Embracing New Adventures: Starting an Online Business at 56

Starting an Online Business at 56: My Journey

Welcome to Digital Midlife and my very first blog post!

Starting an online business at 56 was a big step for me. After 30+ years in the corporate world juggling hectic schedules, demanding accounts, and very little time off, I hit a wall. I wanted something different, more freedom, more purpose, and WAY less stress. Burnout hit me hard.

Then in 2020, during the pandemic and those early days of isolation, I had a lot of time to think. I knew there had to be another way to earn a living, something flexible, fulfilling, and online. So I started searching…for 4 years!

I dove into YouTube, Pinterest, and Google, trying to figure out how to build a business from home. That’s when I discovered affiliate and digital marketing. But after months of researching, I only had scattered bits and pieces. I still didn’t know how to actually start. I had no idea how to bring it all together: the tech, the legal side, setting up a domain, forming an LLC, writing emails, and so on. It felt overwhelming. And honestly? I didn’t feel qualified.

I even launched an Etsy store with 40–50 designs for t-shirts, sweatshirts, and mugs. But I had no clue how to market it, or how SEO worked. I wasn’t comfortable being on camera, and I didn’t want to share it with friends and family until I knew it would succeed.

It fizzled out after a few months. With my full-time job, I didn’t have the time or energy to design and upload hundreds of products. I kept asking myself: Why put in all this effort if I don’t know how to actually market what I’ve built?

Then came 2024, the most demanding year of my career. My health took a hit. My stress was through the roof. And the company I had devoted three decades of my life to? Made it painfully clear I was replaceable. That was my wake-up call. I decided I had to make a change and soon.

I realized the only way forward was on my own terms, doing something I enjoyed and believed in. That’s when I found DWA 2.0 (Digital Wealth Academy) while scrolling Instagram. Yes, it was an impulse buy out of frustration… but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made.

DWA gave me everything my research couldn’t: the missing pieces, the roadmap, the support. And as a bonus, I can resell it as an affiliate and earn 85% commission per sale. This made starting an online business at 56 so much more feasible. I knew I still had a lot to learn, especially with the techincal part of building a business but DWA made it simpler to undertand and implement. Starting an online business at 56 was scary but impowering. I’m excited to see where this new journey leads.

Let me be honest: marketing on social media still feels uncomfortable. I’m an introvert. I’ve never loved expressing myself publicly. That’s why I’m starting with faceless marketing building my business quietly, intentionally, and in a way that works for me. For me, at least for now, Instagram feels overwhelming. Always having to stay up on the latest trends, posting multiple times a day and the feeling that I need to compete with 20 or 30 year olds.

This journey hasn’t always been easy… but every step has been worth it. I’ve learned how to start an online business from scratch and I’m here to share what I’ve learned along the way. On Digital Midlife, I’ll share my wins, lessons learned and tools I use and trust to building my own business. And I’ve tried a lot of them. I’m walking this path and bringing you along for the ride.

So if you’re in midlife, curious about online income, and wondering if it’s too late to start… you’re in the right place.

I’m not an expert. I’m still building my business. I’m still working my 9-5. But everything I’ve learned so far, all the trial and error, research, tools, and encouragement. I’m putting right here on this website. Because if it can help even one other person start their own online business with more clarity and confidence… it’s worth it.

Be sure to check out the Business Tools Section for tools, platforms, and programs that have really helped me.

Let’s build something new together.
xoxo

Tracey