Asmodean definitely had some sort of survival tactic. However, it's not too difficult to at least survive when you're so strong in saidin. Strength isn't everything, but Asmodean can devastate anything almost instantly and is more powerful than all non-channelers and the great majority of channelers.

RJ said that the Forsaken meeting at the Bore were at some sort of regional meeting. Only six of them were truly among the most powerful - the others were just random members of the Chosen. However, he did survive ten years of world war - meaning that both the Light and the Shadow were trying to kill him.

I'm not saying he's a walkover. I just think that his strength determined his success. As a man with an inborn gift with no demonstrably superior skill or talents, governing or military abilities, he seems to be the least able among the thirteen. Other Forsaken have similar deficiencies, such as Moghedien, Mesaana and Aginor - but those three all found specific areas which they honed to perfection, namely espionage, governance and science which made them valuable to the Shadow. As yet, we don't know of any area which Asmodean excelled in.