The Double-Edged Sword of Early Success: When Youth Meets Achievement
When Jane Pratt launched Sassy magazine at age 24, photographers wanted her to pose blowing bubbles with bright pink gum. The imagery was telling: here was a groundbreaking editor-in-chief, being styled to emphasize her youth while simultaneously celebrating her success. That tension—between age and accomplishment—has only intensified in today's culture.
From Silicon Valley wunderkinds to literary prodigies, our fascination with young achievement has become almost obsessive. Forbes 30 Under 30, Fortune 40 Under 40, and even lists like 22 Under 22 quantify and celebrate early success. It's a cultural fixation that speaks to widespread aspirations: According to Card rates, 86% of Americans don't consider their current job their "dream career," with most abandoning such hopes by 25 due to financial constraints or lack of opportunity.
But what's the reality behind these glossy success stories?
"The founder nation that we live in has kind of changed expectations for people," explains Dr. Madelaine Ellberger of Downtown Behavioral Wellness. "We live in a world now where there's exposure to the idea that you can literally do anything—and there are actually people doing anything."
Yet early achievement remains the exception, not the rule. Most American women reach their peak earnings in their 40s, according to Payscale. Even those who achieve early success often grapple with unexpected challenges.
Take Tea Obreht, whose first novel became a New York Times bestseller when she was 26. "I think that so much of anyone's career has to do with hard work, but it also has to do with luck and timing—so many external factors that you have no control over," she reflects.
Consider Cami Tellez, who founded intimates brand Parade from her Columbia University dorm room in 2019. By 25, her company reached a $200 million valuation. "Parade hugely benefitted from my inexperience in the underwear category," she says. "The scale was shocking to people—and as much as it was what I envisioned, it was even shocking to me."
But early success comes with its own set of challenges. Phillip Picardi, who became a media wunderkind at Teen Vogue and later founded Condé Nast's first LGBTQ+ publication, experienced both the highs and lows. "The things that you feared about it were true and the things that you hoped would happen also happened," he says. A subsequent mental health crisis led him to reassess his relationship with work and pursue different paths.
The pressure to maintain momentum can be overwhelming. Obreht took six years to write her second book, battling imposter syndrome along the way. "I think the biggest fear you have as someone who has a big hit right out the gate is the idea that actually you're an imposter," she says. "Are people going to realize the emperor has no clothes?"
The sacrifice of personal life for professional success is another common theme. Pratt recalls isolating herself from social activities to focus on work. Dianna Cohen, founder of Crown Affair, admits, "Every decision felt personal, and every success or setback was a reflection of who I was as an individual."
The public nature of early success adds another layer of complexity. "I don't know a single female founder who hasn't had to mourn the loss of their privacy while embracing the birth of their new platform," says Tellez, now creative director at L'eggs.
The key to sustainable success, many have found, lies in separating personal identity from professional achievement. Cohen has learned to step back while maintaining ambition, moving closer to family, and prioritizing personal wellness. "Now, I see myself as a leader who is deeply invested in the company's mission, but I also recognize that my identity isn't solely defined by the business."
Perhaps most importantly, success stories shouldn't be defined by age. As Obreht tells her writing students who worry about being "too old": It's not when something happens that gives it value—it's the achievement itself that matters.
For those who've achieved early success, the journey continues. As Tellez puts it, "I am still chasing the high of running the most culturally relevant brand in any given moment—and I think I always will. I know I'll do it many times in my life and the key thing I'm aiming for is being prolific."
The lesson? Early achievement isn't an endpoint but rather the beginning of a longer journey—one that requires balance, perspective, and the understanding that success at any age is worth celebrating.