Some of the items confiscated. Photo: Limpopo police. Five suspects linked to a series of business robberies in Polokwane are believed to be part of the gang of dangerous criminals that has tormented the city and surrounding areas since September. Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe says the arrest of the suspects on Thursday…
The space tourism market is SpaceX’s for the taking — and it’s already begun taking it.
For three long years, two companies have dueled to dominate the nascent market for space tourism. But that’s about to change.
2021 featured inaugural space launches from both publicly traded Virgin Galactic (SPCE -3.38%) and privately held Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin, each of which successfully delivered private space tourists to the edge of space (roughly 60 miles up) and then brought them home safely again. To date, Virgin Galactic has now conducted a total of seven “Galactic” commercial flights carrying paying space tourists on its Unity spaceplane. Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket has carried space tourists eight times.
That’s great and all, but here’s the thing: The actual time in space that both of these companies provided their customers amounted to a few minutes at most. When you’re paying Virgin Galactic $250,000, $450,000, or even $900,000 for a space ticket, that’s not a lot of bang for your buck. And while Blue Origin still isn’t advertising its prices publicly, Quartz.com reported in 2022 that one ticket broker paid $2,575,000 for a pair of tickets on one recent Blue Origin flight. At nearly $1.3 million apiece, that’s even more expensive.
Could it even be too expensive?
SpaceX and space tourism
Two years ago, as the space tourism race was just revving up, I explained how a gigantic Starship rocket from SpaceX, capable of carrying 100 passengers at a time and launching for $10 million per trip, threatened to disrupt this latest space race before it even really got started. A $10 million launch cost, divided by 100 space tourists, implied that SpaceX could one day be able to offer a per-ticket price of $100,000 and undercut prices being charged by both Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin.
SpaceX is not there yet, but it does look like that’s the direction it’s headed.
Consider: Just last week SpaceX conducted a successful space tourism flight, Polaris Dawn, in which four non-NASA astronauts flew to an orbit 450 miles above Earth (3 times the height of the International Space Station) and there conducted the first-ever space tourism spacewalk. Two astronauts, pilot and Polaris Dawn sponsor Jared Isaacman and SpaceX engineer Sarah Gillis, exited their Crew Dragon space capsule wearing SpaceX-built spacesuits, each spending about 10 minutes outside the spacecraft.
Later, after completing their five-day mission, the entire crew returned to Earth to splash down in the ocean.
Polaris Dawn’s price tag
Admittedly, the cost of the Polaris Dawn mission isn’t even in the same ballpark as the prices Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are charging for their space tourist tickets. In a recent report on Commercial Crew missions to the ISS, Payload Space calculated that SpaceX is charging about $72 million per seat for NASA astronauts (up from $55 million per seat in 2019). A recent Forbes magazine article furthermore put the price of Crew Dragon seats charged to Axiom Space at roughly $41.9 million.
Even at the low end of that range, therefore, SpaceX charges a lot more for its space tourism flights than do either Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin.
Or does it?
Space tourism math
Consider: The lowest advertised price for space tourism seats by Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin is $250,000. Divided by even a generous 10 minutes in space, that works out to a per-minute cost of $25,000 per minute.
In contrast, assume SpaceX charged the NASA rate of $72 million per seat on Polaris Dawn, a mission that stretched five days in length, or 7,200 minutes. I don’t even need a calculator to figure out the per-minute cost on that one. It’s $10,000 per minute, per passenger, a 60% discount to what Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are charging!
And here’s another fact would-be investors in Virgin Galactic (or in any future Blue Origin IPO) need to consider: SpaceX is just getting started, and its Crew Dragon is only carrying four passengers per flight. Versus a rated capacity of seven, this made Polaris Dawn relatively more expensive per seat than it absolutely needs to be to cover the cost of a Falcon 9 rocket launch. SpaceX could charge less on future flights carrying more passengers. It could also offer longer flights, giving space tourists more bang for their buck — or it could do both.
Meanwhile, the math will shift even more in SpaceX’s favor as it works out the bugs in Starliner, and approaches an ultimate goal of being able to send 100 passengers to space at a time, at a cost measured in thousands of dollars per ticket, rather than millions.
Space tourism may not be SpaceX’s most important goal in spaceflight. But the numbers tell me it’s still a market SpaceX can dominate if it wants to.
First Published Sep 22, 2024, 2:29 PM IST | Last Updated Sep 22, 2024, 2:29 PM ISTLucknow/Chitrakoot: In a bid to establish Uttar Pradesh as a leading tourist destination, the Yogi government is implementing various schemes to promote tourism across different regions. As part of these efforts, a comprehensive framework has been set to expedite key development and construction projects in the Chitrakoot division.Also Read: Yogi govt’s zero tolerance policy yields results: Action taken against 7,015 dreaded criminals in 7.5 years
One of the major initiatives under this project includes the beautification, development, and expansion of the renowned Ram Ghat in Chitrakoot at a budget of Rs 18.30 crore. Additionally, plans are underway to enhance tourist facilities, such as the Tourist Facilitation Center near Lalapur in Chitrakoot, parking and amenities at Kalinjar Fort in Banda, and the Salt Fort in Mahoba.
Furthermore, the development of tourism at the Somnath Temple in Char, Chitrakoot, and the Pataleshwar Temple in Hamirpur is also a priority. The construction of a museum near Valmiki Ashram in Chitrakoot is expected to be completed soon.
The Uttar Pradesh Project Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has been tasked with overseeing and completing all these ambitious development and construction works, aimed at boosting tourism in the region and enhancing the state’s appeal to both domestic and international tourists.
Following Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision, a major beautification project is set to transform Ramghat, located on the banks of the Mandakini River in Chitrakoot. This site, believed to be where Goswami Tulsidas had the divine vision of Lord Ram, will undergo development while preserving its spiritual and historical significance.
The project will also include the beautification, widening, and improvement of the connecting road, along with the construction of tourist facilities at Ramghat. The total cost of the project is Rs 18.30 crore, and it is expected to be completed in two years, excluding the rainy season.
In addition, parking and tourist facilities near Lalapur in Chitrakoot, Kalinjar Fort in Banda, and Salt Fort in Mahoba will be upgraded. The Tourist Facilitation Centre in Lalapur will be developed at a cost of Rs 7.01 crore and completed in 12 months. Improvements near Kalinjar Fort will be carried out at a cost of Rs 3.83 crore, with a completion time of 9 months. Similarly, the development at Salt Fort will be done at a cost of Rs 3.81 crore within the same timeframe.
Moreover, the Somnath Mahadev Temple in Char will see tourist infrastructure upgrades at a cost of Rs 1.48 crore, to be completed in 9 months. The Pataleshwar Mahadev Temple in Hamirpur will also undergo tourism development, with work expected to finish in 6 months at a cost of Rs 68.86 lakh. Additionally, efforts are being made to complete the construction of a museum near Valmiki Ashram in Chitrakoot soon.
Also Read: Bengaluru murder: Police launch probe with multiple teams to crack horrific crime of 29-yr-old Nepal woman
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There have been so many “this specific emotion has never been explored this way” movies that, at a certain point, it really only comes down to whether or not something you watch is showing you an emotion that you’re familiar with except from a perspective you likely haven’t thought of before. Surprisingly, that’s not at all what makes Azazel Jacobs’ His Three Daughters so emotionally overwhelming. Since love, loss, and grief are things people have been feeling since the dawn of time, I wholeheartedly appreciate that His Three Daughters doesn’t desperately scout out a new way to look at these things. Why this movie about three sisters coming together to see their father off to eternal sleep is so engaging is because it’s showing you things you or someone close to you has been through and felt. Death can be a transformative thing, not just for the person dying but for everyone they’re leaving behind with both fond and bitter memories. That’s something that Azazel’s film feels in its bones.
Spoiler Alert
What happens in the film?
People drift apart. That’s how it usually goes, right? And that’s not always a bad thing. It is, however, pretty tragic how circumstances and the growing bitterness born from said circumstances have put walls up between Katie, Christina, and Rachel, three sisters who’ve flocked to Rachel’s NYC apartment because their dad’s on his deathbed. Here’s the thing. I don’t think these three were ever truly close, even as kids. Katie’s all vinegary and defensive, and she might be the most obtuse about how mean she’s coming off when she’s questioning literally all of Rachel’s life choices and personality traits. Christina seems to have taken on the loving, calming, mothering role in her life itself. And Rachel, well, she’s got her life together in a way that’s usually considered dysfunctional in boomer circles. But her ways aren’t the only thing that makes her an eyesore to Katie and almost a stranger to Christina. Rachel’s not Vincent’s biological daughter, and her mom was stepmom to Katie and Christina. This isn’t one of those cases where love surpasses the pettiness a person feels for someone who’s associated with tragic or unpleasant life events. Rachel was just an innocent kid who found her father in a man she didn’t share a blood relation with. But Katie’s bitterness about seeing another woman replacing her mother after her death and having to share her father’s love with a new kid has forever blinded her to a lot of wonderful truths about her family. And a bubbling, volatile mix of all these wounds, both fair and unfair, is what makes it a challenge for Vincent’s three daughters to play nice for the sake of their dying father.
What part does Rachel’s boyfriend play in all this?
I know it’s cliche to say that something like the imminent death of a loved one really puts things into perspective, but ironically enough, Katie proved the truth of this statement the first time we met her. Don’t get me wrong, when this thing started, she was in no way capable of putting her grievances toward Rachel aside and just being there for her dad. But just the fact that that was in fact her plan and that she really wanted to do it– that says enough about the shift in her intentions after Vincent’s health’s final decline. We know that she didn’t visit Vincent and Rachel a lot, which is a lot more justifiable for Christina given she lives pretty far away. The reason Katie kept her distance was her gloom about the fact that Rachel was so close to their dad. But Katie’s not a bad person, per se. So this bitterness also comes with an undertone of guilt, something she handles the same way you’d expect a very flawed person to handle complex emotions. It comes out in her often extreme judgment of anything and everything Rachel chooses to do. From lashing out at Rachel for smoking pot in the apartment to overwhelming Christina with her complaints about Rachel only having old apples in her fridge, Katie’s desperate to have her voice heard. And what does it do to Christina?
From what I’ve seen, it seems Christina’s always played the part of the peacemaker in the pointless war between Katie and Rachel. She doesn’t want to validate Katie’s feelings about Rachel, but she’d rather just leave the scene than call her sister out on her questionable behavior towards her other sister. Frankly, Rachel and Christina are too close to the situation and too accustomed to the tense air to try and mend things now. That’s why Rachel’s boyfriend Benjy’s role is so important in Katie’s receding ignorance about the reality of her family. He’s the kind, wholesome “outsider” whose voice isn’t muffled in the face of Katie’s disdain. It’s through him that Katie gets the reality check of a lifetime. She needed to hear that the apples that went soft in the refrigerator were the last things Rachel would feed their dad just a couple weeks back, back when he could still eat. She also needed to acknowledge that Rachel was there taking care of their ailing father all by herself. Katie’s assumptions about Rachel also speak to the stereotypes around people whose lifestyles don’t exactly mirror what society recognizes as “reliable” or “responsible.” Benjy doesn’t magically fix everything. But he does chip a few bricks off the wall Katie puts up against any truth that doesn’t align with her unreasonable emotions. When things are this dire, even a half-hearted apology that leads to a rabid fight between the three sisters is a step forward. At least it’s not passive-aggressive anymore.
How do Katie, Rachel, and Christina mend their differences?
You know, there’s a pretty valid reason behind my not talking about Christina too much so far. She’s the quietest of them all. And for the most part, we hardly get a whiff of what’s brewing inside that head of hers. But her generally calm, pacifying presence doesn’t really mask the fact that she isn’t okay. There’s a clear sense that she’s always had to be the big sister even though she’s the youngest. She’s kind of been stepping onto the empty pedestal of a mother figure in the family. And all that nurturing feminine energy is what makes her such a good mom to her little daughter too. She’s just chosen better ways to handle her issues. She meditates her anxieties away. And because she’s the most stable of the three of them, she’s the one who sits her sisters down to have a chat and work out their differences, if only to give their father the send-off he deserves. What comes up in that emotionally charged confab is a lot of anger, some valid, some misguided, and a truth that’s eluded all three of them for all their lives–they don’t really know each other too well. There are petty jealousies, of course. Because Katie’s always been hateful of Rachel for taking a chunk of the love that Katie felt entitled to, she’s also quite bitter about the fact that Rachel’s name’s on the lease of the apartment. She’s unwilling to recognize what Rachel’s given in exchange for the right to call that place her home, just like she’s unwilling to accept that Vincent is, in fact, just as much Rachel’s father as he is hers. But there’s one thing that Rachel and Katie have in common. Both of them assume Christina has this perfect life just because she never complains. Neither of them has ever bothered asking her if there’s something she’d like to get off her chest. And by now, Christina’s just learned to be an island emotionally–self-sufficient and strong. This amazing shift takes over the apartment once all their truths are out in the open. Turns out, even Katie’s behavior is rooted in a very specific kind of exploitation. She’s always felt this obsessive need to bring order to the chaos that is life. And that’s only because no one else has stepped in to share the burden. Even life with her husband and her rebellious teenage daughter is something that Katie’s in charge of managing. Having to always be the “bad guy” who’s speaking the hard facts and enforcing the stick in the mud rules has been her normal for so long that Katie’s forgotten how to be anything else. And that kind of explains why Katie treats Rachel the way she does. In her mind, Rachel’s not much unlike her unruly teen, someone she’s been trying to tame because the dad would rather be the “fun dad” and take no responsibility. So it’s really adorable how Rachel starts to feel for Katie when she overhears her begging her husband to pick up some of the slack. Rachel reassures a panicky Katie that she won’t always have to worry about her daughter as much as now. No one stays a teenager forever.
What Is The Real Meaning Of Ending?
There’s this recurrent motif in His Three Daughters that explores death as a theme on a universal level: the obituary that Katie’s really been struggling with. It’s hard enough to come to terms with the fact that their father’s about to die. Even though Vincent has cancer and that disease, when diagnosed too far along, comes with the expectation of grief, it’s always practically impossible to imagine that the worst possibility will come true when it’s your loved one. And it’s not that Vincent’s daughters haven’t accepted the truth. Katie’s been losing her mind trying to make sure the DNR form gets signed. Underneath all her thorns, she’s just a daughter who doesn’t want her dad to be painfully resuscitated and subjected to the kind of “going on” that he doesn’t really want. But even then, they don’t want to be constantly reminded of what’s about to happen, which is why they bond over how much the hospice guy gets on their nerves. Coming to that obituary, each of their versions of their dad turns out to be so different that it seems like they’re only getting to fully know him now that he’s about to take his leave from their lives. It’s sweet how His Three Daughters practically blurts out its idea of death and grief in Christina’s anecdote about what Vincent once told her about death. Truly knowing someone happens in their absence. That statement doesn’t mean what Katie thinks it does. It’s untrue that we don’t really know someone when they’re alive. What it really means is that people are ever-changing. You can only know a phase of them, but the bigger picture is way more layered and complex. Vincent’s a lucky man to have three daughters who remember him through the changing seasons of his life. An obituary could never hope to grasp the essence of who someone was before they passed away. Who they were could only be remembered through the memories of the people they loved and influenced in ways that shaped them as people.
In the ending of His Three Daughters, when Katie, Christina, and Rachel realize that the moment they’ve been dreading has arrived, we see Vincent get up from his chair and talk to them. It’s only when we see him pass in that very chair, staring at the standing Vincent in his last moment, that we realize that the Vincent who was just talking to his daughters was the manifestation of his final thoughts. Remember how Angel told them that people sometimes have trouble letting go because something significant in their lives is still unresolved? This whole time, Vincent’s been hearing everything that’s been going on between the three girls that he loves more than anything in the world. He needed to set the record straight and tell them everything he hadn’t yet gotten around to telling them. So in his final moments, Vincent jots down everything that’s been of consequence in his fleeting life. He reprimands Katie for making Rachel feel like an outsider. He apologizes to Christina for not doing enough for her as a parent; Christina was always too self-sufficient, and because she never asked for help, she was always left to fend for herself emotionally. Vincent’s one, oddly grateful regret is about an old Irish love, someone who changed the very course of his life simply by being her wonderful, curious self. That’s Vincent, as a whole. A man who’s lived a very full life and has felt pain, love, joy, regrets, and grief just like any man does. And now, as he breathes his last, he’s cradled into his understanding of where one goes after death with the comfort of knowing that his girls are now closer than ever.
In His Three Daughters’ ending, Christina humming Five Little Ducks is a metaphor that combines the very meaning of the film with several of the story’s aspects. It’s a rhyme that practically describes the different stages of Vincent’s life. The complete family, the incomplete family, when his nest was empty because all three of his daughters went away to live their own experiences, and finally, when his monitor went “beep beep beep” and it got them all to come back home. So, isn’t the rhyme itself the most fitting obituary that captures what really mattered to Vincent before his life came to a close? He’s always wanted his daughters to get along and realize how much they actually love each other. And in the closing scene, even Rachel’s respecting Katie’s wishes, even though Katie’s not even there, and sitting outside to smoke pot. I’d say that Vincent drifted off with a full heart.
In a keynote at the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2024, John Bevan, CEO at dnata Travel Group, shared his insights on the evolving landscape of luxury travel and the future of the Maldives as a premium destination. John, who has been based in Dubai for the last three and a half years, leads dnata’s global travel portfolio. His address emphasised the changing preferences of luxury travellers and the opportunities for destinations like the Maldives to adapt to new trends.
Bevan began by reflecting on how travel has transformed since the pandemic. “COVID reset the world in a way none of us anticipated,” he remarked, highlighting how the Maldives gained prominence during this time for being one of the first safe, secluded travel options. The islands, known for their exclusivity, quickly became a top destination for travellers seeking safety and luxury.
He noted that post-pandemic travel saw a surge in what he called “revenge travel,” where travellers, having been grounded for years, were eager to spend on shorter booking windows and high-end experiences. “We sold holidays with long-haul brands for travel within weeks—something we had never seen before,” Bevan said. While booking patterns have normalised, the demand for premium experiences has stayed, with younger generations and families increasingly embracing luxury travel.
Bevan emphasised that luxury travel has expanded to include a younger, more diverse audience. Families, younger groups, and even first-time luxury travellers are increasingly seeing the value in high-end services, including flying business class or staying at five-star hotels. “People who might have once thought luxury was out of their reach are now realising its worth,” Bevan explained, crediting the impeccable service and experiences provided by destinations like the Maldives.
He also touched on the significant impact of social media, particularly in influencing the travel habits of affluent UAE and Saudi travellers. “We’ve seen how social media posts by influential figures, like Sheikh Hamdan, can drive demand for a destination,” Bevan shared. He noted that the UAE’s highly educated and affluent travellers are now exploring beyond traditional luxury hubs like London and Paris, with the Maldives gaining popularity.
According to Bevan, the pandemic accelerated certain trends that were already gaining traction. One such trend is “bleisure” (business and leisure), though he pointed out that some major corporations, such as Amazon, are shifting back to in-office work. However, the demand for longer stays and more immersive experiences remains strong, driven in part by a heightened awareness of sustainability.
“People are now more conscious of their impact when traveling, so they are opting for longer stays,” Bevan said. He also highlighted the growing desire for meaningful experiences, whether they are culinary adventures, cultural immersion, or wellness retreats.
This summer is shaping up to be better for Bulgarian tourism compared to the last pre-pandemic year, 2019, according to Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev. However, current statistics indicate that while Bulgarian tourists are declining, the number of foreign visitors is on the rise.
In the peak summer season, 7,500 fewer Bulgarians visited the Black Sea resorts in Burgas, Varna, and Dobrich compared to last year, with a total of 325,480 Bulgarian tourists in July 2024, down from 333,000 in July 2023. Overall, hotels reported 19,000 fewer Bulgarian guests for the month. Additionally, those who did travel stayed for a shorter average duration, decreasing from 3.2 nights last year to 2.7 nights this July.
Conversely, the influx of foreign tourists is increasing, with 794,000 foreign visitors recorded, marking a 3.6 percent rise compared to July 2023. Notably, three-quarters of these foreign tourists opted for 4- and 5-star accommodations, whereas less than 40 percent of Bulgarian guests chose higher-class hotels. This preference is reflected in the average revenue generated per guest, with hotels earning around 90 leva from Bulgarian tourists and 130 leva from foreign guests.
The surge in foreign tourists has boosted hotel revenues, exceeding half a billion leva in July, a 15 percent increase or 70 million leva more than last year. Despite the increased tourist numbers, the number of accommodation facilities remained stable from the previous year, with 3,698 establishments operating, providing nearly 148,000 rooms and 339,000 beds.
The overall bed occupancy rate in July 2024 reached 57.4 percent, an increase of 1.6 percentage points from the previous year. Occupancy was highest in 4- and 5-star hotels at 72.8 percent, followed by 3-star accommodations at 52 percent, and 1- and 2-star options at 35.2 percent. The total number of overnight stays recorded was 5.9 million, reflecting a 2.4 percent rise year-on-year, with foreign citizens accounting for 3.8 million nights and Bulgarians for 2.1 million. Notably, 75 percent of these stays were in 4- and 5-star hotels.
Robin Khuda has gained attention for his impressive journey from a migrant to a prominent business figure. Khuda recently sold his business to a notable US private equity giant for an astounding $24 billion. His success story exemplifies the potential triumphs available to immigrants who settle and work diligently in foreign lands.
This weekend, Khuda plans to join 100,000 enthusiastic fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to witness the AFL premiership. He is hopeful that the Sydney Swans, his favored team, will clinch the title. This marks not only his support for the team but also his third attempt to witness them secure an illustrious victory in person.
The Sydney Swans boast a commendable record in the AFL’s modern era. They have secured premierships in both 2005 and 2012 and have made it to the grand final on seven occasions over the past two decades. However, Khuda has experienced firsthand the challenges of emerging victorious in the finals, having witnessed defeats in both 2006 and 2022.
As the weekend approaches, anticipation among fans intensifies, and for Khuda, the final represents not only an opportunity to see his team prevail but also a brief respite from his business endeavors.
China is rapidly narrowing the gap with the United States in medical research publications, a trend fuelled by both government policies and the development of artificial intelligence (AI), according to a top scientific publisher.AdvertisementMarie Souliere, head of editorial ethics and quality assurance at Frontiers, one of the biggest academic publishers in the world, said she had seen China’s overall research output slowly overtake that of the US, and the lead was most striking in the field of medicine.“China overtook the US in share of medicine-related articles in 2019, with 22 per cent of our published content in those fields, versus 19 per cent for the US. Since then, the China share has grown, and maintains around 40 per cent,” Souliere said in an interview with the Post this month.Advertisement“At Frontiers alone, 15,158 medicine articles by Chinese researchers were published in 2023, almost eight times more than … in 2019.”“China’s rise in cancer research, particularly in oncology and immunology, gained momentum around 2010, fuelled by significant policy changes and investments in innovation,” Souliere said.
W.H. Shipman Ltd. broke ground Sept. 4 on an expansion of Shipman Business Park.
Peggy Farias, W.H. Shipman president, said in an email approximately 10 acres will be added to the 160-acre park on the northern outskirts of Keaau.
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“There are currently 131 lots in the business park, ranging in size from 1/2 acre to several acres. The expansion will add eight lots at approximately 1/2 acre each,” said Farias.
“Creating new lots at the Shipman Business Park is part of our commitment to continue expanding opportunities and accelerating job growth in Keaau,” she said.
The business park currently is at 100% occupancy, Farias said, and estimated that about 10% of the lots purchased from Shipman remain undeveloped.
The new lots will be available in June 2025.
According to Farias, the only infrastructure improvement with the expansion will be the addition of water laterals —which are pipes that provide water from the water main in the street to the occupant of the lot — and drainage mitigation.
“No additional road construction is needed as all of the new lots will be directly off of Kipimana Street,” she said. “Our aim with the business park remains to serve the needs of the Puna and South Hilo communities by providing space for businesses to grow, create jobs, and add to our local economy.
“These lots are one small step as we build momentum to bring additional housing opportunities, jobs, and services to Keaau as we strive to build a community that our next generations will be proud to be part of.”
Shipman, a family-owned company that owns 16,800 acres of land in Puna, started development of the business park in 1988, six years after the closure of Puna Sugar, one of Shipman’s major tenants.
“Since that time, the Shipman Business Park has become an employment hub serving over 100 businesses and between 900 and 1200 employees,” said Farias, who added further expansion of the park is a strong possibility.
”With an additional 140 acres of zoned industrial land, the business park can continue to grow with the community well into the future,” she said.
Email John Burnett at [email protected].
For many women in midlife, the thought of switching from a steady corporate job to becoming an entrepreneur may feel overwhelming, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. As more and more women over 50 are making the leap, this career transition is not just possible, it’s a path to financial independence, personal fulfillment, and greater control over your life.
Women at midlife are increasingly leaving corporate life behind in search of entrepreneurship because they are seeking more control over their careers, time, and life. After years of climbing the corporate ladder, many women find themselves disillusioned with rigid structures, limited growth opportunities, and lack of flexibility.
Entrepreneurship offers the freedom to set their own schedules, create businesses that align with their passions, and build something meaningful on their own terms.
Additionally, with a wealth of experience and skills accumulated over decades, midlife women are confident in their abilities to succeed in a business of their own, all while achieving greater work-life balance and financial independence.
The desire for autonomy, fulfillment, and impact drives many women to pursue entrepreneurship in this phase of life.
Why Midlife is the Perfect Time for Entrepreneurship
The idea of starting a business in your 40s or 50s might raise a few eyebrows, but there are many reasons why this phase of life is the ideal time to make the shift:
1. Experience and Skills
After years in the workforce, you’ve gained a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and industry-specific skills. These assets give you a huge advantage when building a business; whether it’s navigating tough decisions, managing teams, or understanding market dynamics, you’re already ahead of the game.
2. Clarity and Confidence
By midlife, many women have a clearer understanding of their passions, strengths, and values. You’ve had time to assess what truly matters, which enables you to build a business that aligns with your vision and purpose.
3. Financial Stability
For some, midlife may come with more financial resources, whether through savings, investments, or a paid-off mortgage. These financial buffers can help mitigate the risk of starting a business, providing a foundation to invest in your new venture.
4. Desire for Freedom
By the time you hit midlife, the corporate grind may have worn thin. The 9-to-5 routine might feel more like a cage than a career, and entrepreneurship offers a chance to reclaim your time, energy, and creativity. Making your own decisions and working on your own terms has a lot of appeal.
The Rewards of Midlife Entrepreneurship
The switch from office to entrepreneur is a bold, empowering move that represents much more than just starting a business. It’s about reclaiming control over your life.
For many women in midlife, entrepreneurship offers the opportunity to break free from the constraints of corporate life and create a life centered around freedom, purpose, and financial independence. It’s a chance to build something that aligns with personal values, passions, and vision, allowing them to unlock their full potential.
By stepping into entrepreneurship, women can leave a lasting impact, redefine success on their own terms, and design the life they’ve always dreamed of; one filled with meaning, autonomy, and unlimited possibilities.
The bottom line is that as you embark on this transformative journey from office to entrepreneur, trust in the wealth of experience you’ve gained over the years and fully invest in the passions that drive you. Remember, it’s never too late to start building something extraordinary. Your age and experience are assets, not limitations.
The world is in need of more midlife entrepreneurs, women who bring vision, wisdom, and determination to create meaningful change. There’s no better time to embrace your potential, redefine your future, and start your entrepreneurial journey than today.