15 Things I Know At 60 That I Wish I Knew At 30

It’s been said that experience is the toughest teacher, because it gives us the test before the lesson. From here, at 60, the peaks and valleys of decades past come into focus.

Here are 15 tests I’ve received from life, and the hard-won lessons they taught me. Enjoy them—and if you can, skip the hard part. If I could send a letter back to my 30-year-old self, these are the truths I’d underline, highlight, and tape to the bathroom mirror.

1. “It’s never too late” is a lie.

Father Time is undefeated. If you lose your health or energy, it is too late. Don’t wait to take care of your health—regret is heavier than discipline.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” — Chinese Proverb

2. For Men: God gave you two heads.

And enough blood to operate just one at a time. Make wise choices.

“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” — Abraham Lincoln

3. Don’t follow your passion.

Follow people with expensive problems and the money to solve them. Your income as their problem-solver will fund your passion.

“Find out what people need and help them get it. The rest follows.” — Zig Ziglar

4. You're not a special snowflake. The world owes you nothing.

Success is rented, not owned—and rent’s due every day. Entitlement is the enemy of achievement.

Show up. Add value. Earn it—again and again.

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” — Ernest Hemingway

5. You won’t win on hustle alone.

Busyness becomes a badge of honor.

It’s discipline and systems that win over time.

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” — James Clear

6. Freedom is better than status.

The car, the title, the accolades? Nice. But waking up with options is real wealth.

“Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” — Henry David Thoreau

7. Ageism is real.

They won’t say it, but they see you as a risk—too expensive to insure and too close to the exit.

They might think you have one foot in the grave and one on a banana peel. But that's total BS. Show them what they missed. Build something you own and they can’t take away.

“Do not go gentle into that good night.” — Dylan Thomas

8. Start saving in your 20s.

Not because you’re disciplined. Because you’re forgetful. Automation beats motivation.

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world.” — Attributed to Einstein

9. Saying “no” is a superpower.

Say "no" early so you won’t have to say "sorry" later.

 Every “yes” is mortgage on your future. Guard your time like it’s your last breath.

Because one day, it will be.

“The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything.” — Warren Buffett

10. Be careful who you take advice from.

 Not everyone wants you to win. Some want to pull you back. Only listen to those who have done what you want to do.

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” — Jim Rohn

11. Boring consistency beats brilliance.

 Everyone loves breakthroughs. But it’s the reps that move the needle.

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” — Robert Collier

12. Sometimes the worst thing you can do for someone is take away their struggle.

 Growth often comes from the bloody knuckle events in life. Let them fight their way through.

“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” — Chinese Proverb

13. Tell your partner something you adore about them every day.

 Small words of love compound just like savings.

“The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” — Audrey Hepburn

14. Don’t be too proud to sit at the feet of someone half your age.

 Wisdom doesn’t discriminate. Be humble enough to learn from anyone.

“In youth we learn; in age we understand.” — Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach

15. Hold the door open for everyone.

 You don't know their story, and you never know when you're going to meet them again.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” — Plato

 May your next decade be wiser than your last.

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