One great way to make a comeback is to focus on the present developing your skills and exploring opportunities, instead of always thinking at the back of your mind that it’s already too late. There’s no right or wrong age to make a fresh start, for you or me or anybody.
I feel like I started way too early, but then got lost, then ended up way behind, only to find that I probably wasn’t behind the whole time? now I don’t think there is a speed at all, because there’s nowhere to go. everything is happening all the time, and we are here in it.
Accept it, and move on forward with something worth pursuing. Follow your gut and keep on pushing. In the end, it doesn’t matter that you’re “late” – late for what?
One saying that I kept in mind was “Life is a marathon, not a race; it matters how you finish, not when.” I learned to not compare myself to others.
Like someone else on here I definitely started “earlier” in life (straight A’s, AP classes, familial repsonsibilities) but then depression happened and I had no plans after high school.
I worked in fields I had interest in and developed/improved skills. I focused on what I could control instead of what I couldn’t. It was more of a change in thought process if anything. There’s honestly never a “late in life” for anything; just matters how you go about it!
I haven’t made a comeback in fact it’s gotten worse I just keeps getting worse everyday not better I’ve reached the point where no place hires me every disappointment where I can’t find a job I’ve reached a point where I don’t know if my life’s worth living anymore because of the fact I can’t find a way to make money I mean goddamn at this point I’m better off dead than my family than alive I don’t know why I don’t just kill myself everyday I just think about it as I take my bike around but consider just going full force into a car on the highway and seeing what happens I feel this is the better option personally just because I just don’t know what to do anymore
Three jobs and overtime. Got a degree. Did all of my own vehicle maintenance (learnt as I went with borrowed tools). Paid my debts smallest to largest. Only bought what was required to survive.
Well, physical appearance wise I was a bit of a late bloomer. I look better now in my 30’s than I did in my 20’s and teens. As for “starting late in life” .. it’s like we all start at the same time. And success can be defined in different ways. Financially, socially, career wise, family wise. You can have a family and a home and be considered successful in life. Or you can have a great career that pays well and a great social life and be considered successful. You can have all of them together, or a different combination of everything. I have had a great social life, but was in the wrong career for too long. So I now know that I will not have great financial success, and I don’t have my own family or own a home at this point. I just started a new career with great benefits but lower pay. I am comfortable with what I do every day and enjoy it most days. I look at my 20’s like I was semi retired. I travelled while still being employed and enjoyed many amazing experiences, but I never saved anything or planned for a future. I just lived life each day as it came. Now in my late 30’s I regret that sometimes, but I also cherish that I let my passions guide me to some incredible experiences. No comeback for me, just gotta grind it out and make the best out of the situation I put myself in.
When you realise, all you’re striving for is the bare minimum required for a functioning adult. You eat well, sleep, go to work, maybe exercise… great… that’s the starting line. If you can’t even do this, you’re not even at the race entrance. The reality is, you are capable of so much more.
Started later in life but brought some of my experiance to the game.
Did many things before I settled down on a career I wanted to pursue, used that to my advantage.
Worked with guys that had their masters, I had a bunch of trade certs in this and that, but when you can talk to your audience in a way they understand, knowing how to tailor a message and how to respond not just what to respond with helped as well
25 years old working minimum wage warehouse work back in 2005. Decided I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life.
Took evening classes to get my maths AS level, which is what I needed along with my engineering GNVQ to get into university.
Got accepted to Uni to study metallurgy the year before they jacked up the tuition fee, so I was able to pay my tuition and rent from savings, so didn’t need a loan.
Worked my absolute bollocks off, studying every evening, writing up notes, doing coursework. Didn’t drink much, didn’t take drugs or go clubbing, didn’t join any societies, I was single minded in getting a first class degree. Worked summer at the university as a research assistant, where I made contacts in industry and academia, which allowdd me to find a company to do my engineeting doctorate with.
Graduated, started my doctorate, and because I was working at same time as studying, it took 6 years to pass, but I eventually finished my thesis and passed my viva.
Started on as a research engineer with my placement company, and I’ve been climbing the ladder. I’m now 43, and doing alright, bought a house a few years ago, getting married soon. Feeling like I took a pretty circuitous path to get where I am, and resent wasting time, but that’s life
My sister was basically forced to become dependant on her husband, whom she’d been with from 16-34. He never let her do anything. Things we were unaware of. We just thought she was being lazy. I regret having all these thoughts.
Anyway, she left him and learnt how to drive at 35. She got her first job at this age. She rented her first house at 36. Her life started in her mid 30s. She’s not only gained her independence but she’s also gained a lot of confidence. If anyone told her she’d be where she is now 5 years ago, she would not believe you. Nobody would. She’s an absolute star now.
It isn’t really meaningful. School taught you to compare yourself with other people the same age as you, but you don’t have to do that. The purpose of life is the journey. Just do things that improve your life and make you happy.
Did a shitty job at a school at 26 as my first job. Found out i liked working with kids, went back to school and now at 29 i work in childcare. The pay is fckn horrendous though but i can manage it.
Hi everyone, the translation was correct. I’m so sorry, I was under the impression that this was posted by someone from the Philippines. I am kinda new to Reddit and English is only my second language(my bad I totally didn’t consider posting my previous comment in English)😂 I didn’t realize it cause it was sandwiched between two posts in tagalog 😭
Throughout my 20s I had felt this way deeply: feeling like a failure and behind in life among my peers. I realized that I had spent too much time moping and crying over the lost years that I’m wasting the “now”. Just know that you can’t change the past but you can change the present and the future.
I can’t really say I started late or early, but what I can say is that you first have to build a solid foundation for anything you are sure of that you wouldn’t continue doing in the long run. Read books, watch YouTube video’s about it and keep the end goal somewhere solid on your mind.
I think it was Oprah that I heard this from: people get to where they want to go because they know where they want to go, while most people hold on to what their parents said they want them to do or what they think will be cool to do. If you do and know where to go and keep everything you do aligned to that destination, the forces of life lift you up and propel you to that destination.
Just pick a goal and stick to it, learn and don’t change the industry you have in mind completely (maybe edit some things once every while according to what you learnt) and once you’re consistent, over time you will see the outcome you where hoping for.
Started at 35 with nothing but regret and a journal. Got clear on what I really wanted, took one small step daily, and gave myself permission to suck at first. Momentum did the rest.
Grinded through college to make up for a bad academic start. Moved to a better university, got scholarships, worked multiple jobs.
Grinded in grad school for 6 years.
Grinded in a tech job to make it to a relatively senior level.
I’m severely burned out atm, but I have dug myself out of a deep hole, and I’m nearing financial independence in my mid-40s. But I have to say, I’m tired boss.
Learn different leadership styles. It will open your eyes in a way that you can see if a boss will benefit you or not. Will probably answer a lot of questions woth past bosses and how much they actually sucked.
When you realize you found a servant leader in this case, this is not a boss, but a coach who will boost you and guide your career, a servant leader’s goal is boosting their teams to surpass or replace them. Show interest to one, and they will happily open the doors to get you ready for the next level. They dont put a lid on your pathway.
Comments
Just go with the flow
One great way to make a comeback is to focus on the present developing your skills and exploring opportunities, instead of always thinking at the back of your mind that it’s already too late. There’s no right or wrong age to make a fresh start, for you or me or anybody.
I feel like I started way too early, but then got lost, then ended up way behind, only to find that I probably wasn’t behind the whole time? now I don’t think there is a speed at all, because there’s nowhere to go. everything is happening all the time, and we are here in it.
I haven’t made my comeback yet. Still figuring things out but I’m not giving up.
But yeah it is what it is and we should move on ahead.
Accept it, and move on forward with something worth pursuing. Follow your gut and keep on pushing. In the end, it doesn’t matter that you’re “late” – late for what?
Got an entry level job at a company with growth and made top performer in every way I could
One saying that I kept in mind was “Life is a marathon, not a race; it matters how you finish, not when.” I learned to not compare myself to others.
Like someone else on here I definitely started “earlier” in life (straight A’s, AP classes, familial repsonsibilities) but then depression happened and I had no plans after high school.
I worked in fields I had interest in and developed/improved skills. I focused on what I could control instead of what I couldn’t. It was more of a change in thought process if anything. There’s honestly never a “late in life” for anything; just matters how you go about it!
Gave up drinking and discovered someone who believed in me
It’s never too late to start ‘too late’
What you think is a “late start” is no different than when starting “early”. Age is, to a degree, a mindset.
I haven’t made a comeback in fact it’s gotten worse I just keeps getting worse everyday not better I’ve reached the point where no place hires me every disappointment where I can’t find a job I’ve reached a point where I don’t know if my life’s worth living anymore because of the fact I can’t find a way to make money I mean goddamn at this point I’m better off dead than my family than alive I don’t know why I don’t just kill myself everyday I just think about it as I take my bike around but consider just going full force into a car on the highway and seeing what happens I feel this is the better option personally just because I just don’t know what to do anymore
Three jobs and overtime. Got a degree. Did all of my own vehicle maintenance (learnt as I went with borrowed tools). Paid my debts smallest to largest. Only bought what was required to survive.
I was really lost after finishing highschool. Started uni at 26, i have a job,i have goals, i have a stableish life alltogether.
I quit weed and also addressed the toxic/unhealthy relationships in my life.
It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you discover your worth and start believing in yourself again.
Well, physical appearance wise I was a bit of a late bloomer. I look better now in my 30’s than I did in my 20’s and teens. As for “starting late in life” .. it’s like we all start at the same time. And success can be defined in different ways. Financially, socially, career wise, family wise. You can have a family and a home and be considered successful in life. Or you can have a great career that pays well and a great social life and be considered successful. You can have all of them together, or a different combination of everything. I have had a great social life, but was in the wrong career for too long. So I now know that I will not have great financial success, and I don’t have my own family or own a home at this point. I just started a new career with great benefits but lower pay. I am comfortable with what I do every day and enjoy it most days. I look at my 20’s like I was semi retired. I travelled while still being employed and enjoyed many amazing experiences, but I never saved anything or planned for a future. I just lived life each day as it came. Now in my late 30’s I regret that sometimes, but I also cherish that I let my passions guide me to some incredible experiences. No comeback for me, just gotta grind it out and make the best out of the situation I put myself in.
When you realise, all you’re striving for is the bare minimum required for a functioning adult. You eat well, sleep, go to work, maybe exercise… great… that’s the starting line. If you can’t even do this, you’re not even at the race entrance. The reality is, you are capable of so much more.
Started later in life but brought some of my experiance to the game.
Did many things before I settled down on a career I wanted to pursue, used that to my advantage.
Worked with guys that had their masters, I had a bunch of trade certs in this and that, but when you can talk to your audience in a way they understand, knowing how to tailor a message and how to respond not just what to respond with helped as well
Went to college, for my degree at 30, moved abroad, now I have an m.ed and earn 3000 a month with benefits
Realized there is no start or finish, just your life. No need to compare to anyone else
25 years old working minimum wage warehouse work back in 2005. Decided I didn’t want to do that for the rest of my life.
Took evening classes to get my maths AS level, which is what I needed along with my engineering GNVQ to get into university.
Got accepted to Uni to study metallurgy the year before they jacked up the tuition fee, so I was able to pay my tuition and rent from savings, so didn’t need a loan.
Worked my absolute bollocks off, studying every evening, writing up notes, doing coursework. Didn’t drink much, didn’t take drugs or go clubbing, didn’t join any societies, I was single minded in getting a first class degree. Worked summer at the university as a research assistant, where I made contacts in industry and academia, which allowdd me to find a company to do my engineeting doctorate with.
Graduated, started my doctorate, and because I was working at same time as studying, it took 6 years to pass, but I eventually finished my thesis and passed my viva.
Started on as a research engineer with my placement company, and I’ve been climbing the ladder. I’m now 43, and doing alright, bought a house a few years ago, getting married soon. Feeling like I took a pretty circuitous path to get where I am, and resent wasting time, but that’s life
Inheritance
My sister was basically forced to become dependant on her husband, whom she’d been with from 16-34. He never let her do anything. Things we were unaware of. We just thought she was being lazy. I regret having all these thoughts.
Anyway, she left him and learnt how to drive at 35. She got her first job at this age. She rented her first house at 36. Her life started in her mid 30s. She’s not only gained her independence but she’s also gained a lot of confidence. If anyone told her she’d be where she is now 5 years ago, she would not believe you. Nobody would. She’s an absolute star now.
It isn’t really meaningful. School taught you to compare yourself with other people the same age as you, but you don’t have to do that. The purpose of life is the journey. Just do things that improve your life and make you happy.
Did a shitty job at a school at 26 as my first job. Found out i liked working with kids, went back to school and now at 29 i work in childcare. The pay is fckn horrendous though but i can manage it.
Going with the flow and hardwork
Going to the Gym.
At first it feels like a lot, but you can manage sticking to it with routine.
Routine is one of the best things to have in life and the human is able to do wonders if we can fit it into a routine.
Hi everyone, the translation was correct. I’m so sorry, I was under the impression that this was posted by someone from the Philippines. I am kinda new to Reddit and English is only my second language(my bad I totally didn’t consider posting my previous comment in English)😂 I didn’t realize it cause it was sandwiched between two posts in tagalog 😭
Workinf hard
Throughout my 20s I had felt this way deeply: feeling like a failure and behind in life among my peers. I realized that I had spent too much time moping and crying over the lost years that I’m wasting the “now”. Just know that you can’t change the past but you can change the present and the future.
I can’t really say I started late or early, but what I can say is that you first have to build a solid foundation for anything you are sure of that you wouldn’t continue doing in the long run. Read books, watch YouTube video’s about it and keep the end goal somewhere solid on your mind.
I think it was Oprah that I heard this from: people get to where they want to go because they know where they want to go, while most people hold on to what their parents said they want them to do or what they think will be cool to do. If you do and know where to go and keep everything you do aligned to that destination, the forces of life lift you up and propel you to that destination.
Just pick a goal and stick to it, learn and don’t change the industry you have in mind completely (maybe edit some things once every while according to what you learnt) and once you’re consistent, over time you will see the outcome you where hoping for.
Started at 35 with nothing but regret and a journal. Got clear on what I really wanted, took one small step daily, and gave myself permission to suck at first. Momentum did the rest.
Quit drinking, quit smoking, quit harmful relationships/people, committed to my career, found God, moved countries
So much grinding…
Grinded through college to make up for a bad academic start. Moved to a better university, got scholarships, worked multiple jobs.
Grinded in grad school for 6 years.
Grinded in a tech job to make it to a relatively senior level.
I’m severely burned out atm, but I have dug myself out of a deep hole, and I’m nearing financial independence in my mid-40s. But I have to say, I’m tired boss.
Learn different leadership styles. It will open your eyes in a way that you can see if a boss will benefit you or not. Will probably answer a lot of questions woth past bosses and how much they actually sucked.
When you realize you found a servant leader in this case, this is not a boss, but a coach who will boost you and guide your career, a servant leader’s goal is boosting their teams to surpass or replace them. Show interest to one, and they will happily open the doors to get you ready for the next level. They dont put a lid on your pathway.