| Here are 20 people who remind us that purpose has no expiry date |
| There is a question many people begin to ask as they get older: “Is it too late for me?” Too late to start again. Too late to build something. Too late to learn something new. Too late to make a difference. At GrowMyHome, we don’t believe it is. Some of the most valuable things we can contribute come from years of experience, knowledge, relationships, and wisdom. So this newsletter is especially for the older people among us—but also for everyone who has an older person in their life. A parent, A mentor, an older sibling, A friend or A colleague.Perhaps someone who simply needs to be reminded:“You are not finished yet.” Here are 20 people whose stories show that impact can happen at any age. 1. GRANDMA MOSES — AGE 77 Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses, spent much of her life working on a farm and raising a family. When arthritis made embroidery difficult, she turned seriously to painting in her late 70s. She eventually became one of America’s best-known folk artists. Sometimes what looks like an ending is actually a new beginning. 2. COLONEL HARLAND SANDERS — AGE 62 Harland Sanders had spent decades cooking and running businesses before the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise model took off. The first KFC franchise opened in 1952, when Sanders was about 62. He then travelled extensively, selling the franchise opportunity and building the brand. Your biggest opportunity may come after decades of experience have prepared you for it. 3. HARRY BERNSTEIN — AGE 96 Harry Bernstein worked as a journalist and writer for much of his life. After the death of his wife, he began writing more seriously about his childhood.His memoir The Invisible Wall was published when he was 96. You are never too old to tell your story. 4. LAURA INGALLS WILDER — AGE 65 Laura Ingalls Wilder had lived much of the life she later wrote about before becoming a published author. Her first Little House book was published in 1932, when she was 65. Your past may contain the material for your greatest contribution. 5. KTHOMAS MACHASIO — AGE 55After a 22-year corporate career with SKF, including serving as Managing Director and Regional Manager for East Africa, Kenyan engineer Thomas Machasio decided at 55 to start his own business for the first time. Rather than simply retiring at 60, he chose to use his experience, knowledge and network to build something of his own. His business focused on industrial and automotive bearings while also helping customers improve the life of their machinery. His story is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship does not belong only to the young. Sometimes, experience is the very thing that prepares you for your next chapter. EXPERIENCE BECOMES OPPORTUNITY 6. JOSEPH A. CAMPBELL — IN HIS 50s Joseph A. Campbell founded the business that eventually became Campbell Soup Company in 1869, when he was in his early 50s. The company’s famous condensed soup came later through the work of chemist John T. Dorrance. Starting later does not mean you cannot build something lasting. 7. PETER MARK ROGET — AGE 73 Peter Mark Roget was a physician, scientist and scholar. His lifelong interest in language eventually became something millions of people would use. He published Roget’s Thesaurus in 1852 at the age of 73. A lifetime of knowledge can become a gift to generations that follow. 8. NGWAKA MABEL — AGE 65 At 65, Ngwaka Mabel was a retired teacher living with the uncertainty of an irregular pension. Then, in 2021, she was introduced to clean-energy entrepreneurship through Solar Sister. Instead of seeing retirement as the end of her productive years, Mabel invested ₦30,000 of her savings and began selling solar products in her community. She took her products to markets, churches and community meetings, and customers also came to her home to buy. She has since built a successful business providing reliable energy solutions while achieving personal financial independence. 9. JOHN B. FENN — NOBEL PRIZE AT 85 Chemist John B. Fenn continued his scientific work well into later life. In 2002, at the age of 85, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work that helped advance the analysis of biological molecules using mass spectrometry. Years of experience can produce breakthroughs that change an entire field. 10. TAIKICHIRO MORI — AGE 55 Taikichiro Mori left academia at 55 after a career that included serving as a dean at Yokohama City University. He then entered the family property business and went on to build Mori Building into a major real estate company. In 1991 and 1992, Forbes ranked him the world’s richest person. His story has a special lesson for us at GrowMyHome: Retirement can be a transition, not an ending. 11. NELSON MANDELA — AGE 75 Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison. Yet at 75, he became South Africa’s first democratically elected president. His later years were marked by leadership, reconciliation and humanitarian work. Your greatest chapter may come after your most difficult one. 12. MIGUEL DE CERVANTES — AROUND AGE 57 Miguel de Cervantes experienced war, captivity, hardship and financial struggles before becoming one of the world’s most influential writers. The first part of Don Quixote was published in 1605, when Cervantes was around 57. A difficult past does not prevent you from creating something that outlives you. 13. TONI MORRISON — AGE 62 Toni Morrison had already built an extraordinary literary career before receiving its highest recognition. In 1993, at 62, she became the first African-American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Recognition may come later than expected. That does not make the work less valuable. 14. JOHN PEMBERTON — AGE 54 Pharmacist and inventor John Pemberton created the syrup that became Coca-Cola in 1886, when he was about 54. He died before seeing the global company the product would eventually become. You may plant a seed whose greatest growth happens after you are gone. AGE DOES NOT DEFINE POSSIBILITY 15. FAUJA SINGH — HIS 80s AND BEYOND Fauja Singh took up serious distance running in his 80s and completed his first marathon at 89. He went on to complete major marathons and became an international symbol of determination and longevity. Age may change what is easy, but it does not have to decide what is possible. 16. GLADYS BURRILL — AGE 92 Gladys Burrill ran her first marathon at 86. At 92, she completed the Honolulu Marathon and was recognised at the time as the oldest woman to complete a marathon. Sometimes the biggest barrier is not age, but the belief that age has already decided what is possible. 17. ESTELLE GETTY — AGE 62 Estelle Getty had spent years working in theatre before becoming a household name. When The Golden Girls premiered in 1985, she was 62. Her role as Sophia Petrillo made her famous, and she later won an Emmy Award. Sometimes the world discovers your talent long after you first discovered it yourself. 18. RAY KROC — IN HIS 50s Ray Kroc was already in his 50s when he encountered the McDonald brothers and recognised the potential of their restaurant model. He helped turn that local restaurant concept into a global franchise business. Sometimes success comes from recognising an opportunity and having the courage to build it. 19. VERA WANG — A NEW CHAPTER AT 40 Vera Wang had already built an impressive career at Vogue and Ralph Lauren before entering the bridal fashion business. She opened her first bridal boutique in 1990, around the age of 40, and went on to build one of the world’s best-known bridal brands. A new beginning at 40 can become a lifetime of impact. 20. SAM MOTSUENYANE — AGE 75 Dr Sam Motsuenyane was already a respected businessman, leader and former diplomat when he entered another important chapter of his life. After retiring from NAFCOC and public service, he turned his attention back to agriculture. In 2002, at about 75 years old, he initiated a citrus farming project in Winterveld and founded the Winterveld United Farmers Association. The project brought together 145 plot owners, helping local farmers work collectively and develop a market for their produce. Motsuenyane went on to live to 97, continuing to contribute to business, agriculture, and community development. At 75, he didn’t retire from impact. He started another chapter. Twenty different people; Twenty different journeys.Twenty different definitions of what it means to start late. Some changed careers. Some discovered talents they had never explored. Some received recognition decades after beginning their work. Some simply refused to stop contributing. And if you are younger, remember this: The older people around you are not finished. They may still have enormous capacity to create, teach, invest, build, and lead. Sometimes, all someone needs to hear is: “You are not finished yet.” So whether you are 25, 45, 65, 75, or 95: IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START. What will you build next? At GrowMyHome, we believe building is about more than houses. It is about people, communities, opportunity, and legacy. And ultimately, it is about impact. So, if this newsletter has challenged you to think about your own next chapter, don’t just be inspired—take a step. Source: One Advisory Partners |