Whatever you age it's never too late to begin a new career. Look at Colonel Saunders of Kentucky Fried Chicken Fame - he was in his 60's when he started up his fast food business.

There are examples all around us of people who have decided to make a new start with new challenges later in life.

A friend of mine had worked in an office pretty much most of his life. He was pushing 50 and had become overweight unfit and bored. So, he did something you wouldn't dream an older gentleman would attempt - he became a fitness instructor!

Naturally he studied and took the exams he needed to qualify and passed of course. In the process he lost the excess weight and became fitter than he has been in many years. I asked him how it felt being the oldest student in a class of fit dynamic young people. It didn't bother him one bit. In fact it gave him an edge. Most younger people don't have the experience and wisdom to know just how lucky they are to be standing on the first steps of their career. He knew exactly where he was and what he wanted. Now he is so busy training older people with whom he has a natural rapport, he has never looked back. His life is full as a self employed fitness instructor.

If an older person can succeed in this environment then anything is possible.

With the advent of the internet it has never been easier to find information on just about any type of career.

The important thing is never to assume you are too old to do what you want to do.

For the first time in known human history there are more persons alive over the age of 40 than those below.

With life expectancy set to continue to rise, the notion of having more than one, two or more careers in a lifetime is now becoming commonplace. Employers are far more open to the prospect of older persons joining the workforce. Due in no small part to the changing attitudes of older people. At one time an older person was considered too set in their ways. The old saying "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" has become as out of date as the saying itself. The older people of today were the new generation of yesterday. A generation which forced change in every area of society - many of the old outdated beliefs slipped into history with the previous generation. Todays older generation are more progressive and pro active than many of the current 'new generation' of society.

Don't let age stand in the way of your new direction. It may just be your biggest asset.