“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” — George Eliot.

We often regret the things we didn’t try (more than the things we tried and failed at). Today’s edition of The Quiet Rich gives 3 actionable tips to pursue the thing that’s been waiting for you. Scroll down for the method.

CONTEXT

Andrea Bocelli was a lawyer at age 30.

Harrison Ford was a carpenter at age 30.

Martha Stewart was a stockbroker at age 30.

Vera Wang designed her first dress at age 40.

Julia Child released her first cookbook at age 40.

Samuel L. Jackson landed his first movie role at age 46.

Morgan Freeman landed his first major movie role at age 52!

The biggest myth we all believe is that life is supposed to be linear. It’s not. It’s scary to consider climbing down one ladder in order to start climbing another— but what if your current ladder is leaning against the wrong wall?

“Better to admit you walked through the wrong door than spend your life in the wrong room.” —Unknown.

Here are 3 practical tips to get started:

THE METHOD

1. Try these 4 questions to find your Ikigai. Ikigai is the Japanese concept of your “life calling.” I wrote a viral post on LinkedIn with 4 specific steps that helped me narrow down my next pursuit. (After working in the tech industry for 10+ years, I never considered myself an entrepreneur or social media creator— and yet here we are 1 year later, thanks to this exercise.)

2. Start a "Skill Sprint:" Once you have some clarity on the direction you’ll take, dedicate 30 days to intensively learning a new skill for it or exploring that potential passion. Sign up for an online course, read books on the subject, find a mentor. You’ll rapidly gain knowledge and insight into whether this new path resonates with you.

3. Make a small commitment: After you’ve learned that new skill, give yourself a certain amount of “tries” to get it going. For example, Tim Ferriss committed to publish 6 podcast episodes when he first considered starting one. (Here’s his full podcast story.) He lowered the stakes by not investing a ton of time or money to bring it to life. And even if it didn’t work out, the 6 episodes would improve his ability to ask questions and eliminate verbal tics. He’d get a return on the investment no matter what.

WHY IT WORKS

A friend said this to me recently, and I can’t get it out of my head: "Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until they're 75."

Too many of us are waiting for the “perfect time” to start something new. We’re waiting to feel ready. The harsh truth? There is no perfect time. You’ll never feel ready. And there’s someone out there living the life you want right now simply because they got started.

I’ll leave you with one final thought:

“Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.” — Robin Sharma

It's never too late to reinvent yourself.

Until next week,

Jade

P.S. Curious how long ago I started writing on social media? Less than 1.5 years! I wrote my first post in January 2023 and have grown from 1k - 400k social media followers in 16 months (across LinkedIn, IG, and my newsletter)

I owe that success to —you guessed it— taking a chance and reinventing myself.

If you’re ready to become a thought leader in 2024, book a coaching session with me. I’ll teach you my exact system to go viral on LinkedIn and Instagram. You can read tons of client reviews at meet.jadebonacolta.com.

P.P.S. If you’re new here, hello! Sending a warm welcome to everyone who joined The Quiet Rich community since last week! Learn more about The Quiet Rich here. 🎉