There’s no such thing as “too late”

One of my email subscribers told me recently that she was struggling with money.

She wrote:

My biggest challenge is finding a way to invest a small amount every month to make me feel safe, part of me says “It’s too late.” I’m talking small amounts of $100 perhaps. Don’t know which vehicle to choose because frankly numbers scare me, and it becomes a daunting task.

I wanted to take a few moments to share my thoughts on her statement with you

To begin, I completely understand her perspective.

Six years ago, I was living in a friend’s basement, making almost no money and saving even less. At the time, I worked only as a Soldier in the Army Reserve, which occupied two days of my month and two weeks of my summer. That was hardly enough money to live life, let alone a rich life.

During that year, I applied to hundreds of jobs in dozens of industries and could never seem to find anything. Some nights, I would lay in bed crying because I couldn’t seem to get it together. I felt completely lost and worthless.

“It’s too late,” I told myself. “I’ll never catch up.”

After all, I was 25 years old, living in a basement with no job, no money, and no place to call my own. At least I had family and friends who cared about me. Honestly, that was the only thing that kept me going during that period of my life.

Slowly over time, I put my life back together, piece by piece. I applied on a whim to an Archives Intern position with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. By some miracle, perhaps the hiring manager’s sense of my desperation, I got the job.

Several months later, I got a job at Whole Foods, putting yogurts on shelves for eight hours a day.

Then, I started working for an MMA gym as the gym manager.

Next, I became the Sales Operations Coordinator of a software development company.

Today, I am the Senior Salesforce Administrator of the world’s largest advertising software company.

From a financial perspective, my life changed as well.

In 2008, I made $15,757, according to the adjusted gross income on my tax returns. I saved almost nothing and lived life in survival mode. Everything was scarce, especially a sense of fulfillment.

Today, my life is completely different.

I now live in one of the best neighborhoods in Chicago. I go out with friends whenever I feel like it. I enjoy the work that I do and get paid a healthy amount to do it. I eat well and maintain a high level of health and fitness. Most importantly, I enjoy my life. Of course, I have good days and bad days like anyone. But, my life is largely a fulfilling one.

Change requires time and effort. If you put in the time and effort, things will change. I promise you.

https://twitter.com/JohnGarvens/status/786898802414391296

Going back to my reader’s concern that “it’s too late,” I wanted to share a line from one of my favorite comedies: Out to Sea.

In the scene, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau are arguing. (That seems to be a common theme in their movies together.)

Walter, the sleazy but lovable friend, wants Jack, a straight-laced widower who wants to live a quiet life, to go on a cruise. Walter eagerly points out that they can spend their time mingling with some “lonely, rich broads” to which Jack replies, “It’s too late for all that.”

Shocked, Walter stands tall and flails wildly, exclaiming, “There’s no such thing as too late! That’s why they invented death!”

While said as a joke, Walter’s comment holds a lot of truth. So many times, we go through life, thinking “it’s too late” to do the things that we want to do. But, it’s never “too late” until you’re dead. If, on your last day, you can say, “I’ve done it,” whatever “it” happens to be, then it wasn’t too late.

https://twitter.com/JohnGarvens/status/786899645129785344

In the case of my reader, it’s not too late for her to start saving or investing money. It is simply later than most people, which is fine. Some people have a late start in life. Remember: where you started late someone else started early and where you started early someone else started late.

We all have different starting points in life, and that’s okay. Embrace the starting point that you do have and remember that it’s better to do something today than to do nothing forever.

What is one thing that you think is “too late” for you to do? What can you do to start doing it? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.