Re-inventing Yourself at Any Age: Husband-Wife Team’s Top Five Tips for Mid-Life Entrepreneurs

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - April 28, 2014 - PRLog -- New-Jersey-based husband and wife team Matthew Porraro and Frances Caulfield have recently formed a new kind of partnership. In addition to their 18-year marriage, they have founded Burner Alert LLC to develop products and grow a business together.

Despite the fact that they both had decades-long careers in architecture and educational consulting, Matthew and Frances found themselves gravitating toward their dream of bringing innovative product ideas to market. The two reflected, “People thought we were crazy to give up our day jobs, especially in this economy, with two young children at home. Others told us they admired us for taking the risk and pursuing our entrepreneurial drive.”

“I guess I never stopped wondering, what will I be when I grow up?” Frances mused. “My head was always spinning with ideas. I finally decided that life was simply too short to not act on them.” Her first idea to come to fruition, a new concept in women’s swimwear, earned a patent and was recently licensed to a major player in the garment industry.

At the same time, Matthew had been thinking of withdrawing from designing custom homes, as he was finding it increasingly difficult to build in New Jersey. He began fine-tuning his ideas and obtained several patents in the home and garden category. His flagship product, Burner Alert, a safety device for stovetops, is currently offered on IndieGoGo.

The successful entrepreneurs suggest these top five tips for starting a new business later in life:

1.     Let go of your fears and inhibitions.

2.     Forget everything you know from past careers.

3.     Give yourself permission to be on a learning curve.

4.     Leave no stone unturned. Network, cold call, use social media, ask for help.

5.     Persistence is key. Don’t stop until you get there.

Matthew adds, “Don’t listen to the nay-sayers. Believe in your product. Believe in yourself and keep knocking on doors until you arrive. Surround yourself with positive thinkers and people who love what they do.”