These days the world strongly associates success with youth. The cultural narrative goes something like this: if you didn’t create a world-changing algorithm in your dorm room before you could legally drink, then why are you even trying?

Don’t get me wrong, the world loves a good late bloomer story — but only in retrospect.

If you’re a potential late bloomer, chances are you’ve already spent enough time listening to your own voice drone on in your head like a sad audiobook of unmet potential. ...