Five years ago, John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, shared his fatherly advice on how to live a long, happy, and honorable life, writes Art Carey for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Surprisingly, the financial titan who died in January at age 89 said he would not advise anybody to follow in his footsteps.

“I was probably too dedicated to business,” he said.

Furthermore, he said that we are all very different human beings with different assets and different liabilities. So, instead of following in somebody else’s path, “follow your own instincts, try to be yourself, and live your own life.”

In addition to following those simple rules, Bogle emphasized the importance of never forgetting your family and being a decent human being.

“Don’t think you’re better than anybody else, no matter what your condition of wealth or importance,” he said.

Bogle also noted that it is struggle and not success in itself that makes people stronger.

“To be corny, though not inaccurate, success is a journey and not a destination,” he said. “You don’t say, ‘I’ve arrived, I’m here.’ You say, ‘I’ll try to do a little better tomorrow, and all the tomorrows after that.’”

Read more about John Bogle’s advice in the Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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