Late Bloomers Have Proven:
“Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” © 2016
You often hear about children who displayed a special talent or aptitude at an early age. Blessed are those who found their life’s calling at an early age.
But most people aren’t so fortunate. Some people never find their calling. Or, if they do, they found that calling later in life. Those who find their calling later in life are called “late bloomers.”
Just as flowers don’t all bloom at the same time, neither do human beings. Moses was well into his ‘80s before God tapped him to led the Hebrews out of slavery. Jesus was born with a special purpose, as well. But Jesus did not learn of that purpose nor did he begin to act on that purpose until his early thirties.
Even today, late bloomer stories abound. It’s never too late, and you should never give up on your dreams. After all, it’s not over until God says it’s over.
HERE ARE A FEW LATE-BLOOMER STORIES:
RAY KROC, the founder of the McDonald’s empire. Kroc was in his 50s when he began that global corporation.
“Kroc started out as a small-scale entrepreneur, trying a variety of businesses and seeing what stuck. He was working as a blender salesman in 1954 when he discovered a restaurant in San Bernardino, Calif., run by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. Kroc, who was 52 at the time, was fascinated by their quick service and limited menu, and he soon opened a franchise near his home in Illinois. The rest is history.
WES MONTGOMERY (pictured) was one of the greatest jazz guitarists who ever lived. In fact, there’s hardly a jazz guitarist living who hasn’t been influenced by his style, including George Benson, Lee Ritenour, Pat Metheny, and others. But Montgomery didn’t start playing guitar until his 20s. That’s considered late for an aspiring musician.
GEORGE FOREMAN initially won the heavyweight boxing championship in 1973 against Joe Frazier. He then lost it to Muhammad Ali. But 10 years later, Foreman came out of retirement. He won a string of fights before losing a close fight to Evander Holyfield. He retired again for two years and returned to become the oldest champion ever in any weight division in 1994. He was 45 years old. Foreman retired from boxying again, and he started a new career as spokesperson for the George Foreman Grill, and other products.
MICHAEL MASSER was a songwriter who wrote Diana Ross’ “Touch Me In The Morning,” Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love For You,” and many other hits. Masser initially followed what his parents wanted him to and tried law and working as a stock broker. But he wasn’t happy. He reached out to a counselor who advised him to follow his passion. His passion was writing songs, and at age 30, he began a songwriting career.
ROSA PARKS became a civil rights legend. She had always been an advocate for equality. But Ms. Parks was 42-years old when she defied segregated customs and sparked the modern civil rights movement.
If there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s that human beings are forever evolving right up until they die. But in our youth-oriented, millennial-obsessed culture, we tend to forget this. Human possibilities are endless and can be realized at any age. The lesson we all might want to remember is, “Age ain’t nothing but a number.”
These now famous people, all became household names at a later age:
VERA WANG, was a fashion writerprevious wrote about fashion. She was 39 before she became a designer.
VINCENT VAN GOGH didn’t start painting until he was 27.
JK ROWLING is now known as the author of “Harry Potter.” But she was 49 before she became a writer.
WALLACE AMOS, better known as “Famous Amos,” was 41 years old when started his Famous Amos Chocolate Chip cookie company.
MISTY COPELAND was 13 before she ventured on a career in ballet. That is considered late.
A late bloomer is the opposite of a child prodigy who masters a talent or skill before age 18.
Daniel Tammet explained what can cause a person to be a late bloomer. “If you’re born in a very poor environment, where you’re not given books and you’re not given good education and then subsequently doors are closed to you that are open to others who perhaps don’t have your talent…I could well imagine that throughout our history there are people who have come into their own relatively late in life.”
“Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number” © 2016
You often hear about children who displayed a special talent or aptitude at an early age. Blessed are those who found their life’s calling at an early age.
But most people aren’t so fortunate. Some people never find their calling. Or, if they do, they found that calling later in life. Those who find their calling later in life are called “late bloomers.”
Just as flowers don’t all bloom at the same time, neither do human beings. Moses was well into his ‘80s before God tapped him to led the Hebrews out of slavery. Jesus was born with a special purpose, as well. But Jesus did not learn of that purpose nor did he begin to act on that purpose until his early thirties.
Even today, late bloomer stories abound. It’s never too late, and you should never give up on your dreams. After all, it’s not over until God says it’s over.
HERE ARE A FEW LATE-BLOOMER STORIES:
RAY KROC, the founder of the McDonald’s empire. Kroc was in his 50s when he began that global corporation.
“Kroc started out as a small-scale entrepreneur, trying a variety of businesses and seeing what stuck. He was working as a blender salesman in 1954 when he discovered a restaurant in San Bernardino, Calif., run by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. Kroc, who was 52 at the time, was fascinated by their quick service and limited menu, and he soon opened a franchise near his home in Illinois. The rest is history.
WES MONTGOMERY (pictured) was one of the greatest jazz guitarists who ever lived. In fact, there’s hardly a jazz guitarist living who hasn’t been influenced by his style, including George Benson, Lee Ritenour, Pat Metheny, and others. But Montgomery didn’t start playing guitar until his 20s. That’s considered late for an aspiring musician.
GEORGE FOREMAN initially won the heavyweight boxing championship in 1973 against Joe Frazier. He then lost it to Muhammad Ali. But 10 years later, Foreman came out of retirement. He won a string of fights before losing a close fight to Evander Holyfield. He retired again for two years and returned to become the oldest champion ever in any weight division in 1994. He was 45 years old. Foreman retired from boxying again, and he started a new career as spokesperson for the George Foreman Grill, and other products.
MICHAEL MASSER was a songwriter who wrote Diana Ross’ “Touch Me In The Morning,” Whitney Houston’s “Saving All My Love For You,” and many other hits. Masser initially followed what his parents wanted him to and tried law and working as a stock broker. But he wasn’t happy. He reached out to a counselor who advised him to follow his passion. His passion was writing songs, and at age 30, he began a songwriting career.
ROSA PARKS became a civil rights legend. She had always been an advocate for equality. But Ms. Parks was 42-years old when she defied segregated customs and sparked the modern civil rights movement.
If there’s a lesson to be learned, it’s that human beings are forever evolving right up until they die. But in our youth-oriented, millennial-obsessed culture, we tend to forget this. Human possibilities are endless and can be realized at any age. The lesson we all might want to remember is, “Age ain’t nothing but a number.”
These now famous people, all became household names at a later age:
VERA WANG, was a fashion writerprevious wrote about fashion. She was 39 before she became a designer.
VINCENT VAN GOGH didn’t start painting until he was 27.
JK ROWLING is now known as the author of “Harry Potter.” But she was 49 before she became a writer.
WALLACE AMOS, better known as “Famous Amos,” was 41 years old when started his Famous Amos Chocolate Chip cookie company.
MISTY COPELAND was 13 before she ventured on a career in ballet. That is considered late.
A late bloomer is the opposite of a child prodigy who masters a talent or skill before age 18.
Daniel Tammet explained what can cause a person to be a late bloomer. “If you’re born in a very poor environment, where you’re not given books and you’re not given good education and then subsequently doors are closed to you that are open to others who perhaps don’t have your talent…I could well imagine that throughout our history there are people who have come into their own relatively late in life.”