A few weeks ago, my friend Bruce Hunter sent me a short note that hit harder than most books I’ve read this year. It was a list of ten life lessons from an octogenarian—the kind of wisdom that comes only after decades of wins, losses, and the quiet in-between moments that shape who we are.

What struck me wasn’t simply the advice itself—it was how immediately applicable it felt. This wasn’t “someday when I’m older” guidance. It was right now guidance. The kind that makes you stop scrolling, start thinking, and maybe even change something before the day is over.

Here are those ten lessons, with a few reflections of my own along the way.

1. Network intensely.

Luck, as it turns out, has a lot to do with who you know—and who knows you. And the magic isn’t just in collecting contacts; it’s in nurturing them. Send that interesting article, make the introduction, spark a conversation. The more threads you weave, the stronger your net.

2. Read everything.

As we get older, our focus ...