Now that we’re living longer, changing jobs more frequently, and seeking greater meaning in our work, it’s natural for more people to “bloom” later in life. However, the concept of winning earlier in life is more impressive is increasingly becoming an outdated view of accomplishment.

The term “late bloomer” comes from our expectation that people complete particular life goals at young ages and that those who don’t get left behind. Current concepts of success typically come with the pressure to achieve it as soon as possible due to a fixation on youthful accomplishments. Feelings of failure, negative self-comparison, and even the sense of being forgotten or abandoned are common in “late bloomers”. Removing the pressure to attain success on a set timeline is beneficial not only to mental health, but it can also support those who are branded as “late bloomers” in reaping the rewards later in life.

We need to rethink how we see people’s accomplishments based on their age, and we can’t tolerate biases that lead us to undervalue a person’s latent potential. Instead, keep in mind that success is success regardless of age.