Launching a Tech Business at 60 – What I Learned About Confidence and Reinvention
Most people around 60 are getting ready for retirement. I, on the other hand, was getting ideas for starting a business at 60—-one that I knew would challenge me in more ways than one. I still felt drawn to this because as a serial entrepreneur, I have a passion for solving problems in my community. When I saw that the Chambers of Commerce were facing challenges in the current economy, I decided to launch the Chamber Perks App™ —-an app that helps Chambers offer more opportunities to their member businesses, stay digitally relevant, and grow in the process.
Here are three things that have helped me stay true to my purpose and follow the path of reinvention as I turn the page on this new chapter of life.
1. Focus on Your Advantages
Many people might find my tech startup career at 60 unusual or an attempt to prove a point but I wasn’t deterred by what I didn’t know. I continued to focus on what I did know and could do better than most others. For decades, I had worked on building successful companies, learning customer service as an essential skill, and crafting strong sales strategies. Holding on to such skills gave me the confidence to continue. Although technology might not have been my strongest suit, I knew how to solve problems, guide a team, and build a business. For everything else, I found the right developers and partners.
The advantage of age is that after decades of working, you can easily identify what you’re good at. It shows consistency, discipline, self-awareness, and commitment—skills that are valuable to any business. Instead of doubting yourself for the concepts you don’t know, build your confidence around what you do.
2. Accept What You Don’t Know
Embracing what I don’t know has also become a key lesson for me. At a recent conference, a young tech expert confessed that he hadn’t expected someone like me to be leading a startup in this space. When he asked some questions I couldn’t answer, I didn’t pretend to know or become defensive. I felt comfortable saying, “I don’t know.”
Age brings wisdom but that doesn’t mean we are expected to know everything. As an entrepreneur, your role isn’t to be an expert in every area but rather to effectively delegate. It’s to know how to find and work with the right people. There is nothing wrong with admitting that you are unsure; it is actually what makes you stronger and human. What truly counts is being humble and curious about learning new things.
3. Cut Out the Noise
One of the greatest gifts of age is the ability to tune out the noise that doesn’t serve you. Unsolicited advice, old stereotypes or expectations from society all mean little to me these days, and I’ve learned not to let them distract me. When I was launching the Chamber Perks App, many people assumed I’d be retiring, and some didn’t hesitate to say it loud. However, it didn’t demotivate me because I knew my motivation behind doing this. My sense of purpose far outweighed the collective judgement, opinions or noise I was hearing from others.
This applies to anyone of any age. In today’s world, opinions are everywhere, from friends to strangers online. However, the most important voice is the one inside you, and experience has taught me that.
Final Thoughts
As clichéd as it may sound, I can confidently say that age is just a number. My focus was never on how old I was, but on the passion that has always driven me—solving real problems. If you too feel this way, remember that this passion will propel you towards purposeful living. At any junction during this journey, if you feel unsure or fazed by society’s expectations, remember to lean into your strengths, embrace the unknown with a positive attitude, and let your inner voice be your biggest cheerleader.
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About the Author
Name: Karen Hastie
Professional Title: Entrepreneur
Bio: Karen Hastie is a seasoned entrepreneur with 35+ years of experience. In 2022, she launched the Chamber Perks App, a digital platform helping Chambers of Commerce connect businesses with consumers and strengthen local economies.
