When you think of starting a business after 40, the image that pops up probably isn't Elizabeth Bennet or Elinor Dashwood plotting their startup pitch decks. But hear me out—those sharp, resilient heroines from Jane Austen's novels had a secret weapon that every new entrepreneur needs: an understanding of "gentile poverty." Life handed them lemons, and they brewed the most elegant lemonade imaginable.

Would you like a copy of my new guide? Written for women over 40 who are considering going into business for themselves but truly have a...