Maturity, great life experience and better people skills help to make middle-aged entrepreneurs more successful than their younger counterparts, says Eugene Beetge, co-founder of Grey Incubator.
“In most cases, even if they were previously employed and are not career entrepreneurs, they have contact networks, resources and a stronger drive to succeed due to their life responsibilities,” Beetge says.
He has the following advice for mature entrepreneurs:
- Believe in yourself. “Due to our upbringing, earlier lifestyle, educational and environment, people simply do not realise their own potential.”
- Be your own cheerleader. “Learn how to motivate yourself, allow yourself to dream and imagine a future that you really want, both in terms of financial freedom and freedom in your lifestyle.”
- Surround yourself with experienced mentors who have survived both success and failure. If you assemble a group of mentors who have years of experience in a many different areas, then they will be able to offer useful guidance on how to make your enterprise work.
- You need hard (technical) and soft (people) skills to be an entrepreneur. “Never stop learning. Soft skills include the ability to survive and thrive among the inevitable stresses of being a business owner; while hard skills will give you the confidence to solve real-world problems that you are bound to face.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.