Tara Parker-Pope did a piece in The New York Times last month on "Living to 100 and Beyond". Lovely. Inspiring. If you listen to the half dozen or so centerians she interviewed, you'll likely come away with three and half keys: Resolution, Resources, and Resiliency.
Regarding the half: last year I heard a Valentines' Day interview with a couple celebrating their 75th anniversary. When asked what the secret was, the husband said "You have to live a really really long time". Hazel Miller in Parker-Pope's piece says, "“There’s no secret about it. You just don’t die…"
Those ideas are also key to "Surviving to 18 months and beyond in a new job".
Resolution
Most things come down to what you want and what you're willing to give up to get it. If you really really want longevity in your new job, invest in the basics. Get a head start. Manage communication. Inspire and enable others. Most of the time, focusing on the basics and implementing them with ongoing, consistent discipline will get you most of the way there. Resolve to succeed.
Resources
Know that you can't do this on your own. We are social beings. Just as Parker-Pope's centerians had others helping them, you will need the help of others if you want longevity in your new job. Your most important swim buddy is your boss. Beyond him or her, enrole peers and even subordinates as coaches. Show some vulnerability to build your strengths. Give up control to gain influence over the most important resources.
Resiliency
Interesting article in the most recent Harvard Business Review on the difference between leadership in the Navy and Air Force vs. the Army and Marines. Because of the equipment the Navy and Air Force uses (boats and planes), small mistakes have big consequences. Their leaders enforce the hierarchy, process and discipline required to do things right the first time. Because of the ever-changing nature of the situations they face on the ground, Army and Marine leaders enforce flexibility. They get 70% of things 70% right and get going, adjusting along the way. They know they will make mistakes. They build in resiliency so people can adjust to the hits. Be ready to adjust to your every-changing situation as you onboard.
