Zeno had a whole other life as a merchant before he came to philosophy.
Epictetus spent a long time as a slave before he attended Musonius’ lectures.
Stan Lee created his first hit comic, "The Fantastic Four," just shy of his 39th birthday.
Toni Morrison wrote her first novel, "The Bluest Eye," at age 40.
Rodney Dangerfield didn't catch a break until
he made a hit appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" at age 46.
Sure, some people find success early.
Some are steeped in it from an early age,
equipped with the best that their parent’s money can buy.
But plenty of us didn’t.
Plenty of people are just like you or me.
A chance book recommendation, a chance encounter,
a rock bottom moment in a bookstore,
a mentor, a friend, at some institution of higher learning.
When they came to success was not that important.
What matters is that when they found it, they got serious about it.
I am ready for that next step.