“When are you retiring?”, is a question I often get. Many people anticipate that I will follow the traditional life map and retire sometime in the next 5-7 years. A few of my friends have already done so. When I explain that I plan to work for some time and might even consider doing something else in the next decade they are surprised. Many of them are following the traditional, linear map of life that plans for retirement at age 65. However, there is a newer life map that is emerging.<\/p>\n
From the start of the Doctor of Leadership and Global Perspectives (DLGP) program, Dr. Clark has underscored the significance of creating metaphorical maps as we engage with various authors and topics. These maps serve multiple purposes: they describe the terrain, provide insights into our position relative to the landscape, and facilitate the planning of a deliberate course from our current location to our desired destination.<\/p>\n
One such significant map is presented in the book\u00a0The One Hundred Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity<\/em>\u00a0by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the world we inhabit, particularly in the context of increased life expectancy and the implications it has on our personal and professional lives.<\/p>\n In this blog post, I will look at our current location, examining the present state of our lives and careers in the context of longevity. I will then explore the landscape, identifying the key challenges and opportunities that arise from living longer lives. Finally, I will propose strategies to help us navigate this journey, offering practical advice on how to make the most of the extended lifespan that many of us can expect to enjoy. Through this exploration, we will gain a clearer understanding of how to effectively map out our lives in an age of unprecedented longevity.<\/p>\n Our Location: We\u2019re Not In Kansas Anymore<\/strong><\/p>\n A child born in 1914 had a mere 1 percent chance of living to the ripe old age of 100. In stark contrast, an American child born in 2007 is projected to have a 50% chance of still being alive at 104 years old.[1]<\/a> This remarkable shift in life expectancy can be attributed to the systematic efforts of the medical community in combating diseases that threaten human existence. The authors note, \u201cSince 1840 there has been an increase of three months for every year. That\u2019s two or three years of life for every decade.\u201d[2]<\/a>\u00a0 What this means is that, if things progress, the younger we are now the longer we will likely live. This is where we are. \u00a0How will the increased time, then, become a gift rather than a curse?<\/p>\n The reality of a longer life should cause us to think about approaching life differently.<\/p>\n Our Landscape: Understanding The Surrounding and Changing Terrain<\/strong><\/p>\n As a result of a longer life the authors argue that the traditional, linear three-stage life model of education, work, and retirement will become obsolete. Therefore, a multistage life should become the framework, or map, around which we should approach life, and around which societies should plan. Instead, it advocates for a non-linear, multi-stage life where individuals continuously transition between periods of education, work, and leisure. This approach allows for greater flexibility and adaptability, enabling people to pursue multiple careers and lifelong learning.<\/p>\n The challenges of this approach are such things as financing, a changing job market, and health. Yet opportunities abound to build a rich and satisfying life with multiple opportunities and no one size fits all solution. The authors write, \u201cIn fact, one of the major conclusions about the 100-year life is that there will be considerable diversity in the lifestyle and life path that people will choose and this will reflect both their personal preferences and their circumstances.\u201d[3]<\/a><\/p>\n If this all seems fraught with challenges, it is. However, the authors do present us with strategies to help us navigate this multi-staged life. While the authors do identify other strategies, I\u2019d like to highlight two.<\/p>\n Plotting The Course: Two Strategies That Help Us Receive Increased Time as a Gift<\/strong><\/p>\n Planning Well<\/em><\/p>\n The first strategy to navigate the new framework is careful planning in financial and non-financial matters. They write, \u201cA life well lived requires careful planning in order to balance the financial and the non-financial, the economic and the psychological, the rational and the emotional. Getting your finances right is essential to a 100-year life, but money is far from being the most important resource. Family, friendships, mental health and happiness are all crucial components.\u201d[4]<\/a> While it\u2019s not all about financial planning, the authors do stress this as an important factor.\u00a0 A longer life will require more financing, and this will require more savings or working well beyond the age of 65.[5]<\/a> While this seems obvious, most people I know do not make enough income to increase their monthly savings. The finances required to live the way they are proposing favors the wealthy, likely dual income households.<\/p>\n Managing Transitions<\/em><\/p>\n A key skill will be the skill of navigating transitions. Scott and Gratton highlight, \u201cWith more stages there will be more transitions. This is important because right now few people are able or skilled to make these multiple transitions.\u201d[6]<\/a> \u00a0William Bridges has written a helpful book on the issue of navigating the perils of all transitions. In Managing Transitions: Making Sense of Life\u2019s Changes<\/em>, Bridges maps out the transition journey. He writes, \u201call transitions are composed of (1) an ending, (2) a neutral zone, and (3) a new beginning.\u201d [7]<\/a> Each of these stages must be recognized, embraced and addressed if we are going to journey through a transition well. It seems that we need to be prepared to learn how to deal with loss, embrace liminality and welcome new beginnings as a regular part of our experience. This is not just a coping strategy, but rather Bridges grounds his approach in a theory of personal development. This theory views transition as a natural process of moving through disorientation toward a new orientation with opportunities for growth at the major turning points in a transition.[8]<\/a> That means that the map of a 100-year life, while filled with challenge will also be full of opportunities for growth. Rather winding down at \u201cretirement age\u201d the 100-year life presents us with the opportunity for ongoing growth. According to Scott and Gratton this skill of navigating transitions will be a key skill to hone if we are going to receive this added time as a gift.<\/p>\n While I don’t plan on retiring soon, I don’t plan on living to the age of 1oo either. However, I do love the idea of ongoing growth, and thinking about living the kind of life that is constantly evolving through the various stages of life. I also love the idea of continuing to contribute to others as I grow.<\/p>\n As I close, I have some questions that I am left with that would be worth exploring.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Lynda Gratton and Andrew J. Scott, The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity<\/em> (London\u202f; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Business, 2017). Kindle. 15<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Gratton and Scott. Kindle.16.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Gratton and Scott. Kindle. 121.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Gratton and Scott. Kindle. 5.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Gratton and Scott. Kindle.27.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Gratton and Scott. Kindle. 6.<\/p>\n\n