It’s easy to think that admiration is something you either have or you don’t.

That if you’ve built a good reputation, worked hard, and treated people well, respect will naturally follow you into your later years.

But the truth is, staying admired—genuinely admired—well into your 70s and beyond takes more than just a strong past. It’s about how you continue to show up in the present.

Over time, certain habits can quietly chip away at the way others see you. And often, they’re things we don’t even realize we’re doing.

If your goal is to be highly admired for decades to come, it’s time to let go of the habits that could be holding you back. Here’s what to watch out for

1) Stop believing that past success guarantees future admiration

Admiration isn’t something you earn once and keep forever.

No matter what you’ve accomplished, respect doesn’t automatically carry over into the years ahead unless you continue to live in a way that inspires it.

People admire those who keep evolving—who stay engaged, open-minded, and willing to grow. If you rest on past achievements and assume they’ll always be enough, you may find admiration fading faster than you expected.

Staying relevant and respected means staying curious, staying involved, and proving that who you are today is just as admirable as who you were yesterday.

2) Let go of the need to always be the smartest person in the room

For a long time, I thought that proving my intelligence was the key to earning respect.

I used to jump into conversations with my opinions before really listening. I’d correct small mistakes in what others said, thinking I was being helpful. Looking back, I can see how exhausting that must have been for the people around me.

The truth is, nobody admires someone who constantly needs to prove they’re the smartest. What people respect is wisdom—and wisdom comes from listening, learning, and knowing that you don’t have all the answers.

If you want to be admired as you get older, focus less on showing what you know and more on staying open to what you can still learn.

3) Stop thinking that respect comes from being unshakable

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” – Albert Einstein

For years, I thought strength meant standing firm in my beliefs no matter what. I saw changing my mind as weakness, as if admitting I was wrong would make people respect me less.

But the most admired people aren’t the ones who refuse to budge—they’re the ones who are willing to evolve. They listen, they reflect, and when faced with new information, they adjust.

Being admired into your later years isn’t about proving you’ve always been right. It’s about showing that you’re still growing, still thinking, and still open to becoming better than you were yesterday.

4) Stop surrounding yourself only with people who agree with you

As people get older, their social circles tend to shrink. Part of this is natural—life changes, priorities shift—but another reason is that many people start gravitating only toward those who think like them.

This creates a dangerous echo chamber. Studies have shown that as people age, they often become more set in their ways, not because they’re incapable of change, but because they stop exposing themselves to different perspectives.

The most admired people don’t just tolerate differing opinions—they seek them out. They stay engaged with younger generations, have conversations with those who challenge them, and remain curious about the world beyond their own experiences.

If you only surround yourself with voices that reinforce what you already believe, admiration may quietly slip away without you even realizing it.

5) Stop dismissing the experiences of younger generations

Nothing makes admiration fade faster than acting like the past was the only time that mattered.

It’s easy to look at younger generations and think they don’t know what they’re talking about—that their struggles aren’t as real, their challenges aren’t as tough, or that they just don’t understand how the world works.

But every generation faces obstacles that shape them in ways others can’t fully grasp.

The people who are admired well into their later years are the ones who respect the experiences of those who come after them. They don’t roll their eyes at new ideas or brush off changing values.

Instead, they listen, they engage, and they recognize that wisdom isn’t just about looking back—it’s also about looking forward.

6) Stop thinking that giving advice is always the best way to help

There was a time when I thought the best way to support others was to offer solutions. If someone shared a problem, I’d jump in with advice—sometimes before they’d even finished speaking.

But I’ve learned that admiration doesn’t come from always having an answer. It comes from knowing when to simply listen.

People don’t always want advice. Sometimes, they just want to be heard, to feel understood rather than instructed. The most admired people aren’t those who constantly hand out wisdom—they’re the ones who make others feel valued, respected, and capable of finding their own way forward.

7) Stop assuming respect should be given just because of your age

Age can bring experience, wisdom, and perspective—but it doesn’t automatically earn admiration.

The people who are truly respected in their later years are the ones who continue to show respect to others, regardless of age or status. They don’t demand reverence simply because they’ve been around longer.

Instead, they lead by example, offering kindness, patience, and humility in their interactions.

Nothing pushes people away faster than acting entitled to admiration. Respect is a two-way street, and those who remain admired well into their 70s and beyond understand that it has to be continually earned, not just expected.

8) Stop believing that it’s too late to change

Nothing diminishes admiration faster than the belief that who you are now is the only version of you that will ever exist.

Some people hit a certain age and decide that growth is for the younger generations—that their beliefs, habits, and ways of seeing the world are set in stone.

But the most admired people are the ones who never stop evolving. They embrace new experiences, challenge their own assumptions, and prove that change isn’t just possible—it’s essential.

Admiration isn’t about what you’ve done in the past. It’s about how you continue to show up, learn, and become someone worth looking up to, no matter your age.

The bottom line

Admiration isn’t about clinging to who you used to be—it’s about how you continue to grow.

Every stage of life offers a new chance to evolve, to stay curious, and to connect with others in meaningful ways. The people who remain respected well into their later years aren’t those who demand it, but those who earn it through their actions, their humility, and their willingness to adapt.

It’s never too late to shift the habits that might be holding you back. Small changes—listening more, staying open-minded, focusing on connection over control—have a way of shaping not just how others see you, but how you see yourself.

The most admired people don’t just leave a legacy of past accomplishments. They inspire in real time, proving that growth has no expiration date.