Rosie Kitson shares how Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott’s book is inspiring her approach this year.
When it comes to ‘must-read’ non-fiction books, the list can feel endless. As a communications strategist in a previous life, I frantically gobbled up almost all the available books on psychology and strategy (Malcom Gladwell and Daniel Kahneman featuring highly here), alongside a long list of self-help books to help me navigate the increasing pressures of a hectic working life (James Clear’s Atomic Habits worth a shout out).
But for me, few resonated as deeply, on both a professional and personal level, as The 100-Year Life by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott. As the title suggests, the book explores the implications of living in an era where many of us could live to be 100 years old (or more). These rising life expectancies don’t just impact broader society; they’re shifting the narrative surrounding our professional and personal lives.
Life has traditionally been split into three stages: education, work and retirement. It’s clear to me that this rigid model belongs in the past, and with it - the incessant desire to climb the corporate ladder at all costs.
The number of people working into their 70s increased by more than 60% over the past decade. The scrapping of the default retirement age (DRA) in 2011 implicitly encourages us to keep going. Yet despite living longer than previous generations, this outdated approach to work persists. More and more time is spent chained to our desks (or phones), at the cost to our mental and physical health.
This needs to change. If we are going to be working into our old age - our personal lives must carry more value. We must maintain higher standards in both our work and home life. Feel free to explore different career paths, pursue new interests and further our personal development.
Irrespective of the industry, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many people these days who dedicate their entire working life to a single position. Multiple sectors, multiple jobs, multiple income streams - that’s the new normal. And that requires people to consistently upskill and reskill throughout their lives, or as the kids call it “skill stacking”.
However, this isn’t a “get rich quick” scheme solely to advance your career; nor should it be considered just an upgrade on your existing capabilities. If we go back to the ladder analogy, skill stacking is a support network. It’s an array of horizontal and diagonal ladders that empower you to move in different directions - not just forward. It empowers you to make choices that support both your personal and professional wellbeing.
Without stating the obvious, having a unique, bespoke skill set sets you apart from the rest of the crowd. You have a broad range of competencies, rather than being the master of one. What’s more, having unrelated skills is increasingly beneficial. Industries are starting to appreciate the value of crossover specialisms, meaning that you’ll have a head-start on the competition during hiring season.
Having a broad range of abilities also lends itself to adaptability, which is particularly important given today’s rapidly evolving work environment. Particularly as businesses invest increasingly in AI, greater skill stacking gives you more immunity against your specific skill set being automated.
It should also be noted that there’s also a financial factor to consider. As we live longer lives, we have to be even more disciplined when it comes to financial planning. Skill stacking opens the door to potentially doing more freelance or contractor work. This enables you to be financially adaptable, as you can consider alternative, more flexible, ways of earning.
No doubt there will be some people reading this who still subscribe to that “no pain, no gain” mentality. After all, there are only a few more years of burning the midnight oil and then comes the almighty payday in the form of retirement.
To this, I say that life doesn’t always pan out the way we want it to. My father, who worked tirelessly through his career to provide an extraordinarily privileged upbringing for my brothers and me - died the year before he was due to retire. I am enormously grateful to my father for everything he did for us, but I think it is safe to say my brothers and I do not intend to follow the same path.
Back in 2020, I was honoured to win a WACL Talent Award, designed to support leadership progression for women. With this award, I was able to train in Sustainability at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership. While not adjacent to my career trajectory at the time, I can safely say that I wouldn’t have got my current role without this experience. In fact, it solidified this as a new professional habit – I have just completed a course in AI at Oxford’s Said Business School.
This exposure to skill stacking opened my eyes, helping me leave that tunnel-vision in the past. What’s more, the pivot from strategy to sustainability has taken away the stresses associated with day-to-day client work. Opting for a bigger-picture position has enabled me to enjoy a better work-life balance – essential with three small children at home.
The work I do in sustainability is important because it’s a cross-cutting skill. In the not-so-distant future, everyone’s jobs will have to take sustainability into account as standard. What’s more, it also informs and enriches my personal life, where making sustainable choices as a family is an increasingly central part of how we live.
Skill-stacking shouldn’t be a daunting idea. This is an exciting opportunity, not something to be scared of - similar to simply getting older. Broadening your horizons now enables you to build a professional and personal life that’s enriched and full of possibility, rather than coming to an abrupt end when we retire.
Everyone should consider how skill development impacts their career progression and personal life quality when they’re making decisions around upskilling or changing career directions. It’s important that we think holistically when making decisions and choices around careers, as it affects our overall quality of life.
Rosie Kitson is Chief Impact Officer for Havas UK&I, where her role is to support the sustainable transformation of its agencies and their clients. She is also a member of WACL and a recipient of the WACL Future Leaders Award.
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