How to Make Colonel Sanders' Success Story Your Own
You know the story. He was 65. Broke. Living in his car. Rejected more than a thousand times before, someone finally said yes to his chicken recipe. But what we often miss in Colonel Harland Sanders' story is not the grit. It's the clarity.
He wasn't chasing a trend or trying to impress anyone. He knew what he had, what it was worth, and who it was for. He didn't pivot to please. He stayed the course until someone recognised the value he had carried all along.
Colonel Sanders started working on his fried chicken recipe during the Great Depression, cooking for travellers in the back of a service station. He was awarded the honorary title of "Colonel" by the governor of Kentucky in 1935 for his contributions to the state's cuisine.
But even after perfecting his recipe, success was far from instant. He spent years travelling across the US, sleeping in his car, and pitching to restaurant owners, often being turned away. His persistence turned what seemed like failure into one of the most recognised global brands.
The Myth of "Too Late"
We are taught that success has a deadline. That if you haven't "made it" by 30, 40 or 50, the door has closed.
But dreams do not expire. They wait. And often, they mature. The same path you thought you missed may now be the one you are best equipped to walk, because of what you've lived, not in spite of it.
Colonel Sanders' turning point came not because of youth but because of clarity. He knew what he wanted to offer. He refined it. Then he offered it again and again until someone listened.
The Pot That Finally Boils
Think of it like a pot of water on the stove. You stand there, waiting for it to boil. Ten minutes go by. Nothing. You turn away for a second, and that's when it starts. Success often looks like that. It seems like nothing is happening. Then, suddenly, everything moves. But it only happens if you keep the heat on.
The Science Behind Late Blooming
Pursuing meaningful work later in life is not a fantasy, it's a proven path to well-being. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Advances in Business and Social Sciences found that work-to-family conflict negatively impacts life satisfaction and mental health. However, when adults align their work with personal purpose and receive family support, these effects are significantly reduced. (Influence of Work-to-Family Conflict on Mental Health and Life Satisfaction, JABS, 2022)
While the Harvard Business Review does not feature a 2021 article specifically on late-career pivots, the HBR Guide to Changing Your Career offers compelling evidence that midlife expertise, when redirected, often leads to greater satisfaction than earlier "success." (HBR Guide to Changing Your Career, 2018)
Why This Matters for You
You might not be in a car, pitching a recipe. But maybe you have a skill, a story, or a service that has gone unrecognised. Maybe you've told yourself it's too late.
It's not. But it might be time.
It's not time to reinvent yourself completely. Time to tell the truth about what you've carried for years.
Time to stop negotiating your value down just because others couldn't see it yet.
What You Can Learn From Sanders -
1. Clarity creates conviction –
He didn't hope someone would believe in him. He believed first.
2. Rejection isn't personal –
He knocked on over a thousand doors. Rejection was data, not defeat.
3. Mastery matters –
He refined the recipe. Don't just sell an idea. Refine it until it sells itself.
4. Your timing is perfect –
Not in years, but in readiness. Maybe what felt impossible at 30 is sustainable at 55.
A Client Who Reclaimed His Voice
Paul was a corporate trainer who had always wanted to run his own leadership programme. But after years of climbing the ladder, he felt boxed in. Like it was "too late to start over."
He had a framework in his head but not the confidence to speak it aloud.
Together, we helped him shape his material, practise presenting it, and pitch it to one executive.
She said yes.
One yes turned into five. Then, into a contract. Now Paul teaches what he once tucked away, and his business and confidence have grown.
You do not need a thousand yeses. You need one. But to get it, you have to keep knocking.
The opportunity isn't gone. The pot just hasn't boiled yet.
For those seeking actionable solutions to turn setbacks into comebacks and create your own late-blooming success story just like Colonel Sanders, click the button below!
Remember, acknowledging the problem is the first step towards finding a solution.
If however, you need further help, do not doubt to reach out.
We're all ears!
What burning questions or areas of personal or professional development would you like us to address in future posts?
About the Author
Maria Fuentes is an author, renowned Breakthrough Coach, and Performance Strategist with a finance and management background, committed to helping professionals achieve peak performance in their personal and professional lives. With a tailored approach centred on emotional intelligence and leadership development, she has over a decade of experience empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
In addition to group workshops, Maria Fuentes offers one-to-one coaching sessions to provide personalised guidance and support. Through her consultancy firm, Maria Fuentes Breakthrough Coaching, she designs customised coaching programmes that foster growth, resilience, and emotional intelligence in leaders. Working closely with her clients, Maria Fuentes creates a supportive environment that encourages self-discovery, skill development, and the achievement of ambitious goals.
Maria Fuentes