One day, I questioned the idea of "great talents mature late": do successful people at fifty feel anxious in their thirties or forties? Do they believe in themselves?

To find the answer, I looked into history. The results were astonishing: in both politics and business, late bloomers are actually the mainstream.

McDonald's founder Ray Kroc didn't take over until he was 52; Winston Churchill was marginalized before 65 and relied on writing to sustain himself; Ronald Reagan was a second-rate actor for a long time and only gained fame at 53 through his speeches. Famous officials of the late Qing Dynasty, Zeng Guofan and Zuo Zongtang, both only found their turning points in their forties and truly took power at fifty.

Zuo Zongtang, after failing exams, farmed and taught for 20 years, studied geography and water conservancy, and finally reclaimed Xinjiang at age 60, achieving great success. KFC founder Sander started his business at 65, and Momofuku Ando invented instant noodles at 50.

Data speaks volumes: a study by MIT found that the average age of entrepreneurs in the U.S. is 42; the founders of the most successful companies are on average 45. The success rate of entrepreneurs at 50 is 1.8 times higher than at 30. The average age of global national leaders taking office is even between 55 and 65.

So, don’t worry about not making big achievements by 35-40. The media often reports young prodigies, but the societal truth is that over half of success stories happen after 45.

People who achieve greatness late in life share a common trait: they are lifelong confident in themselves and can endure long-term hardships. Even when at a low point, they firmly believe they are extraordinary and quietly build their inner strength.

If you have big ambitions, hold on to your dreams. Nowadays, with longer lifespans, 50 is just the halfway point of life. Relax, stay on the right path, and proceed steadily.