Over 40s Success Stories... please!

[IsItDownToTheLakeIFear]

Hi all, I’ve name changed for this, so I can compartmentalise the existentialist terror.

In 18 months time I’ll be 40, and I feel like a big old failure. I’ve pinballed around a few different career choices, all in the creative industries - theatre, TV - sometimes working for large organisations, sometimes doing my own thing.

I can’t seem to find my niche, where I feel like I can really take off and achieve something I can be really proud of.

I’ve never made good money (trundled along under the UK median income most of the time), but I’ve always managed to get by. I have a marvellous husband and a home I love, all of which I realise makes me a whole lot luckier than many people.

Anyway, boo hoo.

All I want to know is - have you found Your Thing after 40? I want to hear late bloomer success stories. Pretty please with a cherry on top.

We're just moving this thread over to chat for the OP.

Start by defining what success is for YOU (not everyone else)

It doesn't have to be making money. e.g. I feel more succesful in my 40s having less money as I cut my hours for a better work-life balance.

I suspect people who do make a lot of money , probably look at you and say wow, IsItDown is doing all this interesting-sounding creative stuff, I wish I had the guts to jack in my high-paying job and do that.

And I think you should count your lovely husband as a success, after reading the Relationships board here!

Oh it’s absolutely not about money, sorry if my OP came across that way. I only mentioned it to point out that I’m interested in all kinds of success stories - whether for others that means money or creative achievement or something else. I don’t expect to make money in my line of work!

I just wanted to read some inspirational stories. I know what I have to do, and I find it really helps to hear that other people did it, whatever it happens to be.