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Starting a Business at 60: My Father's Story

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1–10 of 57 posts

Re: Starting a Business at 60: My Father's Story

#2
If nothing else, after stability is reached on a retirement income, you may find that is the time you have the opportunity for action on projects and ventures under the most favorable terms of your life.

So many things that really do make money but were not worthwhile on shitty terms can come into reach, plus anyone involved can have no doubt that you're intending to make something happen sooner rather than later. Whether it's building a desirable acquisition target, or laying the valuable foundation for a growing institution.

Re: Starting a Business at 60: My Father's Story

#3

If nothing else, after stability is reached on a retirement income, you may find that is the time you have the opportunity for action on projects and ventures under the most favorable terms of your life. So many things that really do make money but were not worthwhile on shitty terms can come into reach, plus anyone involved can have no doubt that you're intending to make something happen sooner rather than later. Wh…

That's very true: the opportunity cost of most business projects is effectively zero once you are retired, so you can pursue something only marginally profitable that you enjoy and it counts as a win. In fact you have a competitive advantage against a 40-year-old with a young family to support.

Re: Starting a Business at 60: My Father's Story

#4
I reached 60 this year... So please give me a break with this idea that you are old at 60 in 2024. My mind is as sharp as it was 20 years ago... I have decided to train myself on LLMs after years of research in computational linguistics, the old way with grammar rules. And this experience in linguistics has proven so far quite rich as it gives me a different take on these incredible tools. This idea that you should do things according to some random number is basically how you end up in depression. Now I had a pretty confortable life, and I wouldn't dare speaking of people with construction jobs, where the body has been worn out by years of hard work. But for people with an office job, 60 is not that much of an issue.

Re: Starting a Business at 60: My Father's Story

#5

If nothing else, after stability is reached on a retirement income, you may find that is the time you have the opportunity for action on projects and ventures under the most favorable terms of your life. So many things that really do make money but were not worthwhile on shitty terms can come into reach, plus anyone involved can have no doubt that you're intending to make something happen sooner rather than later. Wh…

That's very true: the opportunity cost of most business projects is effectively zero once you are retired, so you can pursue something only marginally profitable that you enjoy and it counts as a win. In fact you have a competitive advantage against a 40-year-old with a young family to support.

The corresponding quote to:

  Youth is wasted on the young.
is:

  Wealth is wasted in the hands of the old.

Re: Starting a Business at 60: My Father's Story

#7

I reached 60 this year... So please give me a break with this idea that you are old at 60 in 2024. My mind is as sharp as it was 20 years ago... I have decided to train myself on LLMs after years of research in computational linguistics, the old way with grammar rules. And this experience in linguistics has proven so far quite rich as it gives me a different take on these incredible tools. This idea that you should d…

Agreed. As someone in my mid-50's I find the attitude to many people towards age really bizarre. I've just got back from trail running in the mountains. I'm fitter and healthier now than I was in my mid-30s, and haven't noticed any kind of cognitive decline at all, in fact I think I'm much more mentally able now because I read a lot and so have picked up a lot of knowledge. The only noticeable change is now I have to wear glasses when reading. The secret, I think, is to keep developing and improving yourself, both mentally and physically.

Re: Starting a Business at 60: My Father's Story

#8

I reached 60 this year... So please give me a break with this idea that you are old at 60 in 2024. My mind is as sharp as it was 20 years ago... I have decided to train myself on LLMs after years of research in computational linguistics, the old way with grammar rules. And this experience in linguistics has proven so far quite rich as it gives me a different take on these incredible tools. This idea that you should d…

Agreed. As someone in my mid-50's I find the attitude to many people towards age really bizarre. I've just got back from trail running in the mountains. I'm fitter and healthier now than I was in my mid-30s, and haven't noticed any kind of cognitive decline at all, in fact I think I'm much more mentally able now because I read a lot and so have picked up a lot of knowledge. The only noticeable change is now I have to…

[dead]

Re: Starting a Business at 60: My Father's Story

#9

I reached 60 this year... So please give me a break with this idea that you are old at 60 in 2024. My mind is as sharp as it was 20 years ago... I have decided to train myself on LLMs after years of research in computational linguistics, the old way with grammar rules. And this experience in linguistics has proven so far quite rich as it gives me a different take on these incredible tools. This idea that you should d…

[deleted]

Re: Starting a Business at 60: My Father's Story

#10
My old man is in his 80s. I run a small brick & mortar business. I figured I'd bring him in and keep him busy -- do him a favor and perhaps help slow down his cognitive decline. But it turns out I was the one who needed him around. He's meticulous with the bookkeeping and really good at crunching numbers with pen & paper. It dawned on me... they don't make people like this anymore...
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