It’s Not Too Late: Why Your Biggest Career Move Might Still Be Ahead of You
(Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2025)
Sometimes, when I look back on my career, it honestly scares the daylights out of me.
Not because of what happened—but because of what almost didn’t.
One wrong decision… one missed conversation… one “no” instead of “yes”… and I might have missed the very opportunities that defined my path.
That’s the thing about major career moves: they rarely show up with a big flashing sign. You often don’t know how pivotal a moment was until much later.
So when I talk to people—particularly those in middle or late career stages—who feel stuck, unsure, or convinced that they’ve missed their chance, I tell them the same thing:
It’s almost never too late.
I made one of the biggest career moves of my life at age 65.
The one before that? I was 58.
Let that sink in for a moment.
The Myth of the “Career Expiration Date”
I hear it all the time:
- “I’m too old to start over.”
- “No one hires at this stage.”
- “My best years are behind me.”
And I get it. Our culture glorifies early success—30 under 30 lists, startup founders in their twenties, “retire by 40” advice.
But here’s what the data actually shows:
✅ According to a study from the Kauffman Foundation, the average age of a successful startup founder is 45—not 25. In fact, people in their 50s are twice as likely to launch high-growth startups compared to those in their 20s.
✅ A Harvard Business Review report found that older workers are more loyal, more reliable, and bring greater emotional intelligence and experience—all major assets in today’s fast-changing work environment.
✅ The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2030, the labor force participation rate for people 65 to 74 will rise to 30%, up from 27% in 2020. People are not just working longer—they’re contributing longer.
So no—your career is not over at 50, 60, or 65.
In many cases, it’s just getting interesting.
The Real Challenge: Mindset, Not Age
The biggest obstacle I see isn’t a short runway or outdated skills. It’s belief.
Somewhere along the way, people start to believe that opportunity has an expiration date. That if they didn’t get the promotion, start the business, or make the pivot by a certain age—it’s no longer possible.
That belief is a trap.
You have decades of experience, hard-earned wisdom, and—if you’ve been intentional about it—a powerful network. These are massive assets that 25-year-olds don’t have.
You know how to navigate challenges. You know how to lead teams. You’ve been through downturns, tough bosses, changing industries.
In fact, you’re more prepared now than ever before.
The key is being willing to see yourself as still in the game—and to approach your next chapter with clarity, courage, and strategy.
Intentionality Is the New Hustle
Now, let me be clear: you do have to thread the needle more carefully later in your career.
You may not have the luxury of taking on a role that doesn’t pay well. You might have family responsibilities or financial considerations that younger workers don’t.
That’s why intentionality becomes your superpower.
You don’t need to say yes to everything. You need to say yes to the right things.
Ask yourself:
- What energizes me now?
- What do I want to contribute in this next chapter?
- Who do I want to serve?
- What kind of legacy do I want to leave?
When you move forward with purpose, you don’t need a long runway. You just need a clear destination and the courage to move toward it.
Real-Life Example: Late-Career Pivots
Let’s zoom out from my story for a second.
Consider Colonel Sanders, who founded Kentucky Fried Chicken at age 65 after being turned down by over 1,000 restaurants.
Or Vera Wang, who didn’t enter the fashion world until she was 40, after working as a journalist and figure skater.
Or Ray Kroc, who took over the McDonald’s brand at 52 and built it into a global empire.
These aren’t outliers. These are reminders that time isn’t the enemy. Fear is.
And usually, that fear comes from focusing on what we haven’t done instead of recognizing what we can still do.
The GAIN Principle in Action
In my book, The GAIN Principle, I lay out a simple but powerful framework: Go, Assess, Identify, Next.
These are the four stages we cycle through over and over again—at every age, in every phase of life:
- Go: Begin. Step forward. Move into the unknown.
- Assess: Pause. Reflect. Understand what’s working and what isn’t.
- Identify: Spot the opportunity, the barrier, or the path forward.
- Next: Make the move. Take action. Adjust and evolve.
The beauty of this framework is that it never expires.
The manager who feels invisible? The executive who’s burned out? The late-career professional unsure of their next move?
They’re all in one of these stages.
The GAIN Principle helps you see the cycle, name it, and move through it with purpose.
You don’t have to rush it—but you do have to trust it.
Your Next Move Might Be Your Best One Yet
Here’s what I know to be true:
- It’s not too late.
- You’re not out of time.
- The game hasn’t passed you by.
You might just be on the edge of something bigger than you imagined.
But you won’t see it if you’re staring in the rearview mirror. You’ve got to lift your eyes, realign your mindset, and step forward intentionally.
Because whether you’re 35, 55, or 65, your career isn’t ending—it’s evolving.
And you have a choice:
Let fear dictate the story… or let experience lead the way.
Final Thought
If you feel stuck or like your best days are behind you, I want to remind you:
You still have the power to make your next move.
Maybe it’s a pivot. Maybe it’s a promotion. Maybe it’s starting the business you’ve been dreaming about for 20 years.
The runway isn’t as short as you think—it just depends on how you use it.
So… what’s holding you back?