Sometimes I feel bad telling the story of how I started a company at 22 and sold it for $5 million because I’m essentially propagating a false narrative. The “kid who started a tech company in his dorm room” is so rare it’s nearly a myth. MOST successful companies are started by MIDDLE AGED PEOPLE who AREN’T DUMB 20 YEAR OLDS and have DECADES OF PROFESSIONAL AND LIFE EXPERIENCE at their disposal. Sorry for the all caps, I’m just in one of those moods today.

Even though my own story aligns more with the “kid in a dorm room” it really is hiding some other truths:

• My first company was patently terrible for years. I blindly struggled through years making way less than I would have just taking any old job.
• Even though by nearly every metric the sale of my company at 34 was a massive success, it left me with about $2M after taxes. That’s ABOUT where I would have ended up had I simply taken a job offer out of college and followed PFC’s two rules.
• The company I co-founded last year (@hello_nectarine) is a MASSIVELY more mature, well run, with a better brand, product, team, etc.

If I had decided to take that Microsoft job offer out of college and collect a decade worth of experience, I imagine I’d be even better suited to be an entrepreneur than I am now.

So if YOU are someone who has thought about not working for the man your whole life. You’re not too late. Remember 45 is AVERAGE. That means for every 35 year old who starts a successful company, there’s a 55 year old. And for ever 25 year old, there’s a 65 year old.

Whatever your age, you’ve been collecting invaluable experience your whole life up until this point. So don’t let misconceptions about age or success stop you. It’s hard work, for sure. But starting small, learning, iterating, and improving will get you there. Most people regret what they DON’T do in life. If you try and fail, you’ll have a great story. If you never try, you’ll risk dying with a regret.

As always, reminding you to build wealth by following the two PFC rules: 1.) Live below your means and 2.) Invest early and often.

-Jeremy