Comments on: Entrepreneurs Know No Age Limits

By: Mike Clough

Mike Clough — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:44:37 +0000

I thought you might also find Joel Libava's article. "The Top Franchise Trends For 2010" an interesting read.

By: Gail Zabel

Gail Zabel — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:09:55 +0000

In June of 2009, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, MO issued a report, “The Coming Entrepreneurship Boom,” which said that the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity for the last 10 years has been among the 55 to 64 age group. The lowest level of entrepreneurial activity was among 20 to 34 year-olds, defying the conventional image of the risk-prone Internet entrepreneur. So this is not a new phenomenon because of the recession.

You can read the lead article entitled “The New Face of Entrepreneurs” at http://www.2womenentrepreneurs.com . This free website is dedicated to helping women (and brave men) of any age learn about the nuts and bolts of starting and growing a business ethically and legally anywhere. The new Amex Open for Business networking website is preparing to publish an article on the 2 WE website and the Indianapolis Business Journal interviewed my partner and myself specifically about one of the articles on hiring friends and family for a future article.

By: Girlie | Brochures Printing Online

Girlie | Brochures Printing Online — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:09:36 +0000

“Entrepreneurs know no age limits”- I agree on this one. As long as you have the budget, skills and resources to run a small business, you’ll be good no matter how young or old you are. They just have to keep up with the emerging marketing trends so they won’t be left out.

By: George King

George King — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:37:59 +0000

@ Wil Ferch
Nice to see hard cold truth for a change!
It seems too bad that we have not been able to create well paying industries that only want / need older workers. It would be nice to see customers only doing business with companies that have a fair percentage of local older workers.

Elders are only appropriated, if they have great wealth or power. When they do, they do not seem to support these who do not.

By: Data Entry Lady

Data Entry Lady — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:15:22 +0000

I am 56 and have owned/operated a business for over 15 years. Being in a techical field, I keep my skills up to date and competitive, stay aware of the market and have a realistic attitude. If I can do it, anyone can.

By: Wil Ferch

Wil Ferch — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:05:53 +0000

I very recently responded to someone else who has a blog for “over-40″ types looking for work. Her views were so naive I had to respond as follows:
=============
Thank you.
To be clear, I am actively pursuing my own consultancy as I have found that age and experience is a valued-commodity in this arena…..but that age and experience is indeed not a valued commodity if vyeing for permanent employment. I base this not only on my own experiences but from many other first hand accounts like this from a number of colleagues and acquaintences I have made over the years. Experience and age is simply a non-starter….as is the much-heralded advice to try “other” industries that you didn’t come from originally. As much as this is a prod to those people afraid or timid to make a move like this….the other true but very sad fact is… that in today’s economy, the hiring org is of the opinion that there are enough walking-wounded around to only pick from the industry that one comes from. I base this on like-kind experience of myself and others, as in the first example. It makes for nice LinkedIn topics for discussion but the realities are very much different. This said…..from an optimistic and self-confident, energetic individual having given this a a very valid try. I am not a pessimist or defeatiest by nature or by any stretch of the imagination…. but you can’t fight reality.
Thank you for your note….
All the Best,
- Wil Ferch

By: Sybil Fowler

Sybil Fowler — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:52:10 +0000

Finding my self redundant at 49 which was an unpleasant experiance when I had given my all to the company I had worked , I had a bit of a confidence crisis.

I then got a grip and created SLR Marketing, which is now in its third year of trading. I also have a property development company, and an internet based business.www.wealthynet.co.uk.

So if I can crack it so can you. In reality I have always been an entrepenuer from age 14 when I had my first job delivering newspapers.

By: KojoC

KojoC — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:31:31 +0000

I Agree’ (Krishan) before retiring (1998) I’ve never had problems concerning employment. My problems was stay on top of my orders, as a custom jewelry model-maker. Wow, free at last, (smile. :-))

Now that I am in retirement, I just take pictures & paint for pleasure. Of course I have to live within my means. Which I’ve found to be more of a healthy lifestyle.

By: Krishan

Krishan — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:25:13 +0000

Oh, holycow, you have arose my entrepenuership agian at the age of 70. True enterpriser have no age no qualifications bar. I started my business at the age of 12 by selling balloons and Pakora, statred cleaning and descaling boilers at the age of 20, started manufacturing waste & water treatment plants and equipments,Ion-Exchange resins and chemicals, producing bulk drugs, now into GIS and IT software development. You have to keep working forget the numbers.

By: Deborah Richmond

Deborah Richmond — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:17:23 +0000

Sometimes age is one of the leading reasons a person decides to start their own business. A person over 40 who needs to make a career change, for whatever reason, is going to have a very hard time doing so in corporate America. Or if they can find a job in a new career, they are offered a low entry-level wage. For a worker who owns a home and has a family to support, this can be a real hardship. Starting your own business can allow you to bypass the biases of corporate America. As an entrepreneur, you are judged by your ability to make a success of your business, not by stereotypes.