It’s never too late to do what you want to do. If you find yourself dreaming of bigger things, you’re in good company. Some of the most successful people in the world were on completely different paths than the one they’re on now. From being stuck in an unhappy life as a sales associate or stockbroker to owning an international corporation, normal people just like you made the decision to change their lives. While we view these successful people today as “professional celebrities,” everyone has the opportunity to make a drastic change in order to be where they want to be. It won’t be easy and you’ll have to start at the bottom, but like these inspirational business executives knew, “Every pro was once an amateur, every expert was once a beginner.” The success stories below highlight some of the most well known entrepreneurs and business leaders and where they were in their 20s, before they made the decision to chase their dreams.
Martha Stewart – Worked as a stockbroker for 5 years while modeling before becoming the popular television host, writer and household name .
Mark Cuban – Was a bartender in Dallas, struggling for years before moving on to own the National Basketball Association’s Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theatres, and Magnolia pictures.
Lloyd Blankfein- Was a successful lawyer on his way to becoming a partner at his firm before he decided to make a big switch to investment banking, later becoming CEO and Chairman of Goldman Sachs, a multinational investment banking firm.
Ralph Lauren – This leader in fashion started as a sales associate at Brooks Brothers. His entrance to success began with the creation of a tie which soon led to his launch of the Polo brand.
JK Rowling- This popular author was fired from her day job as a secretary for daydreaming about Harry Potter, several years later Harry Potter was published.
Marissa Mayer- The current CEO of Yahoo began her journey as the 20th employee of GOOGLE.
Warren Buffet- Started his legacy as an investment salesman in his early 20s and by the age of 26 had started his own investment partnership.
Richard Branson- Opened his own record shop at the age of 20, followed by his own recording studio at the age of 22, and he continues to propel forward, now owning over 400 different Virgin operations around the world.
Howard Schultz – Began his professional career as a salesman at Xerox. At the age of 26 he entered into the coffee industry and is now the CEO of Starbucks.
So next time you catch yourself dreaming about making a big career change, remember these inspiring, successful business leaders were once in the exact same position as you. It will take hard work and dedication, but if you truly want it, it will all be worth it.
