You’re Not Too Old To Start Over
If you are wondering if you are too old to start again, read this.
I sometimes wonder if I thought I was too old to start over if I would be where I am today.
Probably not.
Ageism is a genuine issue in today’s market, and many workplaces actively try to confront it because it can send threatening messages to younger employees and destroy organizational trust.
At some point in our writing careers, we must ‘start over’ in different forms, whether transitioning into a new sector requiring different writing skills, returning to school, or starting a new side gig. There will be people who are more experienced, faster, and better at what we are just beginning to learn.
Irrelevant, at different points during your professional writing career, you will need to start from a base level of skills to get to where you want to go. And there is nothing shameful in that.
If you are lucky, you will have a financial cushion to live off while you build a new foundation of skills, talent, and a solid network for your new venture, which means you aren’t really in it for the money, at least in the beginning. You are there to learn and absorb as much as possible from different writing experiences.
You aren’t there to impress anyone or dabble in office politics. Been there, done that. You are older, wiser, and ready to be where you knew you always needed to be. Don’t let distractions get in the way.
Be ready for younger, more skilled co-workers to ask if you are familiar with this new tool or with that, and be confident in your reply: ‘No, but that sounds very interesting. Let me look that up and get back to you.’ Don’t mind the sideways glances; you are just getting started.
Remember, Mark Twain, J.R.R Tolkien, and Toni Morrison started writing their masterpieces in their 40s. Whether you are working on your next novel, learning to write copy, or starting your new blog, the opportunities are endless, and the only thing standing in your way is yourself.
Don’t let the time that has passed discourage you.
Think of all the incredible life experiences you can draw from in your writing. The possibilities are endless.
Focus on your goal and plan extensively to achieve it.
Your passion got you this far and will take you to the finish line.
