Feeling the financial crunch?
The economy is something on most everyone’s mind and you’re probably feeling the financial crunch just as many are. A few years ago, you like most others over 50, were thinking about retirement and all the things you’ve looked forward to doing for so long. Now, it could be that retirement isn’t something that will be possible, or at least not when or how you had always thought it would be. For that reason, you may be considering beginning a new business.
It’s never too late
One question you may have thought about is, “Am I too old?” The answer to that is an indisputable “NO”. It’s never too late to begin something new. Maybe you’ve been working all these years doing something you’ve never truly been satisfied with. Have you had a physical job but you’d rather have been working indoors at a desk? Or maybe you’ve been working inside and would rather have been outside. In the same way, some have been using their backs instead of the sharp, educated minds they’ve been blessed with.
Have you lost your job?
Now is a wonderful time to make a change. If you’re still employed but are looking at possible retirement sometime in the near future, begin your own business now so it’s organized and thriving once retirement is a reality. If you’ve lost your job, you have much more time to plan and launch the business you’ve always dreamed about.
What do you already know?
Chances are good that you don’t have a lot of money to invest to start. If you do, that will simply make it easier for you. However, if you don’t, that doesn’t mean starting your own business is impossible. If you think about it, you’re very possibly doing something for others that you love doing already. You’re just not getting paid for it.
A home business
Do you enjoy baking and have some generational recipes that have been passed down from your family? There are those who bake wedding cakes or do catering for special events, right from their own homes, without needing to invest more money.
Provide a needed service
Maybe you have an affinity for dogs. Why not begin a dog walking business? Not only would you be doing a service for those who don’t have the time or ability to walk their own dogs, but you’d be getting needed exercise as well.
Teach what you know
Start giving music lessons, begin a babysitting service, do housecleaning for the disabled, do crafting and sell your projects at flea markets or county fairs, or give haircuts to those who can’t travel to barbers or beauticians. If you love to fish and friends are calling asking where they’re biting, maybe you’d be interested in beginning a fishing guide business for out-of-towners.
In the end it’s up to you!
What you choose to do is entirely up to you. It only takes an interest and a little ingenuity to get started. The most well-known CEOs of today all began their businesses with an idea.
Remember that Colonel Sanders didn’t become successful with his Kentucky Fried Chicken Empire until After he turned 60. Many become successful in business and other areas of their lives past the age of 50… Maybe you’ll be next!
Debe Lange/Shirley Price