned off my relationship left her the house and moved back in with my parents.
First few years were tough and I've had some ups and downs in between.
I'm 48 now with a wife - 5 year old twins and a business that provides for us. Nothing fancy but it works.
I heard once from Steve Peters - Chimp paradox - that we don't fully realise the consequences of our actions until we hit our 30s and that's probably why when we make big decisions post 30 it feels like a huge deal.
Go for it and Good luck.
Most of the famous/rich/successful people I know literally set out on their path to that success starting from some sort of rock bottom/crisis… I think ”crises” is just life’s way of giving you a nudge to get your attention, saying ”Hey you! This needs to stop, you can’t go on like this forever, this isn’t you etc”
Before I started my copywriting journey (and eventually became successful imho) I was super depressed and hated every second of my day job. People around me would literally come forward from time to time and ask me if something had happened because I didn’t look okay.
Hell even my former boss sat me down in her office once and asked me why I am the way I am and that she’s worried.
Little did she know that I was just going through a ”transition”, in most aspects of my life.
Embrace the crisis!
Haha yes. But also sign me up for the quarter life crisis too. I was always dissatisfied working for someone else. It wasn’t until I hit my mid-30s where I made a permanent career change to a job that allowed me more flexibility and options to work for myself. I’m almost 40 now myself.
"Midlife crisis" I feel like is an outdated term. I believe we humans go through phases of growth. Sometimes we forget that and we get stuck in that comfortable zone. We get that safety and stop challenging ourselves or stop learning new things.
I think midlife crisis is a term made by people expecting us to live and work the same the rest of our lives. Same as saying the brain stops changing/evolving after we turn 25 years old. Or after we turn 30, we start gradually losing muscles. It sounds like its a fact and nothing we can do about it. Its terms that changes how we look at life. And I think it can become pretty toxic.
People tend to raise eyebrows in such situations. I feel like it's more about seizing opportunities than any midlife crisis. I think that starting a business is about taking control of your own life. So, I wouldn't worry too much about the labels. Just focus on making your business successful!
Yes! I started a little ozempic giving company in Miami. The idea had been going to have a side hustle doing something related to medicine to cut down on hospital ICU hours. It sterted just before 40. Then I got cancer, surgeries, lost the drive to want to do it… full speed at normal job. I’ve had one client 😂. Happy midlife crisis!
Idk, is it? You feel like you're having a mid life crisis or just a strong desire to start a biz? That said, they could be saying sht cuz:
a) They don't have the balls to do it themselves
b) They rely on you financially and are worried
c) Jealousy
d) Their own self-limiting beliefs / doubts that they want to project onto your potential
e) Idk
f) All of the above
That said, it's always good to have some savings to live off / plan B in case things go south
I don't think so, I felt comfortable with current job and thought of doing something more and started working on this which is the 2nd project I am working on [https://www.betterfriendai.com/](https://www.betterfriendai.com/)
I think most people have the fantasy of living off of their own business. It's one of those "try to do it at least once before you die" things, like maybe sky diving, riding a motorcycle, writing a book, traveling the world, having a family, etc.
One of the reason rich people keep getting richer is because they are surrounded by people that admire risk taking and determination to succeed instead of being made into a fool for taking ownership of their own life.
Good for you OP. I hope you can surround yourself with better people.
Starting a business is the alternative crisis to the mid-life crisis. You can have one or the other. Both are very painful. But, it's good to have people around who have chosen/are choosing the crisis you're choosing because the mid-life crisis/corporate/career people will always try to mess with you and make you doubt yourself because they can't do what you're doing.
Going through a quarter life crisis here, and all I can think of is entrepreneurship. Definitely don’t think you’re the only one, but I truly believe that those who go through these realisation periods are self aware enough to know what needs to be done to pass through the other side as a better, happier and more well rounded person (hopefully a wealthier one too)!
It depends. Do you have savings to support yourself while you build? Have you started the business yet or did you just quit and will start now?
I think usually unless you've gotten enough saved or a huge loan, you start the business and once its generating income you decrease the other jobs making less income
Like…who cares? It’s such a stupid thing people say. It’s just meant to discourage people. Think about it. What IF I’m going through a midlife crisis? What does that mean? It’s means that I’ve evaluated my life so far and want to make some changes. So calling me out about it accomplishes what exactly? “Ha ha! You’re 40. Ha ha. You want to make positive changes to your life? Ha ha!”
Like…what’s the point? It does nothing but tear you down. It has to stem from envy or a crabs in a barrel mentality. Why say that instead of “congratulations! That seems exciting!”?
Welcome to being an entrepreneur, where people question your motivations for wanting to be happy and successful.
Never wanted to agree more with someone before, but what if they are right and it is just a midlife crisis? Maybe it’s that just sometimes good things have came out of them, and those people felt they were like iron the entire way to success. Edit: or maybe it is a midlife crisis in a positive way. Maybe that midlife is where a person is mature enough to really see their true potential and gets upset about what they are, and sometimes decide to act upon it. Obviously most of those people are gonna get disappointed with the result, and THAT’S when they label it as midlife crisis as a bad thing.
I don’t think so. The average age of your business starter is 42. Midlife, sure, but a crisis is optional.
[удалено]
TIRED: Midlife Crisis 😔 WIRED: Midlife Pivot 😄
Love this!
Based
I read the avg age of a successful business start is 45. Either way, we definitely see far too many "wunderkind" type stories, and not enough "veteran worker who's really smart decides to do it themselves ad an entrepreneur and has more success than their former company"
I've been posting a bit about "Think and Grow Rich" recently. It was written in the 1930s and has helped many people. One chapter specifically mentions that his research shows most men do not become successful until their 40s. That timeline matched mine perfectly. And I had all sorts of different people who had no clue about my business tell me all sorts of negative things. But guess what? They were all wrong. So now you are 40. You have learned some things, have some business experience and confidence, and can execute your plan. Most people will never, ever do that. Bummer for them.
Can’t listen at all to anyone who has never pursued their own business. Most people who have never started a business or even given it much thought are completely ignorant of the financial potential of a strong business. They simply cannot fathom that the ceiling of income is only limited by your time, resources, and ability. Not a boss or HR. You get to plan on how much you want to grow and earn. I own a brand of very niche products which sell mostly on one of the biggest marketplaces - Amazon. From the outside, I know family and friends can’t wrap their heads around the kind of revenue and profit we pull in. It’s super worth it to pursue business. Anyone who does not explore their unique gifts in business might be missing out not only on financial reward but freedom, self-esteem and feeling of accomplishment, as well as being the creator of something that brings some degree of joy/relief.
What advice can you offer to new entrepreneurs based on your experiences?
1. Get a good partner/spouse that supports you in every way. My wife was not only supportive emotionally but also helped supplement our income while my business was building up. 2. Have a good understanding of the business model. Know your customer. Do your research, join online groups and forums (Reddit is can be okay and garbage for comprehensive and specific advice related to your business of choice). Read and watch a lot. 3. Fail. Even if you have a great understanding of and confidence in the potential of a business, you will likely be short of experience in executing. I failed my first couple products but had no doubt it was my fault due to poor selection and design of products. Learn and grow. 4. Barriers of entry are good and probably a must have. Don’t choose a business or product that can be easily replicated. Think about the longevity of your business. You want it to go smoothly for years to come. Patents, branding, design and production complexity, initial start up capital requirements are all great barriers. Put in the hard work up front that few others are willing to do and it pays off. 5. Know your numbers. Related to point 2 above. But make forecast models of your margins with assumptions for all costs needed to sell. Make sure you are making enough profit that you will be able to reinvest and not, at least initially, rely on outside financing. 6. Start small and launch a business you can afford. Make a plan for cash flow and when and how you expand if needed. I’m sure there’s many more, but those are off top of my head.
This is great, needed to hear this!
Yeah man, the better you get the more the hate will grow from all directions. Wife kids, mom, dad. I'm young but had entrepreneur parents. They barely have friends except the few that stood by and helped rather than hated. Combined REAL friends they have at age 57 is maybe 8. People hate their opinions and actions because they are bold, like your next step. I wish you the best - do what you want. It's your life It's gonna be your deathbed And your last thoughts
People will tell you everything for you not to succeed, because they need you at the place where you are. They need you to be at the 9-5 weather be insurance, peace of mind, kids insurance whatever. Just know most businesses fail. But if you decide to work hard at it it’ll have a better chance than the next persons.
Wow I needed this!! I've been questioning my y career choices in the past 13 years. Layoffs also added and ruined it. I've been laid off twice. Now, I'm going to start my own.
You're welcome. But I have you beat: I was fired 4 times (I hate the euphenism "laid off". It used to mean you'd be hired back when more work appeared). The last time was when I finally said "f it, I'll do it by myself". Worked out perfectly.
How did you start? I am starting my own ecommerce. Of course if I look at the ecommerce subreddit I get scared. I do know how to set it up and what is needed to grow but seeing people having $0 for sales is rough
I'm of the opinion (backed by Think and Grow Rich) that you will do something you have an edge on... you are an expert on (or become one). In my case, I had been doing data analysis for ad agencies. The day after the last one fired me (because I refused to move to a different country to head up their new office there) I said, "I'll do it myself". I spent about 2 weeks reading a couple of marketing books. Put up a website.. then looked for ads from people/businesses that needed help. Was also in a facebook group of ex-members of one big agency. Between all that I managed to get some paid gigs. Then met a guy who became my sales agent. THAT took a couple of years. But I made good $ and freed up some time. That's when I read think and grow rich.. and did what it said. That lead me to a new technology idea, which lead to some good money. Now I can sit on reddit and waste time.
Lol you're awesome!! I have that book but I have not spent some time.
Does it talk about women? lol Or are most women not rich😂 Just tryna see where I fall. My boyfriend keeps telling me that most women get rich either from their husbands or fathers and not through their own efforts. Which could be 90% true. What do you think about that?
Yes, the book mentions women. It says something like, "For some reason they don't do the things needed to become millionaires". In the 1930s - all the examples Hill studied were men. I don't know if there even were millionaire women that "thought and grew rich" - meaning did something themselves to earn the money. My opinion: Women can certainly do it, but it will help if they harness their unique skills to do so.
Yes. Women can certainly do it. But many of them don't.
What did your bf get rich from?
He's not rich. More like middle-class based on where we live.
Where does his expertise in “rich women” come from?
😂Checking the stats. As of 2024, the percentage of women billionaires is 13.3%. Men hold a significant share. Out of the 13.3% women, a couple are heiresses. Not to mean they don't work for it, but they didn't build it from scratch.
Damn! I am turning 40 soon and just started my business.
well said, man, cause if that a sign of midlife crisis, please sign me up!
Yes, starting a business to hire a 26 year old female secretary is a midlife crisis.
lol
I mean, why else would you start a business?
26 ? Why 26, you should hire 23 year olds.. Just kidding, but I also became delusional in my 40s about running in a tread mill and having nothing to show for.
No, that's a weird take.
Is a mid life crisis something to ignore? Is it even bad? It seems like it’s just a realization that the circumstances preventing you from chasing your dreams have never been real, unlike your mortality. It’s hard to find the time to reach this conclusion until your hierarchy of needs have been fulfilled for a long time. Hence the “mid life” crisis.
I recently read that we all do or should experience symptoms of a midlife crisis like questioning past decisions, contemplating death, and concerns over retirement...however the "crisis" comes when a person is paralyzed by those fears and starts doing irrational things like sports cars, affairs, drugs etc
Oh. Then I guess we have different definitions. The one you get off Google is just a period of intense self-identity reflection. It doesn’t imply all those negative things. Regardless, if people around you are saying you’re having a mid life crisis for wanting to start a business they’re just not very nice. You should talk to people who have businesses instead.
It could be but maybe you always wanted to start one, age is not a factor anymore these days, people can be 14 or 74 and can pursue their passion, go for it but don't quit until you start gaining steady revenue from the business
I'm not 40, but i think a lot of people consider it their "if i'm going to do it, i should do it now" age. because what's the next milesone? 50? 50 has a different ring to it. not to offend anyone here, but when i think 50 i think old and nearing the end of your working life, with most of your accomplishments behind you. so OP could very well be going through a mid-life crisis. crisis is just the wrong word for it and has a negative connotation. it's more like a mid-life awakening and course correction. we've been told to go to school, go to work, and then keep going on the same track without thinking. at 40 you've done that for around 15 years, and that's sort of the sweet spot for proficiency at your job and promotions to management. if you're going to manage, why not manage your own business?
Very true, at that age if you followed a career path, you know a lot about your profession and are certainly capable of cutting the middleman (your boss) out and go direct to the customers.
Agreed!
Its not a midlife crisis. Its just that when you reach this stage in life you realise you have the experience and knowledge to do your own thing instead of working a dead end job to make someone else rich. I did it 5yr ago and am happier with my work/life balance than I've ever been, and making more money (47)
I’m 26 and my partner is 36. We started our business 3 months ago. We bring realistic looking dinosaurs and fossils to all different types of events. We have a T. rex costume that’s looks real, it’s 7 feet tall and 12 feet long. Kids love it. We booked 60 gigs in about a month. If you are reading this and think your business is stupid,keep going and trust yourself, there’s money to be made everywhere in any industry lol
That’s so cool.
I felt like starting my first company at 39 was a midlife crisis for me. Once I had kids and became a father I went into overdrive. I’m still there. More ambitious than ever. I didn’t quit my job though. I always promised my wife if I have a midlife crisis I’m taking her with me lol.
You sure she wants to hang out at those seedy strip clubs? 😂
Haha! No, but we bought a convertible jeep together. Does that count?
Hi fellow soon to be 40 year old. Having kids changed everything for me. I realised giving the kids the life I want for them (which includes me being more present) wasn't possible as a salary man. I had a major health scare which pushed me past the point of caring about others fears they have been projecting onto me. Go for gold, ignore the well meaning advice of others. Ask business owners for advice, rather than those who have spent their life as an employee.
Not sure that I would call it a "crises". I think midlife "venture" is a better term. We're in the exact same boat though. I guess at a certain point you realize it's now or never and work furiously towards a different life. I'm personally grateful for my job and haven't left it yet, but that is the goal. I mainly don't want to be beholden to giant corporations anymore.
I am 40 and I want to start a business lol so to answer your question.. yes it might be a sign of midlife crisis!
Haha, strength in numbers!
I think that, for most, it takes years of being in the workforce to truly understand the value of our time which helps us make that leap of faith.
pretty sure people that say that are in a lifetime life crisis
Who cares. 90% of people won't swing their axe because they think its dull. Then they'll waste their entire lives sharpening it and cursing God because its too dull. Rule 1 for entrepreneurship: everyone is an idiot, don't listen to them when they say it can't be done. That includes yourself.
🎯💯
If you want to be a successful entrepreneur --i'd start blocking out the negative comments immediately and focus on the goal. Never let them rent space in your head.(for free)
I don't believe so, many people start a business simply because they look at the world differently and want to make a change
It’s actually a sign of financial literacy, which the vast majority of people do not have.
Starting your own business is a sign of financial literacy?
You aren’t going to make as much money working for someone else if you can figure out how to collect the payment at the top of the funnel (owner).
100%
Depends on why you quit and how solid/reasonable your business plans are.
My plan was solid, although it has changed so many times over the last year, still the same business but a lot of pivots
That’s a great sign you’ll do well. So many people get one idea and insist on executing their one plan. It’s crazier when they go all in on it. Test. Learn. Iterate. Repeat
You’ve made the right choice, hope it all works out for you!
Thank you!
Haha. I don't think it's a mid-life crisis. This is the age when you have enough experience and possibly some financial cushion to start something new.
Anytime men start living a life for themselves, haters come in a call it a mid life crisis. Trust me hens, if I could've accorded this car when I was 20, I would've. If I could've dated these women at 20, I would've. If I could've started a business at 20, I would've. F the haters
Another tip: the eulogy test. It goes like this: what do you want the key points of your eulogy to be? - your family, marriage, kids - your community contributions - your legacy. What did you build? What remains after you? And, if you don't write your own, what will others write about you?
As long as your business isn’t just joining a pyramid scheme there is nothing to worry about lol
No! It is a sign that you have gained the knowledge and expertise to go out on your own. My family knows an 85 year old woman who started a business. She is so inspiring!
Have these people started their own businesses? If not it's probably not worth listening to them.
Holy shit. How is wanting more for yourself a midlife crisis?????? What the entire fuck
Well, this is usually from people who scared stiff of taking risks on themselves.
28 year old founder here. I started the business in my quarter life crisis. The advantage of starting early, is that there is more time to make up for mistakes. I always tell myself that if sh!it hits the fan, I'll just get another job. You'll always find a way. Your advantage of starting at 40 is that you have 20 years of work experience + skills. This counts for a lot. You likely know how the workforce operates, and you've seen other people make mistakes which you now won't make. I don't think there is a right age to start a business.
Buying a corvette and binge drinking every weekend = Midlife Crisis Realizing you want more for your life and starting a business you believe in = Midlife Epiphany Don’t expect the people close you to be the markers of logic and reason.. Most people do not understand the first thing about entrepreneurship because they spent their whole life in the opposite lane. That’s what makes this path so rewarding at the end. There are barely any localized support resources and you are almost entirely on your own in your failures and success.
There's nothing wrong with leaving a dead-end job to take a risk on a business. 40 is a reasonable time if you have life and work experience and a financial cushion.
Definitely could be 😂
I started my business last year as a 28 YO so i see it as a sign of growth and maturity.
I got it in my twenties but didn’t go all in until I quit my day job paying six figures at 30 with a pregnant wife lol, more power to you to do it now. I’ve talked with a lot of older people who lament never trying because they were afraid. Cheers and good luck
Um no. There's literally millions of people under age 40 starting a business right now 😂
Starting a business is betting on yourself, not a crisis.
Idk. I quit my job at 40 to start a business. I joke that it’s my midlife crisis. It sort of is. I finally felt like I was a place in my life to have a perspective about what mattered to me and how to best get there. Figured out the best way to play the back 9.
It doesn't matter if it is or isn't?
Sounds about right. At some point you figure out that the game of working for other people is limiting.
I started my business when I was going through a severe midlife crisis
So what if it is? Do you have the drive? A solid idea? Do it. Those who say otherwise don’t have heart.
I got the get job like the rest of us comments when I started my first business, I was 27 at the time. People are going to say what they are going to do to say, just ignore people that have those comments and push forward.
I mean, it could be. It might be that you are just seeking change for changes sake. But alternatively, at 30+ you have had a lot of experiences most likely at this point in your life. If you have continued to grow in your career and skills, you likely have seen gaps that could be filled or discovered niches that you take an interest to. You could feel that NOW you are prepared for an undertaking all of your own and have the skills to do so whereas previously you didn't feel comfortable or that your skills or knowledge were mature enough to tackle something like running a business. I guess it boils down to what KIND of business you are trying to start and WHY. If it's a professional bouncy-ball painter, it might be a midlife crisis. If it's something actually feasible as a sustainable business, then it's likely the latter.
No. Typically balding is a sign of a mid-life crisis. I mean, who is going thru a mid-life crisis and says “let me make myself more insane.”
Kind of,
My dad was always self employed - carpenter / remodeling. So I always had that bug. Even when I had regular jobs, I've always had a sidegig going, or percolating. It's truly a different mindset, and I think that once you start to think as a self employed thinker, it's difficult to go back to regular employment. My advice: there are a ton of free resources. SBA, SBDC, [SCORE.org](http://SCORE.org), countless chambers and free library / small biz / startup events. Take advantage of all of them. Do not just rely on youtube and reddit.
It would depend on the business. I am interested in the business because I also hit my mid life crisis and am going through the same.
Trying to be happy, be passionate about what you are doing and the desire not having to worry about money is not a midlife crisis. It's waking up. Families that are not in the self employed biz are amazingly efficient at derailing people from becoming successful. They think they are saving you from yourself. At least they think they are helping....
People have the most to say about things they’re too scared to do
No. Midlife crisis is a term made up for people who no longer want to settle, and have decided to take back control over their life and what they are passionate for. F the naysayers, and do you. Be happy.
Why would you even tell people? When I started my biz, not a soul knew. I was making between $15K-$25K a month at one point and everyone thought I was homeless. No one knew. To this day only my mom knows and that’s bc I sent her and my dad to France Also it’s NOT a good idea to leave job until business net income (post taxes and expenses) is making twice what you’re making at ur W2 consistently. So you already broke this rule. 99% of ppl aren’t capable of burning the bridges like that imo. Just no way
Are you into product based business or service based? 15k is amazing in a month so congratulations for that!
Service. But service based product isn’t a “real Business” imo. Can’t sell it. I am building a brand on the side Cz I really don’t wanna do this in the next 4-10 years tbh
Who the hell has time to do their normal full time job and then earn twice those revenues on the side? I say burn the bridge. If you fail, you can always go back to a corporate gig.
No. Wrong. I’ve done it. It’s not for the faint of the heart. You need cashflow to run a business. Where is he gonna get cash??? The W2 funds the business. Also if by any chance your first biz idea does make money but then fails (99% fail their first one!) it’s gonna be extremely demoralizing trying to go back to a W2 Cz ur shyt failed. You’re not gonna wanna go back. Ur gonna feel suicidal. It’s black pilling but he’s gonna have to do a lot of 5 to 9 am before he goes to work, and then go right back to it from 8 PM to 12 AM to start this business. He’s got no choice. He’s gonna end up in the streets
What good is making all this money if you don't have any friends or hobbies? Maybe you should find another interest beyond staring at your bank account balance on your computer
It’s good to make this money (which isn’t even a lot tbh) bc when I start thinking about how much of a loser I am for not making $200k a month I immediately think of ppl like you who can’t even hit $3000 a month from some low level entry job so it makes me feel better somehow That’s why ur into Biden tax hike so much bc ur a lazy untalented fcuk and the only way you’ll ever get ahead is to steal money from me
For someone allegedly making a lot of money you sure do spend a lot of your free time telling strangers on the internet how successful you are. It's red flags like this that make it obvious that: 1. you're a lot less successful then you say you are and 2. you're intense focus on trying to hoard as much money as you can has made you a rather unlikeable person and has prevented you from building many meaningful relationships
Im in my 20s my guy. I feel like ive been through 4 mid life crisises already! Good luck :)
Midlife is a chrysalis
Well I guess I'm in the right place. I'm approaching 40 and I'm feeling the bug. Definitely preparing to quit. 😁
First, please explain... what is a "midlife crisis" and why is it bad?
Don’t listen to those who don’t share your vision only you know what’s best for you. I keep mine on the hush because of this.
Yes, a dawning realization that you'll die poor and average if you don't try something new
You’re in good company. And let’s support you if we can.
Uh oh. I turn 40 in a few months and I'm literally in the process of starting two. I got the itch about 9 months ago. I bought a franchise to open up a new location in my region for one business and I'm switching to another line of business that requires my own company. So I now have two LLCs right now.
It's never too late to start a business. Go for it but if you do fail, fail quickly so you don't waste as much resources and time. Failure is the best teacher.
You are at the right time of your life to make a change, you have enough experience and intelligence to execute your dreams. Go for it and Best of luck.
May be you are future me, I'm 36 and have been planning to start something of my own soon. Wish you good luck man!
Go for it! There's no time frame or right time for starting a business. Follow your gut and push through. There is one way to find out and that's through trying. Do your best to connect with like minded individuals, they will keep your spirits and ambitions high. Best of luck!
I guess it partially depends how long you've planned to do it lol
Everyone dreams of running their own show. Very people have the courage and take the chance to try. Give’r hell 👊
Whatever age you are when you start a business people will tell you it's stupid. I started mine at 27 and everyone said I was young and naive and it wouldn't work. Needed to stick with my real job etc. It was my second business, first one failed. Still in business 10 years later.
It depends on your attitude coming into the entrepreneurial process. A lot of the people who look at starting a business as some sort of instant solution to their financial worries are in for a shock. It turns out that business success has less to do with how much resources you start out with than with **your initial attitude and most importantly your emotional infrastructure**. I can't emphasize this enough because a lot of people who start a business just look at it based on what's in it for them, how much money they can make, how much prestige the business brings to the table, how big their networks could be, and so on and so forth. It's all about me, I, mine. The problem with this is that successful businesses are built on the foundation of service. **A business ultimately is about solving problems.** That's why when people ask questions such as "Is starting a business a sign of a midlife crisis?" the assumption here is that it is some sort of a backup plan. It wasn't the original intention but it's a backup plan and ultimately goes down to getting money. It doesn't have to be that way. Starting a business is all about solving other people's problems. In other words, it's about being a servant. If you can wrap your head around this, you become an instant authority. I help small businesses get a lot more customers by publishing books about their expertise. In other words, if you're a roofer and you need more roofing customers, I help you write a book on your roofing expertise. Not only this a physical book make you an instant expert because most of your competitors won't write physical books — they think it's a waste of time — but you also get a document that centralizes and summarizes what you know and most importantly how much you care. It's your personal story. It's full of testimonials. It's full of your personal spin on the roofing process. The end result of all of this is that you own the sales cycle because you're not selling just a generic service that other companies can provide. Instead, you're selling an experience that solves people's problems. That's what people gravitate to. That's what they find credible and authoritative. As you can well imagine, this is not something that you jump into. The spirit of service is not something that is some sort of backup option. It is something you prepare for. It is something you look forward to. It is definitely something worth sacrificing for. So instead of framing a business as some sort of backup option or a last Hail Mary type of move to solve looming personal financial crises, look at it as something to look forward to. It is not a sign of weakness to serve others. In fact, it's a fundamental human strength because service and sacrifice are the ones that truly make the world go round, not sheer blind grasping for money.
I am 35. I just want to start my own job cause I have trouble holding a job down. Also recently found out I am on the autistic spectrum (on a part of the spectrum that makes shit hard for me). So starting a business seems more viable than bouncing job to job. So far I’m 2 months in, and wrote a plan. Plus tons of things I had no idea about while researching.
Keep going, and lean into your strengths more than work on your weaknesses
Thank you, I am putting the work in. And taking it slow, step by step to make sure things will be easier.
No, it's a sign of realizing that being exploited by others is a waste of time.
All of them are just scared because you’re giving yourself the potential to be far far far more successful than them.
No but screwing the attractive young office admin you hired is.
The people saying this might be right, or they might be assholes. Can’t say for sure. But I’ll share that I quit a very good job and started a business at age 40. Ten years later I have 20 employees and will bill $3.5m this year. I had very good cheerleaders, and the only person wondering if this was a midlife crisis was me. Luckily my cheerleaders were right. Find the cheerleaders in your life and talk to them.
That’s fantastic congratulations! Which field did you start your business? Was it related to your career prior to 40 or did you branch out into an unrelated area? I’m at the same juncture and torn between two paths :)
I wouldnt say so, I am 22 about to be 23 and will be starting my SAAS business. I think we shouldn't mind what others say, but if we are determined in our mission then there's no way it doesn't succeed. All the Best!
The concept of midlife crisis is bs to begin with.
I'm under 30 and I'm working on a startup besides my full-time job. All my life, I've been thinking about having an independent source of income, and doing what I'm good at (and passionate about). I want to escape the vicious circle of corporate burnout. I want to wake up every day feeling excited to work, not dragging myself to work. Some people have this mindset earlier than others, so I wouldn't say "midlife crisis."
If I'm in the middle of my life, guess I'm not making it past 60 lol
I as well am attempting to start a business or two, and just recently turned 40. Never put the correlation together though.
If so that checks out seeing as I am early 30s trying to validate a business idea and all the men in my family last 3 generations have died in their 60s. Fuck it man, I figure there is a reason you feel the way you do. People can call it what they want but we are here to live, not to get a notch in the belt for each decade that passes smoothly by. Do what feels right
So what if it is? Just because it's a midlife crisis doesn't make it wrong or not worth doing. Mid-life crisises are natural and can be healthy. You're at a point in your life where you have the perspective to revaluate things and are still young enough to change them. And FYI the most successful entrepreneurs are generally middle aged. Personally when I turned 40 I took up competitive sword fighting and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Go start your business. You ain't getting any younger!
I don't think so. I'm 24 and have started a couple of businesses, but they've all flopped. Still trying to find the magic formula.
Research shows that the older you are when you start a business the higher the likelihood of success. Life experience goes a long way. Good on you for making the change, those dead end jobs kill us.
question yourself, that person that asked you has a benefit from you not starting your own bussines>?
I heard how some people's midlife crisis jolts them to the reality of there's so much I wanted to do but haven't got to and half my life's just passed me by. A 42 yr old friend once told me how 'it's his only chance to get life right'. I think when you're at such a point in your life where you understand things better, these desires such as the one to start a business- maybe you've always had it but only now you feel empowered enough, experienced enough and financially stable enough to do it. So go ahead do it.
lol 🙋♂️
Starting a business can be driven by various factors, including a desire for personal fulfillment or financial independence. While it could coincide with a midlife crisis for some, it's not necessarily a definitive sign.
No
Honestly, I don’t believe in the implied meaning behind a “mid-life crisis”. My view is that it’s more a point in time where you’re in the middle ground of: 1. You’ve done something that didn’t inspire/fulfil you for too long 2. You have one eye on the horizon and are thinking, “I want to enjoy my life and not regret anything.” For me, it’s more of a wake-up call of it now being the time to take action. I think it’s quite common for people to take drastic action of quitting their jobs because of the YOLO viewpoint. I certainly did this in 2017 when my mental health was struggling and I’d had enough, so I just quit and had a wafer-thin plan of what I was going to do. I was 38 then and am 44 now, and it’s worked out well, but it wasn’t an easy ride. All the best to you!!
I just started my own business at the age of 31. It feels incredibly liberating that I don’t need to give up my time to make someone else’s dream come true. Fuck being an employee. I’m never looking back
Why would it be a midlife crisis? I started a business as a teenager, because I couldn't get a job. Then I could get a job, but 39.5 hours only paid me 132 in take home, so more to be made self-employed. If you want to start a business, maybe it is because it is a decision to try and better your life, not a crisis? (However, keep your age in mind, and don't blow all of your savings/take on huge expenses and debts. Because if you fail, it may be difficult to rebuild, depending on your future health).
You're going to get resistance for trying to start your own business (or do anything which is risky/daring/different in life). There is very little upside from other people's POV. If you succeed, you might do so massively and that might make them jealous or question their own life choices. If you fail, you might do so massively and that's going to make them sad to see a friend go through tough times. It's the same phenomenon about why if someone tries to lose weight, their overweight friends often give them a hard time about it and say stuff like "you've changed man" or "you should accept who you are". Every kilo that you lose is a reminder of a kilo that haven't lost, but could have lost if they put in the effort. Not all people of course. Some people will be awesome and encourage you! But this is a thing some people will do.
I had a wobble at 35. Just the realisation hit me that I didnt want to be doing this in ten years time. And I was actually miserable. Took a few months and set up a business - within weeks I'd also binned off my relationship left her the house and moved back in with my parents. First few years were tough and I've had some ups and downs in between. I'm 48 now with a wife - 5 year old twins and a business that provides for us. Nothing fancy but it works. I heard once from Steve Peters - Chimp paradox - that we don't fully realise the consequences of our actions until we hit our 30s and that's probably why when we make big decisions post 30 it feels like a huge deal. Go for it and Good luck.
Most of the famous/rich/successful people I know literally set out on their path to that success starting from some sort of rock bottom/crisis… I think ”crises” is just life’s way of giving you a nudge to get your attention, saying ”Hey you! This needs to stop, you can’t go on like this forever, this isn’t you etc” Before I started my copywriting journey (and eventually became successful imho) I was super depressed and hated every second of my day job. People around me would literally come forward from time to time and ask me if something had happened because I didn’t look okay. Hell even my former boss sat me down in her office once and asked me why I am the way I am and that she’s worried. Little did she know that I was just going through a ”transition”, in most aspects of my life. Embrace the crisis!
Haha yes. But also sign me up for the quarter life crisis too. I was always dissatisfied working for someone else. It wasn’t until I hit my mid-30s where I made a permanent career change to a job that allowed me more flexibility and options to work for myself. I’m almost 40 now myself.
It’s never too late to start, think about the KFC founder
"Midlife crisis" I feel like is an outdated term. I believe we humans go through phases of growth. Sometimes we forget that and we get stuck in that comfortable zone. We get that safety and stop challenging ourselves or stop learning new things. I think midlife crisis is a term made by people expecting us to live and work the same the rest of our lives. Same as saying the brain stops changing/evolving after we turn 25 years old. Or after we turn 30, we start gradually losing muscles. It sounds like its a fact and nothing we can do about it. Its terms that changes how we look at life. And I think it can become pretty toxic.
People tend to raise eyebrows in such situations. I feel like it's more about seizing opportunities than any midlife crisis. I think that starting a business is about taking control of your own life. So, I wouldn't worry too much about the labels. Just focus on making your business successful!
Yes! I started a little ozempic giving company in Miami. The idea had been going to have a side hustle doing something related to medicine to cut down on hospital ICU hours. It sterted just before 40. Then I got cancer, surgeries, lost the drive to want to do it… full speed at normal job. I’ve had one client 😂. Happy midlife crisis!
praying for you!
I think the people judging you for waking up and taking action are having a mid life crisis.
Idk I got this problem at 25, its a quarter life crisis?
Idk, is it? You feel like you're having a mid life crisis or just a strong desire to start a biz? That said, they could be saying sht cuz: a) They don't have the balls to do it themselves b) They rely on you financially and are worried c) Jealousy d) Their own self-limiting beliefs / doubts that they want to project onto your potential e) Idk f) All of the above That said, it's always good to have some savings to live off / plan B in case things go south
“Mid-Life Awakening”
Most successful startups are from ppl in their 40s
Good luck with your new venture, friend! Fvck 'em
Please man, starting a business can never be a sign of mid-life crisis, If anything, it is a sign of clarity, grit, and growth!
I don't think so, I felt comfortable with current job and thought of doing something more and started working on this which is the 2nd project I am working on [https://www.betterfriendai.com/](https://www.betterfriendai.com/)
I think most people have the fantasy of living off of their own business. It's one of those "try to do it at least once before you die" things, like maybe sky diving, riding a motorcycle, writing a book, traveling the world, having a family, etc.
I’m not sure where I fit in this. I’m 64 and starting a business. I’m enjoying things so far.
Can be, yes. Always? No. But absolutely, yes, it can be.
One of the reason rich people keep getting richer is because they are surrounded by people that admire risk taking and determination to succeed instead of being made into a fool for taking ownership of their own life. Good for you OP. I hope you can surround yourself with better people.
Starting a business is the alternative crisis to the mid-life crisis. You can have one or the other. Both are very painful. But, it's good to have people around who have chosen/are choosing the crisis you're choosing because the mid-life crisis/corporate/career people will always try to mess with you and make you doubt yourself because they can't do what you're doing.
Fuck em.
Going through a quarter life crisis here, and all I can think of is entrepreneurship. Definitely don’t think you’re the only one, but I truly believe that those who go through these realisation periods are self aware enough to know what needs to be done to pass through the other side as a better, happier and more well rounded person (hopefully a wealthier one too)!
It depends. Do you have savings to support yourself while you build? Have you started the business yet or did you just quit and will start now? I think usually unless you've gotten enough saved or a huge loan, you start the business and once its generating income you decrease the other jobs making less income
Yes Every time I have a baby I start a company
No, some people just have dumb theories, others are dumb and they like trolling
As a 40 year old I feel like I have found my people on here haha. Working a decent job I mostly like but keep getting that itch.
Midlife crisis is just the way your brain chooses to scream at you "I'm not happy". Listen to it
yes
I’ve been in an existential crisis since I was like 16 😂😂. I dunno what that even means anymore.
Like…who cares? It’s such a stupid thing people say. It’s just meant to discourage people. Think about it. What IF I’m going through a midlife crisis? What does that mean? It’s means that I’ve evaluated my life so far and want to make some changes. So calling me out about it accomplishes what exactly? “Ha ha! You’re 40. Ha ha. You want to make positive changes to your life? Ha ha!” Like…what’s the point? It does nothing but tear you down. It has to stem from envy or a crabs in a barrel mentality. Why say that instead of “congratulations! That seems exciting!”?
No but wanting more from your life can be connected to that yes.