Did you make the decision to enter a PhD program ‘late’ in life?
Yeah, I had fought my way to lower-middle management in Big Pharma, and was losing my way in the midst of the corruption and general nastiness (although I am pretty good at corporate political warfare). My wife, noting the 1000 or so military books on my shelves recommended I do something I might enjoy, like study military history professionally. And I listen to She Who Knows All.
I had to start over, and retained my position to pay the bills until near the end, but it was worth it. I was awarded my PhD when in my 40’s. (My daddy earned his MA in history at 57. His specialty is the Banana Wars—he’s a career Marine.)