There is no Timeline

What do Vera Wang, Ray Kroc and Ricky Gervais have in common?

They are all proof that success is not confined to a specific phase of life. They all reached their respective success later in life. But more importantly:

They never let the thought of failure stop them from chasing what they wanted.

1. Vera Wang:

   • Vera Wang - fashion designer known for her bridal gowns and haute couture. Before entering the world of fashion, Wang had a successful career as a figure skater and later worked as an editor at Vogue magazine. It wasn't until she was 40 years old that she entered the bridal industry, designing her first wedding dress for her own wedding. Today, Vera Wang is a highly successful and influential designer.

2. Ray Kroc:

   • Ray Kroc is the man behind the global success of McDonald's Corporation. Before joining the fast-food industry, Kroc worked various jobs, including as a paper cup salesman. He joined McDonald's when he was 52, after discovering a small but successful fast-food restaurant run by the McDonald brothers. Kroc transformed the business into a franchise model and turned McDonald's into one of the most recognizable and successful brands in the world.

3. Rick Gervais

   • Ricky Gervais began his career in the 1980s as a musician and later worked in radio. However, he didn't gain widespread recognition until his 40’s when he co-created and starred in "The Office" (2001-2003). The show became a massive success and earned Gervais international acclaim.

Too often, we speak to people who are incredibly passionate about something, but they let their age be the reason that they stopped chasing it. Perhaps the saddest excuse ever given is “Time to grow up”.

We see it a lot. Pressure from society can make people feel that they should be doing a certain thing at a certain time in their life. Earn (x) salary. Buy a house. Get married. Have kids. etc.

As soon as you let those thoughts dominate your dreams. You’ve failed. In our definition, you only truly fail when you give up on something that you know feels right.

Remember that learning is a lifelong pursuit and success is a fleeting feeling. So you better enjoy the process.

There is no timeline. No expectations that matter. Do what you need to do to keep the ember burning and keep pursuing what you love. These 3 are some of the more famous examples, but there are countless more. Some of which are probably much closer to home than you might expect.

Keep chasing.