I recently interviewed one of our city’s young men who is starting a new business based on a lifelong hobby. I could see the sparkle in his eye as he described the store’s design. He put so much thought and detail into painting the mental picture that I could easily imagine it. We talked about what a difference it makes when your job is doing something you love to do.

 

As I drove through town, I realized that many of our businesses started the same way. Someone loved to bake or create food specialties; teach fitness or bike and they worked hard to turn those talents and interests into viable businesses.

 

I know our city isn’t exclusive to this kind of inspirational motivation, but we certainly have our share. After all, our motto is “Opportunity Lives Here.”

 

Of course, it’s not just about starting a business.

 

As we have a few weeks of the new year under our belts, you might be inspired to do something new - go back to school, delve into a hobby or sport, travel, start running or painting, do volunteer work, act, take dance lessons or a number of other things.

 

Look around. There’s likely a resource for you close by.

 

I mean we have an airport in the city, nonprofits, a group fitness gym, dance studios, family-owned restaurants, college opportunities, an art studio, a filmmaking company, walking/running trails, lakes, state-of-the-art recreation complex and several other quality amenities.

 

It’s never too late to learn something new.

 

A friend of mine posted the following just before the start of 2020. It features a list of well-known individuals who took that first step of faith, then backed it with perseverance.

 

At age 23, Tina Fey was working at a YMCA.

At age 23, Oprah was fired from her first reporting job.

At age 24, Stephen King was working as a janitor and living in a trailer.

At age 27, Vincent Van Gogh failed as a missionary and decided to go to art school.

At age 28, J.K. Rowling was a suicidal single parent living on welfare.

At age 28, Wayne Coyne (from The Flaming Lips) was a fry cook.

At age 30, Harrison Ford was a carpenter.

At age 30, Martha Stewart was a stockbroker.

At age 37, Ang Lee was a stay-at-home-dad working odd jobs.

Julia Child released her first cookbook at age 39 and got her own cooking show at age 51.

Vera Wang failed to make the Olympic figure skating team, didn’t get the Editor-in-Chief position at Vogue, and designed her first dress at age 40.

Stan Lee didn’t release his first big comic book until he was 40.

Alan Rickman gave up his graphic design career to pursue acting at age 42.

Samuel L. Jackson didn’t get his first movie role until he was 46.

Morgan Freeman landed his first MAJOR movie role at age 52.

Kathryn Bigelow only reached international success when she made The Hurt Locker at age 57.

Grandma Moses didn’t begin her painting career until age 76.

Louise Bourgeois didn’t become a famous artist until she was 78.

 

The post ended like this:

 

Never tell yourself you’re too old to make it.
Never tell yourself you missed your chance.
Never tell yourself that you aren’t good enough.
You can do it. Whatever it is.

 

I bet you can name something you would like to do for the first time or perhaps renew. I bet you are so passionate about it that you can picture it in your mind.

 

To find a categorized city business list, see our directory HERE. If you are a business owner and do not see our business listed, log in and submit your business contact information. Listing  your business is absolutely free. Once listed, you will have the ability to post jobs view resumes and manage your company's presence on Connect-Bridgeport. If you are a business owner or manager of a business listed, navigate to the listing and click the link below that reads "Is this your business?" to make a Listing Ownership Request. 

 

Editor's Note: I'd like to thank Jeremy Bumgarner, co-owner of Insight Astronomy, for inspiring this blog. Read about the business, slated to open this spring, HERE.