Are You An Entrepreneur Hiding Under A Corporate Veneer?

By Erica and Karen

Did you work in an institution for decades before you retired? Did you answer to a boss, or several? To clients? To judges? Were you grateful for all of that, since it expanded your reach and gave you an economic and professional safety net? And were you a bit at sea when it all ended?

We were all of these things. We loved our jobs, and they provided the foundation for what we decided to do after those jobs ended. We never expected that would be entrepreneurship. With our backgrounds? Crazy!

But—here we are. And we are far from alone. The number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. is over 13 million. The largest growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States are Black women. A lot of these women are over 50. Lustre’s Visible and Vital friends at Revel tell us that their entrepreneurship forum is extremely active. Now, this may be happening because women have limited access to jobs. But whatever the reason, these women are meeting the challenge.

Older women, at least those who have been as fortunate as we, have the time and security to start something new. We love the stories, like the one about a school teacher who founded her fitness business at 73. Or the health worker whose next gig was selling up-cycled jean jackets and masks. Read other stories here and here. And Lustre’s story here.

We are excited that older entrepreneurs—sometimes by starting businesses that cater to their peers—are so successful. And we are really excited that a recent study supports one of our key tenets: that even more success awaits those with intergenerational teams. Remember—the younger can run faster but the older know the shortcuts.

For us, Lustre began as an idea born of our post-retirement frustration at becoming invisible, our experience devalued, and our images hidden behind absurd stereotypes. We grew passionate about changing the conversation and taking down barriers that were erected simply because of our years and retired status.

Having worked for others for decades, working for ourselves was a whole new idea. Having worked in large institutions, being start-uppy and small was enticing. Being able to create our own schedules, and decide what obligations to undertake, was invigorating. We don’t (yet) have all the accoutrements (including a paycheck) of our prior careers. And we have realized working for yourself means you have to do absoutely everything. But we love having all the possibilities offered by something new. 

One of the strengths that comes with years of working is that we have had practice at failing. Best not to do it constantly, of course, especially if you are working for others. But even then you must take risks. We failed enough over our decades of life to know that it’s nasty, but won’t take you down forever. You learn from failure, and you carry on. Entrepreneurship, especially the online kind, surely involves the risk of failure--in front of just about everyone you know. Even your family. So it is good to know it’s not terminal.

And really good that we are having fun. Meeting thoughtful and creative people of all ages, with great ideas for moving us forward in ways we had not contemplated. Keeps us lively!