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Ever noticed how quickly we dismiss advice these days?
Someone shares their perspective online, and within seconds, we’ve already decided whether they’re worth listening to based on their credentials, their age, or how well they match our existing worldview.
But here’s what I’ve observed after years of running my own business and watching how different generations approach decision-making: People over 60 have a completely different vetting process for advice.
They do things that younger generations often see as outdated or unnecessary.
We live in an age of instant information, where a quick Google search or a viral TikTok seems to hold all the answers. Yet the older generation still takes their time, still asks questions we consider redundant, still insists on processes we think are inefficient.
Are they just stuck in their ways? Or have we become too quick to trust, too eager to accept the first answer that sounds good?
After spending time observing both my father’s generation and my own, I’ve identified nine things that people over 60 consistently do before accepting advice that younger folks tend to skip entirely.
And honestly? We might be the ones missing out.
1) They ask about your failures, not just your successes
When was the last time you heard someone under 40 ask, “What didn’t work for you?”
People over 60 almost always want to know about the mistakes, the wrong turns, the ventures that crashed and burned.
They understand something fundamental that took me years of running my own company to grasp: Failure teaches you far more than success ever will.
My father, who spent decades working in a factory and getting involved with the union, taught me this early on.
When his colleagues would propose new strategies, he’d always ask about previous attempts that failed. Not to be negative, but because he knew that’s where the real lessons lived.
Younger generations? We’re drawn to success stories like moths to flame. We want the highlight reel, the proven formula, the guaranteed path.
But those over 60 know that understanding what doesn’t work is often more valuable than knowing what does.
2) They consider the source’s motivations
“What’s in it for them?”
If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard someone over 60 ask this question, I’d be retired by now. They instinctively question why someone is offering advice, especially when it’s free or unsolicited.
This skepticism isn’t cynicism; it’s wisdom. Running my own business taught me that most advice comes with an agenda, whether conscious or not.
Clients recommend strategies that benefit them. Competitors share “helpful tips” that might actually slow you down.
Meanwhile, younger people often take advice at face value, especially if it comes from someone with an impressive title or a large following. We forget to ask the crucial question: Why are they telling me this?
3) They test advice on a small scale first
Here’s something I’ve noticed repeatedly: When someone over 60 receives advice, they rarely implement it wholesale. Instead, they run small experiments.
Thinking about a new investment strategy? They’ll try it with a small amount first. Considering a lifestyle change? They’ll test it for a week before committing.
Contrast this with how younger generations often operate. We read about intermittent fasting and immediately commit to a six-month program. We hear about a new productivity system and overhaul our entire workflow overnight.
The older generation’s approach might seem overly cautious, but it’s actually incredibly smart. They understand that advice, no matter how good it sounds, needs to be tested in your specific context before you go all in.
4) They seek multiple opinions from different perspectives
When people over 60 need advice, they don’t stop at one source. They ask their doctor AND their friend who went through something similar AND their neighbor who works in the field.
This might seem inefficient in our age of instant answers, but there’s method to it. They’re not looking for consensus; they’re building a complete picture. Each perspective adds a piece to the puzzle.
I learned this lesson the hard way when starting my business. I took advice from one successful entrepreneur and ran with it, only to discover later that his approach worked because of specific circumstances that didn’t apply to me.
Had I sought diverse perspectives, I would have saved myself months of wasted effort.
5) They verify credentials through experience, not titles
A fancy degree or an impressive job title might get younger people’s attention, but those over 60 want to know: What have you actually done?
They’ll ask specific questions about real situations. They want to hear stories, not theories. They’re less impressed by where you studied and more interested in what you’ve lived through.
This approach would save younger generations from a lot of bad advice. We’re too easily swayed by credentials that look good on paper but don’t necessarily translate to real-world expertise.
6) They consider how advice fits their specific situation
“That’s great for them, but would it work for me?”
People over 60 consistently ask this question, while younger folks often try to force-fit advice into their lives regardless of context.
They understand what took me years to learn through running my business: Most advice is useless until you’re actually in the situation.
What works for a startup in Silicon Valley might not work for a small business in Manchester. What works for a single person might not work for someone with three kids.
This isn’t about making excuses; it’s about being realistic about implementation.
7) They value advice from people who’ve been through similar life stages
Ever notice how people over 60 often seek advice from others who’ve already navigated similar life transitions?
They intuitively understand something we often forget: Advice from someone who’s been where you’re going is worth more than advice from someone who’s never been there at all, no matter how smart they are.
When I was in my twenties working corporate, I thought I knew everything about business. It wasn’t until I actually started my own company that I realized how little I understood about cash flow, client management, and the art of saying no.
8) They ask follow-up questions that seem obvious
“But what if…?”
“Have you considered…?”
“What happens when…?”
These questions might seem tedious to younger generations accustomed to rapid-fire information exchange, but they serve a crucial purpose. They’re pressure-testing the advice, looking for weak points, understanding limitations.
I’ve mentioned this before, but understanding why people believe what they believe is often more useful than proving them wrong.
These seemingly obvious questions help uncover the reasoning behind advice, which is often more valuable than the advice itself.
9) They trust their gut even when advice sounds logical
Perhaps most importantly, people over 60 have learned to trust their instincts. Even when advice sounds perfectly logical, if something feels off, they pause.
Younger generations often override their instincts in favor of data, expert opinions, or social proof. We’ve been taught to trust science and expertise over intuition.
But those over 60 have lived long enough to know that gut feelings often pick up on subtleties that logical analysis misses.
The bottom line
In our rush to optimize everything and hack our way to success, we’ve perhaps become too trusting, too quick to accept advice from anyone with a platform or a persuasive argument.
The slower, more deliberate approach of those over 60 might seem outdated in our fast-paced world, but it’s actually a masterclass in critical thinking.
They understand that good advice isn’t just about the information itself; it’s about context, source, motivation, and applicability.
Maybe the real question isn’t whether older generations are too slow to trust advice. Maybe it’s whether we’re too quick to dismiss their methods of evaluation.
Next time you’re offered advice, try adopting even one or two of these practices. You might find that slowing down actually gets you further, faster.
What’s your experience with this? Have you noticed these differences between generations when it comes to accepting advice?
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