What You Should Know About Starting a Business...as a Grown-Up

Starting a business in your Grown Era? Spoiler alert: it's going to hit different!

🤷🏽‍♀️ Why Now? Actually, WHY NOT?!

Many of us are entering our empty-nest phase of life. After years (or decades) of prioritizing kids, spouses, caretaking, and working to ensure everything is taken care of, and now...well, we get to be a bit more selfish and reclaim our personal identity, reignite our passions, and step into a new role that's not defined by parenthood. It's defined by US and whatever we want that to mean. Exploring our options to create something new, fun, exciting, or relaxing. Making more (or extra) 💰 is a definite bonus, but this is also about freedom to be ourselves and explore another side of fulfillment simply because we can.

Jumping feet first into the random idea you got last night when you're fresh out of school and probably have no kids, no mortgage, and no real concern over what's for dinner for you or anyone else, is easy. Trying to get yourself, your thoughts, and your confidence together to start something new as a full-blown grown-up...that's bold, brave, and let’s be REAL, completely terrifying!!

Most of the advice out there is made for people with disposable time and income, flexible sleep schedules, and a cushion to land on. Usually, the younger folks whose cushion happens to be in their parents' living room or garage. Heck, YOU may be the parent!!

Maybe you're like me and working a 9 to 5 then putting in double-time any chance you get to build our side-hustle empire. Or maybe you're still trying to wrap your head around where or how to start.

Here’s what we aren't told about starting a business AFTER the kids begin their 'adulting' phase:

⏰ You’re Not Too Late- the Clock Is Just Louder

Yes, you’ve still got time. But no, it doesn’t feel like it. You thought that 'biological clock' was ticking loudly?

HA! This one is going to be ringing in your ear, and every hour is going to count differently when you're juggling a full-time job, aging parents, relationships, and kids (no matter their age). Starting now comes with urgency. You'll want to build something real, quick, and real quick, but it needs to be sustainable. So don't fret, remember you’re playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. Strategy isn’t optional. It’s essential. Don't rush yourself into a frenzy that causes you to give up before you take off.

🧠 You Carry Wisdom in that Voice

You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from experience. You’ve got emotional intelligence, real-world perspective, and lessons you've likely had to learn the hard way.

Entrepreneurship sounds sexy until you realize how much of it is just learning to manage your doubt day after day and speaking up and out for yourself. You are your own marketing team, and that's easy for some, but not all. Regardless of how confident you feel speaking in front of a crowd, of any size, you know your shhhh..... so own it. Worst-case scenario, you're wrong and get to learn something new.

🤝 Support Looks Different

When you’re 25, people cheer you on with emojis and energy drinks. At 40? You’re more likely to hear, “But what about your benefits?”

As you grow, the circle of people who get it shrinks, and that’s okay. It’s not a flaw in your community. It’s just a reminder that you’re making a move that many won’t dare to.

You might have to build a bridge to another island of friends. By now, you're likely well versed in creating different groups for different vibes, this is no different. You just have to find your other tribe for this journey. Trust me, they’re out here.

😩 You Will Want to Quit BOTH Jobs

There will be moments when it’s not just hard-it feels impossible. Hopefully, you'll also have the moment you believe "This is it- I can quit my day job!" Try to stay focused and make sure you're at a point where your business is making enough to keep your household going. You may have to give up weekly happy hours for a few, and that FOMO may start tapping your shoulder every weekend, you'll wonder why you thought you could do this. You'll question every decision you're making, and believe you should quit one or the other too soon is the only option...

Keep going.

You’re not building a hobby. You’re creating options. Ownership. A legacy.

👏🏽 Clap for yourself first- others will join in soon enough.

🪞 You Are the Proof

You don’t need to wait for validation from others. You are the validation.

Every time you show up for your business, you're showing up for yourself, especially on those days you really don't feel like it. You've got to be your own accountability partner, because someone watching will feel inspired, realizing they can do it too. You’re not just starting a business, you’re showing what it looks like to bet on yourself when the stakes are real.

That’s power. That’s leadership. That’s GROWN energy.

👑 Golden Nugget

Starting a business at this stage of life is less about chasing a dream and more about building a life that works on your terms. You’re not behind. You’re just beginning, with more perspective, more purpose, and yes, more power than ever before.

Welcome to the grown entrepreneur era. We’re ready and waiting for what you have in store.

What's stopping you from starting already?

• Balancing responsibilities (kids, partner, work, parents)
• Feeling isolated or lacking support/community
• Starting with limited funds or resources
• Not knowing where to begin