Meaningful Lives in an Age of Longevity
“The 21st century will be about adding value by coming up with ideas and innovation that can be replicated or purchased by others.[1]
The central theme of The 100-Year Life is the gift of extra years. Focusing on the big forces of longevity, authors Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott persuade their readers to rethink the future of their lives individually, in corporations, and from a government perspective. If age is no longer a way of thinking about stages of life, then what is the flourishing life to look like in the future? These are complex issues; yet, those looking forward to a long life are faced with making some early choices about what path to walk.
Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott are professors at London Business School. Gratton is a British organizational theorist and consultant and founder of HSM Advisory–she is known for her work on organizational behavior. Ironically, her company launched the Future of Work Research Consortium where her work with the world’s biggest companies focuses on the future. Andrew Scott is a British economist and is also known for his work on longevity and macroeconomics. I found it interesting that he once served as a lecturer at Oxford University and that during the first half of his academic career, he focused on fiscal policy, business cycles and debt management. Thinking back to our discussion of Postmodernism[2] of how the academic world and culture are being attacked bearing the fruit of skepticism toward meta narratives, I was surprised how these two academic authors and thinkers presented a more objective perspective of values about longevity. I was also slightly cautious.
Here’s why Gratton’s and Scott’s Reasoning Surprised Me
- Finances and making more money makes life easier but that wasn’t their driving point.
The three-Stage Life of education, work and retirement worked well; it’s a lock step plan followed by people born in the 19th and 20th centuries. With the theoretical lives of Jack, Jimmy and Jane, Gratton’s and Scott’s analysis show that when life extends, people won’t have any choice but to work longer. Even though they conclude that the three stage life model just won’t work for our extended lives, based on economic data[3], they also argue that a very long retirement will unlikely provide the stimulation and camaraderie people value and need. What surprised me about the first third of the book was how much I resonated with the truth that money, while important, really isn’t everything when it comes to dealing with a long life. The chapter on financing helped me break through a barrier I was experiencing because I do want to work longer but not just for the money; I want to “Consider ways of redesigning life so that long [life] becomes a gift that is energizing, creative and fun,”[4] reflecting a flourishing life.
- Future Human beings will still have the advantage over AI and Technology
Reminiscent of our brief discussions last semester on tacit knowledge and Eve Poole’s work[5] on AI, the authors made a believable case that AI does not have certain capabilities. A significant amount of human knowledge is tacit. We solve complex problems by relying on our expertise, inductive reasoning and communication skills. Similar to Poole’s junk code concerning our messy emotions and our unshakable ability to keep making ourselves, The 100 Year Life capitalizes on our intangibles, our creativity, our empathy, and that at the end of the day, it’s love that makes us happy–[6] and a healthy brain![7]
Most of us teach or communicate for a living; how do we reimagine education shifting as people have 5 or 6 careers over their very long lives? What kinds of classes would need to be taught? How does this impact the role of the Church? Will this happen in a university? How will it look in the future. But the driving question for me was WHO has this longer life advantage? With our current inequalities in healthcare, education and job markets, I wondered if the longer life would be one of flourishing for everyone? And it was here where my thinking started to stray as I finished reading the book. Where is the 100-year-life a very real part of God’s plan for us? The reason I ask is I believe a longer life must have deeper meaning than just length of days.
- What Might a Meaningful Long Life Achieve?
First Peter 3:10-11 (first recorded by David in Psalm 34) challenges our desire for a long life by saying, “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let her keep her tongue from evil and her lips from speaking deceit; let her turn away from evil and do good; let her seek peace and pursue it” (ESV). Or Proverbs 3:1-2, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you” (ESV).
I read The 100-Year Life around the same time we walked through the National Archives during our Doctoral Advance in Washington D.C. last week with our three cohorts. Power & Light, by photographer Russell Lee, documents the plight of Americans for the Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression focusing on various American coal communities. The documentary helped change the narrative around the coal strikes of 1946. What stayed with me about Lee’s exhibit was the strength and resilience these families demonstrated in the face of harsh surroundings. Lee was meticulous about documenting the details of the coal miner’s lives, deductions in pay, lost work days, perilous conditions, and the union meetings where they fought for better treatment. The outcome was social change. Russell Lee inspired a nation for social change through his photography. He believed, “visual evidence of struggle and hardship could generate support for reforms.”[8]
As we consider what it means to live 100 years, you and I could potentially achieve quite a bit. At the end of the day, the only reason I would want a longer life for me or my family is if the form we would take could be a meaningful path of social justice, speaking for the voiceless, and having freedom to make choices for another person’s freedom. I don’t just want to spend my energy on how to produce something that can be replicated but I want to live by values, like Russell Lee, who used his life to define and shape something that would last beyond this life and into eternity.
[1] Gratton, Lynda. The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity. London, UK ; Bloomsbury Business, 2017. P. 75
[2] Hicks, Stephen Ronald Craig. “Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault.” Roscoe, Illinois: Ockham’s Razor Publishing, 2011.
[3] The authors used official UK ONS data, if Jimmy is born in 1971 his cohort based measure of life expectancy, given he is currently 45, is actually 87. P. 247.
[4] Gratton, The 100-Year Life. P. 45.
[5] Poole, Eve. Robot Souls: Programming in Humanity. First edition. Boca Raton: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2024.
[6] Gratton, The 100-Year Life. P.73
[7] Rock, David. Your Brain at Work, Revised and Updated: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long. 1st edition. Harper Business, 2020.
[8] “Power & Light.”
About the Author
Pam Lau
Pamela Havey Lau brings more than 25 years of experience in speaking, teaching, writing and mediating. She has led a variety of groups, both small and large, in seminars, trainings, conferences and teachings. Pam’s passion is to see each person communicate with their most authentic voice with a transparent faith in Jesus Christ. With more than 10, 000 hours of writing, researching, and teaching the heart and soul of Pam’s calling comes from decades of walking alongside those who have experienced healing through pain and peace through conflict. As a professor and author, Pam deeply understands the role of mentoring and building bridges from one generation to another. She has developed a wisdom in how to connect leaders with their teams. Her skill in facilitating conversations extends across differences in families, businesses, schools, universities, and nonprofits. Pam specializes in simplifying complex issues and as a business owner, has helped numerous CEOs and leaders communicate effectively. She is the author of Soul Strength (Random House) and A Friend in Me (David C. Cook) and is a frequent contributor to online and print publications. You can hear Pam’s podcast on Real Life with Pamela Lau on itunes. Currently, Pam is a mediator for families, churches, and nonprofits. You can contact Pam through her website: PamelaLau.com. Brad and Pam live in Newberg, Oregon; they have three adult daughters and one son-in-law. One small, vocal dog, Cali lives in the family home where she tries to be the boss! As a family they enjoy worshiping God, tennis, good food and spending time with family and friends.11 responses to “Meaningful Lives in an Age of Longevity”
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Here’s what I thought while reading your post: if we are granted a longer life, how do we ensure it’s not just about personal success or replication, but about leaving a legacy of justice and impact? I don’t know that I have a great answer for that. However, I still think even if we live longer … will our later lives be that great? So many things to think about from your post! Thanks for it.
Mathieu~
You are so intuitive that you heard my underlying question begging to be asked. I don’t know how to answer that question, either. How do we ensure a longer life without suffering? Heartache? Trauma? Meaninglessness?
Pam, you write, “The chapter on financing helped me break through a barrier I was experiencing because I do want to work longer but not just for the money; I want to “Consider ways of redesigning life so that long [life] becomes a gift that is energizing, creative and fun,”[4] reflecting a flourishing life.”
I find that I feel the same when it comes to working longer – it’s not about money but about giving to the world, keeping my mind active, etc. I am wondering what a life that “is energizing, creative and fun” looks like for you.
Hiking Green Lakes with Kally Elliot! Lots of tennis and cooking for people I love! Ha!
When I think about an energizing, creative, fun life – I desire to return to the very things that fill me up rather than sap me of the energy God gives me. For me it’s a cycle of studying/learning especially from Scripture, solving a problem in my culture and then sharing what I’ve learned with whomever it may serve. I am energized by deep relationships but also by meeting new people.
Solving and Resolving problems that bring restoration through any kind of conflict resolution is life giving to me. What about you?
Hi Pam,
I enjoyed reading, “As we consider what it means to live 100 years, you and I could potentially achieve quite a bit. At the end of the day, the only reason I would want a longer life for me or my family is if the form we would take could be a meaningful path of social justice, speaking for the voiceless, and having freedom to make choices for another person’s freedom. I don’t just want to spend my energy on how to produce something that can be replicated but I want to live by values, like Russell Lee, who used his life to define and shape something that would last beyond this life and into eternity.”
I too believe that you can do something unique for God. However, my aspirations are a little bit lower. My hopes are to replicate our children’s sports ministry in Ukraine and in Kenya.
In Mr. Lee’s photo gallery, I saw a Japanese child sitting in the window. I had not considered that Asians were a part of the pool of workers.
Thanks…
Shalom
Russell~
Thank you for pointing out the Japanese boy in Russell Lee’s photography. In fact, that was also what struck me about his work and our country at that time–the diversity of people who committed to the coal mine work.
I am not sure people’s aspirations or neither higher nor lower than another. I have a conviction that God prepares specific works for us before the beginning of time–it’s the road less traveled. Your road is neither higher or lower it’s just in a different direction–like Ukraine! Always good to connect with you!
You wrote, “I don’t just want to spend my energy on how to produce something that can be replicated but I want to live by values.” This statement makes me think more about how I wanted to address the question you raised under point #2, where you asked, “how do we reimagine education shifting as people have 5 or 6 careers over their very long lives? What kinds of classes would need to be taught?” The question/answer I want to wrestle with is…How could our education address more of the life and spiritual formation part of life and career (the “values” you talked about living by) and at the same time create pathways for skill development in any number of disciplines. This isn’t a new question, but it is one that I keep going over in my mind…balancing both Rule of Life / formation AND technical education in specific industries. What needs to change in our educational framework? How will classes even be taught? How do they need to be taught, differently? So much to think about. Great post, Pam.
Travis,
In the podcast with David Brooks and James Davison Hunter, I heard Brooks address this very issue when he mentioned how often he hears Christian university professors talking more about character projects in their spaces.
Your questions also take me back to our time in Oxford when Martyn Percy talked about our need as institutions to stay in the realm of education and not just to focus on training. Remember that? I think there’s something deeper there for you!
Hi Pam!
Thank you for your brilliant post.
You wrote, “At the end of the day, the only reason I would want a longer life for me or my family is if the form we would take could be a meaningful path of social justice, speaking for the voiceless, and having freedom to make choices for another person’s freedom.”
Your thinking is ahead of the curve! You really think clearly about what benefits you will share with others through the long life that God has given you and your family because you are not thinking about your own pleasure but using your life to help others.
To God be the glory!
Dinka~
So what do you see as a meaningful, longer life? I find this discussion paradoxical when I read the magazine called Voice of the Martyr! Christians around our globe are being persecuted for living by Christ’s values. How do you make sense of that disparity when we are having a conversation about longevity? It’s always so meaningful to connect with you!
I love your style of writing. It is so warm, inviting, humble, and intelligent. I just have one easy question. How are you presently pioneering a path for social justice and speaking for the voiceless? Thanks again Pam for a well written post! 😊