Inspirational Entrepreneurs: Harland David Sanders

Harland David Sanders, better known as “The Colonel,” is synonymous with Kentucky Fried Chicken, but it wasn’t always this way. Had Sanders decided to give up after a failure or two, he probably would never have seen his dream come to fruition. You see, he didn’t franchise his first KFC until 1952 when he was 62 years old.

Pretty amazing, right? American society and popular culture as a whole are obsessed with youth, but in the world of business, you can succeed at any time. Whether you’ve just retired or are midway through your career and realize that you want to do something else, pursuing something that you’re truly passionate about is possible.

Let’s go back to Colonel Sanders for a moment. At the age of 40, he was the owner of a popular gas station in Corbin, Kentucky. When he wasn’t busy fueling up customers’ cars, Sanders was in the kitchen perfecting his recipe for fried chicken. His knack for culinary wizardry was a hit. Biography.com says Sanders’ recipe became so legendary, the governor of Kentucky named him a “designated Kentucky colonel.”

Slowly but surely his legend grew, and eventually, The Colonel had turned a secret family recipe into a world-renowned brand. Today, KFC has over 18,800 outlets all over the world.

Entrepreneurship doesn’t have an age limit. If you have a great idea that you’re passionate about, pursue it and share it with others. Let the story of Harland David Sanders inspire you. Who knows? Maybe your gift to the world will also be finger-lickin’ good.