A SharpBrains reader just forwarded this very thoughtful letter by investing legend Byron Wien, as a living example of many principles espoused by our new book. The letter features twenty excellent life lessons learned, including the five below. Enjoy! (bold emphasis mine)

Byron Wien Discusses Lessons Learned in His First 80 Years:

“1. Concentrate on finding a big idea that will make an impact on the people you want to influence…If you want to be successful and live a long, stimulating life, keep yourself at risk intellectually all the time.
6. Evolve.  Try to think of your life in phases so you can avoid a burn-out.  Do the numbers crunching in the early phase of your career.  Try developing concepts later on.  Stay at risk throughout the process.
7. Travel extensively.  Try to get everywhere before you wear out.  Attempt to meet local interesting people where you travel and keep in contact with them throughout your life.  See them when you return to a place.
19. Every year try doing something you have never done before that is totally out of your comfort zone.  It could be running a marathon, attending a conference that interests you on an off-beat subject that will be populated by people very different from your usual circle of associates and friends or traveling to an obscure destination alone.  This will add to the essential process of self-discovery.
20. Never retire.  If you work forever, you can live forever.  I know there is an abundance of biological evidence against this theory, but I’m going with it anyway.”