Title: Cracking the Century Code: Secrets to Achieving a 100-Year Life Span
Embracing the concept of a 100-year life is no longer a pipe dream, but an emerging reality. According to Michael Clinton, author of "Roar into the Second Half of Your Life," this extended lifespan brings about a need to reconsider aging, careers, and personal fulfillment.
The numbers are staggering. By 2050, the World Health Organization predicts, the global population aged 60 and above will likely surge to 2.1 billion. As Clinton emphasizes, if you're around 50 or 60, in good health, preparing for a century-long life isn't a luxury, but a necessity.
Singapore, an exemplary case, is leading the charge. The Singaporean government, as Clinton elucidates, "is very progressive. They're focusing on democratizing longevity, offering support to people of all socioeconomic incomes, and emphasizing lifelong learning and reskilling."
This evolving longevity landscape demands rethinking the traditional beliefs regarding aging and careers. The "New Longevity" challenges communities, organizations, and policymakers to adapt and respond to this shift.
Clinton is a strong advocate for exploring one's purpose during these additional decades. Far from a period for leisure, these years represent an opportunity for reinvention. Whether it's starting a new career, starting a business, or going back to school, Clinton encourages individuals to seize this chance to redefine what's possible.
Clinton's stories of "reimagineers" - people embracing this new mindset - underscore that this second half of life is as much about contribution and fulfillment as it is about personal growth. With contributions from mentoring younger generations, building businesses, and fostering an inclusion-driven culture, these purpose-driven individuals exemplify that the second half of life is not about slowing down, but rather "roaring" forward.
Organizations have a significant role to play in supporting workers as they age. By engaging in reskilling and fostering reinvention opportunities, businesses can unlock newfound performance potential, defying traditional talent struggles in the process.
However, this transformation is hindered by ageism. "The last bastion of discrimination," as Clinton characterizes it, pervades all aspects of our lives. Yet, initiatives like Demi Moore's acceptance speech serve as a powerful reminder of age's potential for wisdom, experience, and strength.
Only 9% of U.S. companies, Clinton notes, include age in their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Recognizing age and multigenerational workforces as assets rather than liabilities could yield numerous benefits. By embracing a multigenerational workforce, organizations unlock hidden talents - such as mentoring, coaching, and tacit knowledge exchanges.
Innovative learning, Clinton believes, is another vital cornerstone of thriving in a longer life. With the rapid pace of technological advancements and societal change, lifelong learning is no longer an add-on, but a requirement for staying engaged and relevant.
Longevity calls for new practices and perspectives according to Clinton. "This is the new growth market." Embracing its challenges and its opportunities draws on ingenuity and an active engagement with the world, allowing us to reimagine what aging truly means.
In this evolving landscape of longevity, older workers can find purpose through lifelong learning and reskilling, challenging ageism and proving to be valuable assets in the workplace. For instance, organizations could benefit from their wealth of knowledge and experience, leading to mentoring opportunities and tacit knowledge exchanges.
To effectively adapt to the "New Longevity," it's essential for policymakers, communities, and organizations to acknowledge the learning needs of older workers, promoting learning initiatives and breaking down ageist stereotypes to embrace a multigenerational workforce.
