I’m Almost 60 — and I’m Just Getting Started

Michael Parise
7 days ago
2 min read

By Michael “Wheels” Parise

Let me get one thing straight: I don’t believe in retirement. Retirement is for people who settle. Who quit. Who stop building. That’s never been me.

I’m almost 60 years old, and I still wake up with the same fire in my gut I had when I told my mother at 8 years old that I was going to be a comedian. I’ve lived a dozen lives—and I’m not done.

From Stages to Startups: The Entrepreneur Life

I’ve headlined comedy clubs across the country. I acted in B-movies. I toured with Andrew Dice Clay for over 30 years. We launched a podcast—Rollin' With Dice and Wheels—and hit #1 on the charts. I launched others—some hit, some missed. That’s the game. That’s growth.

I opened a café on the NFL Studios backlot in Los Angeles, slinging espresso to execs and creatives. I ran a full-scale catering company in Las Vegas, while performing six nights a week at the Rio Hotel & Casino. Every morning I cooked. Every night I killed on stage.

People say “pick a lane.”I built the highway.

Food. Faith. Funny. Failure. Repeat.

I created Cannoli Kings Catering in L.A.I opened a farm-to-table restaurant in North Carolina.I launched a coffee and food trailer in Venice, Florida that locals still remember. And now? I’m the founder of Legally Yours TN, offering 24/7 mobile notary and wedding officiant services across Middle Tennessee.

Because the form doesn’t matter. The drive does.

I Don’t Just Believe in Reinvention—I Live It

While raising a family, weathering hurricanes, and closing up beloved businesses, I never stopped. I kept building, rebranding, and pushing forward.

People ask: “How do you keep doing it?” Because I didn’t come this far just to come this far.

Failure? I've worn it. Success? I’ve earned it. And I’m not even close to finished.

The Legacy Isn’t the Brand—It’s the Will to Keep Going

Legacy doesn’t mean leaving behind something pretty. It means never letting your gifts rot on the shelf. My legacy is this:

Reinvent when it doesn’t work.
Double down when it does.
And keep showing up no matter what.

I’m not winding down—I’m ramping up.

Final Thought: If You’re Still Breathing, You’re Still Building

Don’t let anyone tell you your time has passed. Your prime is whenever you decide to start again.

I’m almost 60. I’ve built brands, shows, restaurants, a beautiful marriage, a loving, strong family, and a life that keeps evolving. And I’m just getting started.

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