[Paul Heinzman]

Henry Miller was 40 when he wrote *Tropic of Cancer*

[Hildy]

I married the man of my dreams when I was 38 and our marriage is perfect. Does that count?

[xrp]

Go buy this book

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

"In 1994, George Foreman once again went for the world championship, after Michael Moorer had beaten Holyfield for the IBF and WBA titles. Foreman was trailing badly on all scorecards when he suddenly knocked out Moorer in the 10th round on November 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada. With this, Foreman broke two records: He became, at the age of 45, the oldest fighter ever to win the world Heavyweight crown, and, 20 years after losing his world title for the first time, he broke the record for the fighter with the most time in between one world championship run and the next."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Foreman

[Old Professer]

Kirk Kerkorian comes to mind; his true success began with the sale of his small charter airline service at age 52.

[HungarianGypsy]

Phew! I'm 32. I don't have to consider myself a failure yet, because I didn't finish writing my book yet.

[posterchild]

Wally 'Famous' Amos

[wizr]

Many of us have been successful by finding a life that we love. Getting away from the "grind" and finding a more peaceful life has been my treasure.

[patton]

Ulysses S. Grant

[new cruelty]

Louis Kahn

[Richard Kimball]

Ronald Reagan was in his fifties when he started his real career as a politican. Vince Lombardi was 45 when he took the head coaching job with the Green Bay Packers. George Patton was 60 when he took over command of the 2nd Armored Division, and all of his noted work came after that. Teddy Roosevelt, the youngest man ever to hold the office of President, was 43 when he took office. Michelangelo was about forty when he did his celebrated sculpture of Moses, and continued working until his death when he was 89. Leonardo da Vinci was in his forties when he did the Last Supper and his fifties when he completed the Mona Lisa. Claude Monet was in his sixties when he did his "Water Lilies" paintings. Neil Armstrong was 16 days from his 40th birthday when he stepped on the moon (born on August 5, 1930, stepped on moon July 20, 1969).

There are a zillion more examples.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I turn 40 this Thursday. So, unless I manage to revise, submit, get accepted, and have published a novel in the next 5 days, it looks like any success I have, at least in the public eye, will be after 40.

[Vision]

Napoleon Hill writes that a man's most productive years are from 40 to 55.

[Bon mots]

Addendum:

Sam Walton was 43 years old when he started Wal-Mart.

[snowsislander]

Was a milk-shake machine salesman when he was 52. Hardly anyone's ideal job and not much of a career. Until the day he started McDonald's restaurants. The rest is history.

Actually, the McDonald brothers started McDonald's restaurants (the first was opened in San Bernardino in 1940; Mr. Kroc opened the ninth one as a franchise.) Mr. Kroc finally bought them out later, in 1961. Also, see the current Wikipedia entry for Ray Kroc, the answers.com entry for Ray Kroc, and the Wikipedia entry for McDonald's Corporation.

[Semi Civil Servant]

Mark Twain was in his thirties before he was published nationally. He hit his stride in his forties, and was 49 when "Huckleberry Finn" was published.

[Slings and Arrows]

Mathematician G. H. Hardy reportedly said that he did no work of significance until he was in his early forties.

[MikeD]

Does this guy count?

Yeah, I know he went national at 37, but his first tome (and big nationwide exposure) was at 41.

[Rte66]

Sister Marion Irvine, my *hero* (heroine).
~~~~
" ... The story of Sister Marion Irvine amazed us all. Sister Marion did not start running until 47 years of age. She was overweight and smoked two packs a day. She started out half-running and half-walking. In 1984, she qualified for the Marathon Olympic Trials at the age of 54. ..."
~~~~

>>>>That was a record that still stands, for the oldest person to ever qualify for the Olympic Trials in the Marathon. I heard Sr. Marion speak in a small group about 2 years after that - and was so moved, I've never forgotten her. She has set every speed record for her age group and is now 71 - and still running, most likely.

When I heard her speak, she was the fastest woman in the world for her age, 57. She probably still is, but I haven't checked on her lately. When she described starting out as a smoker and overweight, how her first try was to the mailbox and every day for a week she walked/jogged to that mailbox until one day she went a little further and did that distance for a week and so on, I knew I could do that, too.

She is truly inspirational.