What should I have accomplished by 36?
See what remarkable builders and entrepreneurs achieved at age 36
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Notable Achievements at Age 36
Founded Thinking Machines Lab (public benefit corporation)
Launched Thinking Machines Lab in February 2025, positioning it to build more understandable, customizable, and capable AI systems.
2020 AP NFL MVP (third MVP)
Led the NFL with 48 touchdown passes, completed a career-high 70.7% of passes, threw for 4,299 yards and won his third AP NFL MVP award.
LinkedIn launched
LinkedIn launched as one of the first business-oriented social networks.
Death announced (Diana succumbs to injuries)
Diana died of injuries sustained in the Paris car crash and was pronounced dead at hospital early on 31 August 1997.
Car crash in Paris (Pont de l'Alma tunnel)
Late 30 Aug 1997 the Mercedes carrying Diana, Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul crashed while reportedly trying to evade paparazzi.
Marries Laurene Powell
Jobs married Laurene Powell in Yosemite; she was pregnant at the time.
Co-founded BlackRock (under Blackstone umbrella)
Fink and seven partners founded BlackRock under the corporate umbrella of The Blackstone Group; he became director and CEO.
Signed the Gdańsk Agreement
On 31 August 1980 Wałęsa signed the Gdańsk Agreement (using an oversized pen) with government representative Mieczysław Jagielski, winning rights to strike and to form an independent union.
Birth of son James McCartney
Birth of son James, the McCartneys' third child together.
Awarded ACM Turing Award
Received the ACM A. M. Turing Award for contributions to analysis of algorithms and design of programming languages (cited TAOCP).
Designed Pascal
Developed the Pascal programming language (1970), a simple, efficient language intended for teaching and reliable system building.
Voting Rights Act signed into law
The Voting Rights Act, a watershed civil‑rights law eliminating many barriers to African‑American voting, was enacted following Selma protests.
Marries Jacqueline Bouvier
Married Jacqueline Bouvier in Newport, Rhode Island; marriage became a prominent public partnership.
Earned M.D., University of Chicago
Completed medical degree (M.D.) while on faculty at the University of Chicago.
Birth of son Ronald Lauder
Second son Ronald Lauder born (later held government posts and company roles).
Franklin stricken with paralytic illness (polio)
Franklin contracts paralytic illness at Campobello Island; Eleanor nurses him and persuades him to remain in politics.
💡 What this means for you
At age 36, you're at a pivotal point where many successful entrepreneurs made their breakthrough. Whether you're building your first company or scaling an existing one, these examples show what's possible with focus and execution.
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