From Dreamers to Doers (On Never Being Too Old to Live Your Dreams)
By: Allison Burgess 
Most potential entrepreneurs dream of breakthrough businesses all their lives and never get started. On the other hand, those who have listened to their intuition often wish they took the plunge earlier.
When surveyed, entrepreneurs say 29 is the ideal age to start a business. The average age that entrepreneurs actually start a business is 35. They wish they’d started earlier.
There’s no perfect age to start living your dreams. Being too young or too old is no excuse. The perfect time to start is right now.
These people did.
Nola Ochs – The Energizer Student
1972. Nola Ochs is widowed on her wheat farm in the town of Jetmore, Kansas (population 1000). She tends to her farm with the help of her children. In 1978, she realises she wants more from life. Age 68, she signs up for a tennis class at the nearest community college.
Years pass. Nola works full-time on her farm and occasionally drives into town to attend a class. After ten years studying everything from agribusiness to the Bible, she’s told that she is one class away from an associates degree. All she must do is complete college algebra.
With an associates degree she is pleased but not fulfilled. College algebra will not be the end of her scholarly career. Several years later she decides to make the two hour trek to Fort Hays State University. Enrolling at age 94, she lacks only 30 class hours to earn a bachelor’s degree. In May 2007, at 95, she becomes the world’s oldest college graduate.
Is it time to sit back and enjoy the framed diploma on the farmhouse wall? Not yet. She’s started a Masters Degree.
Cliff Burgess – The Marathon Man
1993. Cliff Burgess is 55. He’s tired of his potbelly and vows to start walking.
Cliff hits the pavement in his suburban Texas town. A walk around the block turns into twice around the block. Walking feels good, but he knows he can pick up some speed. The weight starts to come off as he signs up for 5km and 10km races. In less than a year, he enters in the San Antonio marathon thinking of it as a training run in preparation for his first marathon – 42km (26.2 miles). He feels good during the race, and he crosses the finish line faster than expected.
Averaging 15 marathons per year, he completes his 100th marathon six years later at the age of 62.
Reaching 100 marathons isn’t the final goal. His running gives him an excuse to travel the world to add to his marathon list. He finds himself in Finland, France, Romania, China, Argentina, Brazil, 25 other countries, and nearly all of the 50 states of the USA in a record 15 years.
At age 70, he’s at Marathon #226 and counting. One of his finest highlights is qualifying multiple times for the runner’s dream: a bib number in the Boston Marathon. In April 2009, he will travel to Boston, Massachusetts for the fourth time to take part yet again in all the running glory.
“Nothing happens unless first we dream.”
~ Carl Sandburg
Action summary
- There’s never a perfect age to live your dreams. The perfect age is right now.
- Make your goal known. Travel one step at a time.
- Keep your dream alive. Long-term goals exist because they take a long time.
- Success and determination are intimate siblings. Talent is merely success’s distant cousin.
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Thanks Allison for an excellent hope-inducing article.
One hidden benefit of chasing your dreams for ever and ever is: you tend to live longer.
Some people may say that Nola Ochs got her education degree at the age of 94. But I say – she lives till 94 and beyond because she chased after her goal of getting an education degree.
If Cliff Burgess continues running – I am willing to bet that he’ll live till 95-100 and beyond too!
Feng Shui teaches us that the door that is not used, rusts away. Have big hairy audacious dreams. Chase these big hairy audacious dreams. And live a healthy and happy – not to mention a usually longer life!
Ankesh,
I also believe it’s true that having continuous goals can help keep us mentally and physically alive for longer than we might imagine. Both individuals have shown that this can be done. As always, it’s easier said than done. I hope the article inspries some to DO.
I really needed this story. At 26, I feel as if I have lived a few different lifetimes. I believe it takes every moment of the past, be it painful or happy, to fill us with the strength to realize our dreams for our futures. It’s never easy to get up and change a path, but if we can, the things we live for are remembered. Thank you Allison for the reminder that life is still good and can only get better if I can continue to find the strength to make my reality what I dream it to be.
Ashley,
I’m glad you got something out of the post. We all need to be reminded every once in a while of what we are capable of. You are no exception.
Amazing Visions 2b sure!
Yes! And they don’t cease to amaze!
Wow what amazing stories! I agree with the earlier comment I really needed to hear that too.
These really are inspiring..
Allison,
Thank you for the artical.It reminds me that age no matter how old, does not cripple ones chance to achive dreams.
Nice! At age 54 I decided to take up martial arts. A year later I have lost 25 lbs. feel stronger, and am learning stuff I wish I knew all my life.
Thanks for the article Allison.
You go Tom! That’s another excellent inspirational story!
Excellent article! Congratulations to your Father for his great spirit, running goals and lifestyle.
I have one question: How many Miles/Km did Cliff ran until this days? Can you calculate the distance?
Hello German in BsAs,
Let’s see…if Cliff has run 226 races that would be 226×26.2 = 5921.2 miles or 226 x 42 = 9492 km. But that’s only the races. I suppose you could multiply those totals by 5 for all the running he does in between!
Thanks for the comment!
Allison,
Thank you for the well written article of inspiration! It’s real life testimonials like this that make you realize NOW is the time to accomplish your goals.
“There is nothing to it but to do it!!”
Great quote Renee! And so simply true.
Hey Allison,
I loved reading your article. I have wanted to write a book about my childhood for some time now. Not that my childhood was that exciting that anyone would be interested in reading it, but as a kind of gift for my mother. I had yet to be inspired to actually start. Until now.
I ran with Cliff in Scott White’s 2008 half-marathon. Well, i did not really run “with” him, since he left me at about the 100 yard mark….he beat me by a time i do not want to reveal, and actually ran with me when i was heading towards the finish. Thanks for sharing how he got started. It actually makes me feel I have a chance to hand over that memoir to my mom.
Susie,
It is always wonderful to hear from someone who has been touched by my father personally or through his story. I hope you do go on to write your book. I’ll share with you that there was another possible story for the article about a woman who wrote her first book when she was in her 70s and it became a best seller. It really is true that we can’t be held back through our mental age restraints. Thank you for your comment.
It’s so easy to give up, be discouraged, do what you’ve always done… but this reminds me it’s never too late to make small changes that result over time in big changes. Also, love the whole premise of this site, the internet is great but there’s so much garbage out there!
Melissa,
That’s just it. One step at a time. It all adds up. I’m glad you’re enjoying the website. Stay tuned!
Thanks Allison, this is a great post and a refreshing website.
There’s an excellent lesson here about never letting anything be an excuse for not pursuing your dreams — whether it be age, money, current knowledge or ability . . .
I look forward to reading more.
Thank you, Jennifer. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
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