My step-son, Ryan, turned eighteen on Saturday (yes, he shares a birthday with our illustrious co-founder, Fred). As this was a milestone celebration for Ryan I wanted to write something special in his card. I wanted to offer him some wise advice that would be useful to him in his adulthood. I struggled to think of what information would have been useful to me at eighteen.

I filled up most of one of Ryan’s birthday cards with my words. When I finished, I realized that everything I wrote could have been summed up in five words: always go with your instincts. This is a lesson that I learned late in life but I have learned to realize the importance of.

What advice would you offer your eighteen year old self?