20 May You’re too old. Not.

Barbara Brooks, 50 | Founder of SecondActWomen Insider

If you’re in your 40s, 50s or even 60s, you may think it’s too late to startup. Wrong. A recent study of 2.7 million startups conducted by the Census Bureau and two MIT professors found that the most successful entrepreneurs are between 40-60 years of age. Wait, what? A matter of fact, the ideal age of a successful startup founder is in the middle of life and a large percentage of them are us – women.

The Lie

On a weekly if not daily basis, we are being told we’re too old to do something and oftentimes, we believe the messenger – even if the messenger is us. We are too old to have kids, wear skinny jeans and two-piece swimsuits. We are too old to get hired or shift careers mid-life, and certainly too old to start a business. Hmmm. Seems society says we are just too old ‘to do’ life. Lies!

The Truth

The truth is that today we are entering our second act boldly with unwavering confidence, paving the way and disrupting ageism at every turn. It’s the dawn of a new era for women over 40 and we refuse to be put on the shelf midway through our lives.

We are wonder women wielding power unlike any other time in history. We’re holding the key to our own future, designing our careers and life experiences. We are boosting the economy [SHEconomy] each year with a $15+ trillion purchasing authority and we are opening businesses like mad. Get the picture? #OwnYourSecondAct #truth

The Start… your start

Women are opening 1,821 businesses each day in America and it’s about time you do the same with that big idea you’ve held on to for so long. Even if you have a passion project that would make a good side hustle, start it up. Just START! And if anything, these stats from INC. Magazine should convince you:

• A 50-year-old startup founder is 2.2 times more likely to launch a successful startup as a 30-year-old.
• A 40-year-old startup founder is 2.1 times more likely to launch a successful startup as a 25-year-old.
• A 50-year-old startup founder is 2.8 times more likely to launch a successful startup as a 25-year-old founder.

Mic Drop

Get over your fear if you have it. Get over the shame if you feel it. Get the hell over your ‘I’m too old’ mentality if you think it. It’s only our second half. You’re not too old to startup. #MicDrop.

Barbara launched SecondActWomen after jumping, literally, over fear at 51 in 2018 and today’s is a successful company focused on helping others do the same.

Photo credit: Rick Janson

Guadalupe Hirt (46) is the co-founder and CCO of SecondActWomen. Founded to rescript the social narrative that women 40 & 50+ are past their prime, SecondActWomen is an IRL and virtual club platform that doubles as a resource hub and community support system to spur the careers, business ventures and big ideas of women in middlescence.