Today, life after 50 is looking less promising for millions of Americans, many of whom have either shrinking or non-existent retirement funds. There’s also the matter of working at a time when technology is growing increasingly inaccessible to those who didn’t grow up with it. In theory, physical labor remains an option, but in practice, that isn’t a choice for those who have spent 40+ years of their lives performing that sort of back-breaking labor already.
Simply put, older Americans who lacked a clear means of becoming successful early on are caught between a proverbial rock and a hard place, as was once the case for present-day entrepreneur Donna Henderson.
Seeking Dignity and Security
Donna, age 61, came from modest means and supported her children through years of cleaning houses. She, like many others in pursuit of the American dream, expected this hard work to pay off and carry her comfortably through the rest of her life. The state of her savings account, however, suggested otherwise.
“I wasn’t dreaming of vacations or anything fancy,” Donna says. “I just wanted to stop being scared.”
Understandably put off by this realization, Donna believed the best parts of her life were behind her until she discovered a solution that could put her back on the path toward purpose and control over her own well-being.
Before this discovery, Donna found herself unsure of how to move forward with her life. She lacked the technical skills and business acumen needed to create a business on her own, and she certainly didn’t feel the need to pursue a route that would get her closer to a get-rich dream that wasn’t her own. Rather, she simply wanted help getting started; help she would soon find in Upon Innovation.
Gradually Building Confidence
By empowering older adults to step into online entrepreneurship, Upon Innovation helped Donna see that she was capable of creating a meaningful second chapter in her life.
“It wasn’t the business part that hooked me,” she says. “It was that they talked to me like I wasn’t done. Like I still had value.”
Of course, this process was by no means instantaneous. Creating something from almost nothing feels like a miracle and thus requires time, patience, and perseverance. As an older woman asking for help from others, Donna’s ego was being put to the test. She then remembered that these challenges presented the opportunity for her to make something of her future; realizing this, she pushed past her embarrassment, asked questions, and tried time and time again.
Over time, Donna learned to trust herself and the process, a move that proved invaluable in creating her own online store. “It reminded me of when my daughter was little,” she says. “She was so afraid to ride a bike. I told her, ‘Sweetheart, you don’t have to go fast. You just have to push off.’ And suddenly I realized… that’s exactly what I needed to do.”
Moving Forward
By building and supporting the virtual storefront for her, Upon Innovation set Donna up for continued success, giving her the chance to make enough money to breathe easier and see herself as someone capable of owning and operating a business.
“I wanted my granddaughter to see me try,” she says. “I wanted her to know that fear doesn’t get to decide who you become.”
Today, in addition to running her store, Donna also mentors other women her age, including retirees, widows, single moms, and others who have lost their jobs or confidence over time. Instead of talking about e-commerce strategies or analytics, however, she emphasizes the importance of courage, agency, and the capacity to make one’s own second chance.
Bravery in the Face of Fear
Another client, Arturo, a 56-year-old truck mechanic, experienced a similar dilemma as Donna. He explained that “I wasn’t afraid of failure. I was afraid of looking stupid.” He, too, had spent much of his life working his body to the bone to provide for others, yet despite this experience, the thought of starting an online business terrified him at first.
Like Donna, however, he too learned to navigate entrepreneurship and would eventually discover something he didn’t know about himself before: “I wasn’t too old. I was just getting started.”
With the help of Upon Innovation, Arturo was able to set up a store that currently supplements his income, giving him the ability to reduce overtime and spend weekends with his kids. He now makes the most of every opportunity that passed him by when his children were younger.
Making One’s Own Fortune
For many of Upon Innovation’s clients, the goal is not to become wealthy or live luxuriously off their earnings. Rather, they simply wish to feel secure in their day-to-day lives while still being useful to their communities and loved ones. With the company’s support, people who spent decades working physical jobs and putting others first can build something of their own. These are businesses that they can grow, pass on, and be proud of for years to come.
While it is true that Upon Innovation provides valuable technical and entrepreneurial support, these services aren’t truly the point of what they do. They serve people, not profits, and by doing so, they can help people like Donna and Arturo believe in themselves again through giving them a means of supporting themselves and others. In the same way that these people build online stores, so too do they build themselves up, become something greater than they ever dreamed possible.
