If you are of a “certain age,” search the internet for a recording of two 2024 Grammy Award Performances—Billy Joel and Joni Mitchell. I’m not suggesting you do so because you may have listened to their music back in high school (like I did), but because their performances provided a powerful reminder that you’re never too old to share your gifts. And these musical two legends demonstrated that you can continue your career well into the latter part of your life or reboot your career even after many quiescent years.
If you are younger, the Grammy performances of Joel and Mitchell are still worth watching. They demonstrate that no matter your age—young or old, it’s possible to use your gifts, do what you love, and go after your dreams. Nothing really stops you from doing so—except your mindset.
You’re Never Too Old to Create New Work
I watched the Grammy Awards this year specifically to see Joni Mitchell perform. My husband and I have always loved her music. Mitchell is now 80 years old and won her 10th Grammy in the 2024 Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles—the 11th if you include her Lifetime Achievement Award.
She also won Best Folk Album for the 2023 release of At Newport—at 79 years old. Despite her age…or in spite of her age…she is still writing songs, singing, and releasing her work into the world.
Plus, Mitchell has continued to create music even though she suffered a brain aneurysm rupture in 2015 that left her unable to both walk and talk for some time. Yet, she was on stage, sitting on a thrown-like chair, holding her scepter (cane), and singing a timeless song about seeing life from “Both Sides Now.” (Watch her performance here.)
If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what it is.
And Mitchell is living proof that you can overcome almost anything. What circumstances are you allowing to prevent you from moving toward your goals and dreams? It’s time to stop being a victim of your circumstance, is it not?
It’s Never Too Late to Write Something New
I was thrilled to discover that Billy Joel, another of my favorite musical performers, also would be performing at the Grammy Awards. Not only that, he would be singing a new song he’d written…the first in 30 years!
Joel, nominated for a Grammy 23 times and winning five times, performed his newest release, aptly called “Turn the Lights Back On.” He said he avoided going into the studio to write new songs but then felt the push to get this one out of his head and into the world. (Watch his performance here.)
Joel models the fact that you can restart your career no matter how much time has passed or for how long you’ve lacked inspiration. Not only that, he demonstrates the fact that you can begin at any time. Nothing stops you from writing your first song or book…or starting a business…now—no matter your age or how long you’ve waited.
5 Lessons I Learned from Joni Mitchell and Billy Joel
I’ve been beating myself up for not writing and publishing a new book in five or six years. And I’ve been reminding myself that time is passing and I’m getting older.
But Mitchell and Joel reminded me of a few important lessons:
- Giving yourself time to feel passionate, inspired, and motivated is okay. I had a few setbacks with my writing career in the last eight to 10 years. It took me a while to drop the unsupportive stories, blame, and excuses and “get back on the horse.” That’s okay. Could I have done this more quickly? Maybe. But it took as long as necessary. Now, I’m ready to pitch agents and publishers again and move toward my publishing goals. You’ll also know when it’s time to pick up your dream or project again. When the time comes, you won’t be able to stop yourself from taking action.
- It’s never too late to “turn the lights back on” for your projects, career, or dreams. Fans waited 30 years for Joel to produce a new song. For the last 10 years, they’ve consistently sold out Madison Garden to see him perform despite no new material. Your audience won’t disappear if you don’t show up with something new for a while. In fact, you might even build a bigger audience in the meantime…and they’ll be waiting eagerly to see what you have to offer. Or…build a following while you work on whatever it is you want to create and share with the world.
- You’re never too old to start again. Authors Frank McCourt and Laura Ingalls Wilder started their careers after 60, and Lorna Page published her first novel at 93. Pharrell Williams didn’t start singing vocals until he was 40, and Susan Boyle was in her late 40s when she stepped out onto the stage of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009. Colonel Harland Sanders founded Kentucky Friend Chicken at the age of 62. All these people demonstrate that you are never too late to start. And Billy Joel models the fact that you’re never too late to start again. He has 10 years on me, but I choose to believe I’m just hitting my stride as a writer and author. And if Mitchell can produce new albums in her late 70s, I can finish writing all the books I know are still within me and waiting to be birthed.
- Don’t fight inspiration. Joel said he felt something “was happening” despite his attempts for three decades to avoid the studio and create new music. So, he decided to go with it and write and record the song anyway—even perform it at the Grammy Awards ceremony. Right now, I’m super inspired to move forward with several of my works in progress. I take that as a sign that it’s time to follow my inspiration wherever it leads. What about you….what have you been feeling inspired to birth? This time, follow that inspiration.
- Strong desire and commitment win. Despite health challenges, Mitchell still writes, sings, and produces her music. That shows that you can reach your goals if you want something badly enough and are committed to your art and gift. Too often, people let life get in the way of their dreams. Life never has to stop you from pursuing your goals or continuing to share your gifts…and it won’t stop me. I’ve been working on a book proposal and entirely new content and structure for my monthly personal and spiritual growth program, the Inspired Creator Community, all while laid up with a broken ankle. What about you? Are you still willing to let circumstances stop you from going for your goals, or will you be tenacious and perseverant no matter what life throws your way?
Take New Action
I tell you all this for one reason: to inspire and motivate you to take new action on projects you’ve neglected over the years or dreams you gave up on. And I want to remind you that you can become successful regardless of age.
Pick up your old projects. Dust them off. Give them a new coat of paint. And then let them shine by releasing them into the world.
Or throw the old projects into the “circular file” and start with something new and different. Begin from where you are now rather than where you were previously.
Explore continuing your career from this point forward or reinvigorating the career you began previously. What do you want to do now? Maybe it’s different from what you previously did, and that’s okay. Or maybe it’s the same, and that’s okay, too.
And don’t let yourself believe that you are too young to pursue your dreams, either. Your aspiriations are valid right this moment, and you can moe toward them. Mikaila Ulmer is known to be the youngest entrepreneur in the world. They sold lemonade and started her enterprise at the age of 4. Mark Zukerberg founded Facebook at 19 while still in college. Atithi Gautam K. C. is known as the youngest singer in the world to release a professional solo album, which she did at the age of three. Dorothy Elmhirst Straight wrote How the World Began at the age of 4.
Don’t let age, time, or previous lack of inspiration stop you from moving forward with your dreams. Let Mitchell and Joel inspire you, as they have me, to use your gifts no matter what.
What lessons have you learned from Mitchell and Joel’s Grammy performances? Tell me in a comment below. And please share this post on social media or with a writing friend.
It’s time to get inspired…in-spirit…and create what really matters to you, is it not? Join the Inspired Creator Community. You probably already realize that you need to change from the inside out. That’s how you become a person who does the things that allow you to create your desires. As a member, you get access to intuitive transformational coaching, world-class personal growth coaching, and strategies for living a life that feeds your soul. And you will discover that you are a powerful creator able to create what you want (not what you don’t want). Join now!
