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Have you ever wondered what the vast majority of success stories floating around on the net have in common? I’ll give you a moment. Ready? That’s right! They almost always involve somebody young overcoming the odds and achieving great things. In other words, success stories are usually about the talented, not the hard-working.

But let’s broaden our perspective and took a look at success stories that happen after the age of 30. What would these stories be like? Well, we don’t have to wonder because TV writer and producer Melissa Hunter created a viral Twitter thread asking people to share their middle-age success stories.

So scroll down, upvote the stories you enjoyed reading, and share this wholesome and inspiring post with your pals who are middle-aged or approaching their big three-oh celebration.

More info: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | ItsMelissaHunter.com

#3

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LuckyL
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wow, these are really amazing for five years of practice - and anyway amazing

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Melissa said that the stories posted in her thread were “amazing” and she invited the international media community to have a look through them.

Bored Panda reached out to Mike Rothschild, one of the people who posted in Melissa's thread, to hear about his success story. Here's what he had to say: "My success story, if you can call it that, is that after many years of pursuing screenwriting, I decided to see what else I could do related to writing. I started blogging for the website of a critical thinking podcast I like, that led to me getting some real traffic, which led to some full time writing gigs."

"When I got laid off from my last gig in 2017, I went out on my own, freelancing and building my own brand as a conspiracy theory expert. In late 2018, my publisher reached out to me to write the book I've got coming out soon, and there you go. It took the better part of the decade!"

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Mike said that what helped him maintain his passion for his dreams was "seeing the responses I got to pieces I wrote, and readers telling me that something I wrote helped them, or helped a family member."

"I also saw that stuff I wrote got a lot of traffic, which helped me realize I could actually turn what started as a hobby into a career," he added.

Bored Panda wanted to know what advice Mike would give those of us who are scared of turning 30. "When I turned 30, I hadn't even started on this journey. I'd say just find ways to do what you love, and get it out into the world. Keep pushing, keep making connections, and remember that success isn't like the prom, not everyone goes at the same time. As long as you're putting things out there and making them the best they can be, you're succeeding—even if it never turns into a full time career."

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Daria B
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Late bloomer? Nah, you just changed the order of the events a little bit. Nothing wrong with this! ♡

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yerawitchSam13
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had 3 colleges tell me that I'm not creative. I ran out of student loan money because of trying to pursue my interior design career, so I had to slam the brakes on school. I hope I'm eventually successful in design. I want to prove every teacher that I had wrong.

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We at Bored Panda enjoy sharing success stories no matter who the person is, so it’s refreshing to see people staying true to their dreams and fulfilling their potential no matter their age. It’s not all downhill after you turn XYZ years old. I mean, just have a look at all these grandpas who are (most likely) more awesome than you.

Just in case you’re still worried that it’s “too late” for you to achieve anything meaningful in life, we’ve got just the way to change your mind. Let’s have a look at the age at which important people made something of themselves.

Sure, we’ll always have a Bill Gates here and a Richard Branson there who became millionaires at the tender age of 23. But we also have people like J.K.Rowling who published the very first Harry Potter book when she was 32. Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos founded Amazon when he was 30.

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The Harvard Business Review found that the average age of US entrepreneurs at the time they created their companies was 42. However, that includes small businesses. When looking at larger-scale companies, the average in software startups is 40 years old; the average age in industries like oil, gas, and biotech is 47. While the average age of entrepreneurs who founded the most successful companies is 45.

So if you’re planning to start a business, write a book, or chase your dreams, it’s never too late to start. But you have to start.

#13

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Edgar Rops
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an "independent researcher" i.e. someone who does any research only if not too tired after a day job, I want to say this is absolutely inspiring!

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Sandra Libertad
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would like to know more about those films, as I am passionate for folklore and fairytales. Where can I find them?

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CbusResident
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I couldn't agree more. Some publishing industry number crunching showed that the average age of an author when she or he published a NYT #1 Bestseller was 51. The data showed that there were many authors of #1s as old as their 80s and 90s, some as young as their teens and everything in between. Some evidence indicates that Homer was in his 90s when he penned The Odyssey, I'd say that's a work that's stood the test of time fairly f***ing well.

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WilvanderHeijden
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kind of sad that he needs to mention "white privilege" to take the wind out of the sails of all those haters who wanted to use that as an excuse for their own failed life.

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MadDawg
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would love to hear her mother's story!! Also glad she is only the wife of one. :)

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Carol Emory
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good luck! I went again at age 47. I'm in my last semester with a 4.0. You can do this!!! Show them youngin's how it's done!

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JozeeMom
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow Melissa Davey! I'm excited to see "Beyond Sixty Project". 🥳🥳🥳

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Tiffany Fuller
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can’t sew or draw, but I’m starting a fashion design class tomorrow. With a bachelors in communications and a masters in screenwriting, this is definitely a different road. Scared, but excited.

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JozeeMom
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fantastic Helen Goldwyn! We hope to see your "big break" soon. 😃

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Kathy Baylis
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Keep on pushing. They will change their tune and come begging you to design the over-40 courses!

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