“The early bird gets the worm,” right? That’s what we’ve heard our entire lives when it comes to success. But did you know there’s a second part to that saying?

It’s “… the second mouse gets the cheese.” Now, in other contexts, this might mean something else, but when it comes to finding success after 40, the big truth bomb that needs to be dropped is this:

You CAN be successful after 40. In fact, you might be in a better position to achieve success later in life instead of earlier. Really! According to a 2019 study by J. Daniel Kim, a Wharton management professor, the average age of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country is 45. 

Okay, so let’s take a look at these amazing women who didn’t find success until after they hit the big 4-0:

Viola Davis

Well-known for her award-winning performances in television shows like How to Get Away with Murder and films such as Fences, this acclaimed actress and producer didn’t get noticed for her work until she was 43. 

That’s the time when she was nominated for an Academy Award for her co-starring role with Meryl Streep in Doubt.

Toni Morrison

This Nobel- and Pulitzer-prize winning literary great will go down in history as one of the most celebrated and iconic writers of modern times … but before she became an author, she spent decades editing other people’s books. 

Even her first novel, The Bluest Eye, didn’t sell well despite receiving favorable reviews. It wasn’t until she published her third book at 46, that America finally began to appreciate her talent.

Vera Wang

Her name is now synonymous with high-fashion bridal couture, but she didn’t start her own bridal boutique until she was 40. 

This was after she put in 17 years as a fashion editor for Vogue, two years as a designer for Ralph Lauren and more than two decades after competing in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. 

Julia Child

Did you know this famed chef didn’t know how to whip up a thing in the kitchen until she was 36? You see, before she became a famous television personality and chef at the age of 40, she tried her hand at writing a novel, worked as a government researcher and was an advertising copywriter before finally finding her groove with cooking.

You

We couldn’t end this list of high-powered women without adding your name. You’ve probably had many micro-successes and pivots along the way. But if you’re not where you want to be, it’s never too late to go after your dreams. 

In fact, finding success in your 40s can be more financially and emotionally rewarding than if you were younger. You have the emotional IQ, financial governance and maturity to know exactly what you want – and don’t, which makes success after 40 that much sweeter.

After all, 40 is just the start of the half-time show. Only the wisest among us know that things get better in the second half. 

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The flower isn’t any less beautiful because it bloomed later than the others – all that matters is that it bloomed. Hear more stories of women who’ve found their definition of success after 40 and more when you subscribe to the Gurl U R Not Alone podcast!