Are the 20’s the best times for success?

Good morning 😃🌞☀️ let’s get into it.

Society has made us believe if we don’t have certain things by a certain age in our 20’s we’ve failed.

Being a millionaire by 25, married, building a home and having kids. But that’s not our reality isn’t it?

Instead many of us are entering our 30’s achieving a fraction of that or failed at absolutely every single thing on that list.

Society’s pressure and expectations have lied to us. Many of us struggle with financial stability in our 20’s and will likely reach it in our 30’s or 40’s.

Whether career, business or relationships, we shouldn’t believe that it happens at best in our 20’s and after that you’ve hit the wall.

There’s real life examples of this:

1.Vera Wang – Became a Designer at 40

• Before Success: Vera was a competitive figure skater and later a fashion editor at Vogue.

• Turning Point: At age 40, after failing to find a suitable wedding dress for herself, she decided to design her own.

• Success: Today, Vera Wang is one of the most iconic names in bridal fashion globally.

2.Colonel Harland Sanders – Founded KFC at 65

• Before Success: Worked various jobs – farmer, gas station operator, and cook.

• Turning Point: After retiring, he franchised his fried chicken recipe at 65.

• Success: KFC became a global fast-food empire with over 24,000 locations.

3.Stan Lee – Created the Marvel Universe at 39

• Before Success: Worked as a comic-book writer for decades.

• Turning Point: At age 39, he created Spider-Man, followed by Iron Man, X-Men, and many more.

• Success: His creations became the foundation for the Marvel Cinematic Universe worth billions.

4.Ray Kroc – Bought McDonald’s at 52

• Before Success: He sold milkshake machines.

• Turning Point: At 52, he discovered the McDonald brothers’ restaurant and saw potential to franchise it.

• Success: He turned it into the world’s biggest fast-food chain.

5.Julia Child – Became a Celebrity Chef at 50

• Before Success: Worked in the U.S. government during WWII and didn’t cook until her late 30s.

• Turning Point: Published Mastering the Art of French Cooking at 50.

• Success: Became a household name and revolutionized American cooking.

6.Samuel L. Jackson – Breakout Role at 46

• Before Success: Acted in small roles and battled drug addiction.

• Turning Point: Landed a major role in Pulp Fiction at age 46.

• Success: Became one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.

7.Toni Morrison – Published First Novel at 39

• Before Success: Worked as an editor at Random House.

• Turning Point: Published The Bluest Eye at 39.

• Success: Won a Nobel Prize in Literature and became a literary icon.

8.Laura Ingalls Wilder – Published Her First Book at 65

• Before Success: Was a teacher and farmer’s wife, writing columns for rural newspapers.

• Turning Point: Published Little House in the Big Woods at age 65.

• Success: Her Little House series became children’s literature classics.

This is also reflected in relationships or marriage life, we see that:

1.Vera Wang – Career First, Family Later

• Married at 40 — the same year she launched her fashion brand.

• Built her family and career simultaneously in her 40s.

• Adopted two daughters while running her growing empire.

2.Maya Angelou – Rebuilt Life Multiple Times

• Had her first child at 17, but reinvented her career many times: dancer, singer, writer, activist.

• Married again later in life and found deeper peace in her 40s and 50s.

• Created a rich, multi-generational household full of wisdom and love.

3.Oprah Winfrey – Non-Traditional But Deeply Rooted

• Never married or had children traditionally, but built a life family through close friendships, her partner Stedman Graham (since her 30s), and her mentorship of thousands.

• Shows that “family” doesn’t always mean the nuclear version.

4.Tina Turner – Found True Love at 46

• Escaped an abusive marriage and restarted her life in her 40s.

• Met the love of her life, Erwin Bach, at 46.

• Married him 27 years later, proving love can be patient and deep.

5.Colonel Sanders – Remarried, Built Home Later

• Married twice, with his second marriage and business success both taking shape after 60.

• Bought a beautiful home with his wife once KFC took off — success gave him the stability to rebuild.

6.Laura Ingalls Wilder – Life Partner First, Legacy Later

• Married in her early 20s but only found her voice and purpose in her 60s.

• Built a simple but strong family life with Almanzo Wilder through hardship, illness, and poverty before her books changed her life.

Modern Reality Check:

Today, many people:

• Get married in their 30s or 40s.

• Have or adopt children later (especially with modern fertility options).

• Buy or build homes in their 30s or even 50s.

• Redefine family as blended, chosen, or non-traditional.

So you see:

You can start a business at 35.

Find love at 40.

Buy land or build a house at 45.

Have children at 50.

Or create a family through mentorship, community, or adoption.

Life doesn’t expire—it evolves.