An entrepreneur who became a millionaire at the age of 36 has revealed why he left the business world to pursue his bizarre hobby full-time.
George Appling, 54, of Austin, Texas, fell in love with all things medieval after attending a Renaissance fair as a child.
But it never occurred to him that he could make a living from his passion, so when it came time to go to college, he decided to pursue a career in business.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Texas A&M University, followed by an MBA from Harvard.
Over the years, he rose through the ranks of the company until he eventually became the CEO of “a mobile phone distribution company.”
An entrepreneur who became a millionaire at the age of 36 has revealed why he left the business world behind to pursue his strange hobby full-time.
George Appling, 54, of Austin, Texas, fell in love with all things medieval after attending a Renaissance fair as a child.
He became a millionaire when he was 36, and although he enjoyed the work he did, deep down he knew that “it was not his passion.”
“I was helping rich companies get richer. That was fine, but I wasn’t sure that was my whole life,” he explained to Business information recently.
Meanwhile, his love for the Renaissance period still burned within him, so on his 40th birthday, George made the decision to quit his well-paying tech job to focus on that.
“That day, I vowed that I would go from doing what the world wanted me to do to doing what I wanted to do,” he said.
Jorge He recalled ‘walking into’ his first Renaissance fair as a child and immediately feeling like he ‘had found his home.’
“My spirit took over my body and I felt like I belonged there,” she added. “I love music, animals, crafts… everything.”
After his revelation on his 40th birthday, he began to think about how he could combine his business knowledge and his love of the Renaissance period, and suddenly an idea struck him.
“When I did the math, I realized that someone was making a lot of money by organizing the Renaissance Festival,” he explained.
But it never occurred to him that he could make a living from his passion, so when it came time to go to college, he decided to pursue a career in business.
For years, he worked hard to climb the corporate ladder before eventually becoming the CEO of “a cell phone distribution company” and was a millionaire by the age of 36.
“I realized I could create a business opportunity out of my passion.”
In 2010, he launched the Sherwood Forest Faire, an event in Austin, Texas, held over a few weekends in the spring that features more than 150 live performances, including jousting, falconry, fire juggling, knife throwing, sword fighting and even a castle siege.
Through his dedication and hard work, George, who acts as the swordsman at the event, has managed to turn the effort into a successful event.
During the summer, he also hosts a camp where kids “can have hands-on learning experiences with everything from blacksmithing to horseback riding.”
“I also co-own a meadery business, sell historical weapons and armor, and rent out castles,” he shared.
But his love for the Renaissance period still burned within him, so on his 40th birthday, George made the decision to quit his well-paying corporate job to focus on that.
In 2010, she launched the Sherwood Forest Faire, an event in Austin, Texas, held over a few weekends in the spring that features more than 150 live performances.
The former tech mogul also uses his experience to do “executive coaching,” where he helps teach others how to start their own businesses.
He also launched a software company with a friend in 2015, which he still “helps operate.”
“The most important thing for me is the joy that the fair and its summer camp bring to people,” he concluded.
‘I want that to be my legacy and I have created a trust to continue the fair even after my death.
“When I’m on my deathbed, I want my last words to be ‘the show must go on.'”
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