Boomerang adults living with their parents in this economy can take inspiration from President Lincoln. It took him 29 years to get to the White House.

While he left his home and his demanding father in 1831, as soon as he was legally able to do it, he wasn’t immediately on a standard career path to president.

He ran for the state legislature and won his home district overwhelmingly, but lost the election.

He was elected captain of a company of soldiers from his hometown who volunteered to fight in the Black Hawk Indian War.

Then he became to town postmaster.

Then he opened a store, but it went bankrupt, plunging him into debt.

In 1834, he made a successful run for the state legislature, and his political career was launched. He was 25.

He earned a law license in 1836 and was re-elected to the legislature.

He was elected a U.S. congressman, but served only one term.

He launched failed attempts to become a U.S. senator in 1855 and 1858.

He snatched the Republican Party’s nomination for president in 1860, and the rest is history.