The phrase better late than never is more than just a polite excuse for running behind schedule; it’s a timeless expression of hope and possibility. Tracing its roots to Latin—potiusque sero quam nunquam—and famously used by Geoffrey Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales, this idiom reminds us that taking action, even after a delay, is far better than never trying at all. Our cultural obsession with youthful success can cast a long shadow, leading many to feel left behind if they don’t achieve their goals early in life. But the world is brimming with late bloomers whose stories challenge the myth that opportunity expires with age.

Take Taikichiro Mori, who transitioned from academia to real estate in his 50s and became the richest man in the world by his 80s; or Vera Wang, who began her career as a wedding dress designer at 40 after a previous life as a figure skater and editor. Samuel L. Jackson scored his breakout film role at 46, years after countless stage and minor film parts. Bestselling author Frank McCourt published his Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir Angela’s Ashes at 66, demonstrating once again that storytelling has no age limit. Even Tina Fey didn’t land her career-defining job as head writer on Saturday Night Live until age 30, showing that creative genius often takes time to surface. The careers of these individuals speak to a universal truth: the only deadline for reinvention is the one we impose on ourselves.

Society often pushes a narrative that younger is always better, but science suggests otherwise. Rich Karlgaard, author of Late Bloomers, points out that our brains continue developing well into our 20s and beyond, enhancing our creativity and wisdom as we age. Pressure to have life figured out early can leave us paralyzed, yet the stories of countless late bloomers prove that new chapters can start at any age.

Listeners, if you’ve ever felt like it’s too late to chase a dream or reinvent yourself, remember: life’s most powerful transformations can happen after detours and delays. Better late than never isn’t just a consolation—it’s an invitation to keep striving, regardless of where you are on your timeline. Your next milestone may be waiting just around the bend.