" I read stuff like “it’s rare that you see an artist in his 30s or 40s able to really contribute something amazing” from Steve Jobs, and it has the uncomfortable effect of simultaneously depressing me and jolting me with a sense of panic."

I tend to disagree a bit with this quote. This article called 'late bloomers' explains most of my reasoning: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/10/20/081020fa_fact_...