People often ask "Is it too late to do X?"—"Is it too late to try something new?" "Is it too late to start over?" "Is it too late to leave a job I hate for something I actually love?" The common premise here is that you're considering risking what you already have for a change. The question is rooted in the anxiety of uncertainty, and what's actually behind it is the pursuit of reassurance through seeking approval from others. The truth is it's the wrong question to ask.

When I was considering switching careers from journalism to software engineering, the first thing I asked was: "Am I too late?" I was in my mid-twenties, and most of my peers were already settled into their careers. It felt like I was standing at the starting line of a race that everyone else had been running for years. Five years into my engineering career now, I can tell you one thing for sure: that question was never going to help me move forward.

Regardless of how natural it is to feel anxious about change, here are three reasons why it's the wrong question. First, there's no absolutely true answer. Anyone can weigh in, but no answer is universally true because everyone has different perspectives, experiences, and values. It's absurd to blindly believe what others say you can or can't do, especially when no one knows you as well as you do. Second, the question presumes that there's a deadline, but there isn't. You may be a little late to the party, but the party isn't about being earlier or later than others. All that matters is whether you enjoyed it or not. The same applies to life. Drop the imaginary deadline. Lastly, even if you're not convinced by either of these reasons, it's bad framing. Let's say you're late. What good does focusing on that do for you? If you want the change, you'll still have to figure out how to make it work. Don't make a choice that doesn't serve you.

The right question to ask instead is "Do I really want it?" The question "Too Late?" is rooted in anxiety. But hiding right beneath that anxiety is something far more valuable and often overlooked: your true desires. Reflect on why you asked the question in the first place. You asked because you want the change deep down, to the point of considering giving up what you already have. So ask yourself if you really want it. If the answer is no, case closed. Forget about it and move on. If the answer is yes, focus on how to make it happen, not how difficult it is. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing late rather than not at all.