How’s this for simple and effective: Require all single-use items to carry a message that they pollute. I’m not sure the best wording, but something like: Short version: This object pollutes and is unnecessary. Please reuse durable alternatives. Long version: This object pollutes and is unnecessary. Making it created greenhouse gases and depletes resources. Disposing of it poisons our food supply. It may take centuries to break down. Using it[…] Keep reading →

A new reader and listener asked some questions I get a lot about polluting less and how to start. I’m sharing the answers so people can find them faster. I’ll preview the questions, then share his whole email for context, with my answers. Feel free to scroll down if you just want the answers. Just the questions: Packaging: What parameters did you start with? Do you buy everything at a[…] Keep reading →

Social and cultural change generally start from outside government. Government nearly always follows. Mandela, Gandhi, King, Havel, etc all started outside government. I’d love to see government lead, but the most effective thing for anyone who wants government to act to do is to act first. That’s why I’m acting, or one of the reasons. When enough other people see the pattern, they’ll stop blaming others’ inaction and act themselves.[…] Keep reading →

You’re naked every day. You’re naked under your clothes. How do you feel about yourself naked? Do you love your body? I mean love how it looks, works, and feels? I’m not talking vanity, envy, or pride. I’m not talking about conforming to others’ values or imposing yours on others. Look at your body in a full-length mirror. Feel it. Hear it. Smell it. Alone with yourself. Just you. Nobody[…] Keep reading →

You responded with overwhelming support to my last two posts Should I raise funds and market more? Should I write on more controversial issues? I value more views. If you haven’t written, please email. Looking back, I’ve only heard support from readers on voicing controversial views. I think people could tell I want to branch out. Institutions like Inc. have been more conservative, but as one reader wrote, NYU is[…] Keep reading →

I mostly write about leadership, education, learning leadership, fitness, personal growth, the environment, and a few related topics. Most people who talk to me in person know a few topics I talk a lot about but hold back on writing about. They’re controversial and people with different views are powerful and vindictive—politics, especially identity politics, obesity, sexuality, sexual equality, attraction and dating, and a few others. With part of my[…] Keep reading →

I chose to write a post every day, then to write a book, then to start a podcast because 1) enough people told me they found my voice unique and valuable, 2) I felt I had things worth saying, and 3) I would grow from the experience. Outside of launching Leadership Step by Step, I haven’t tried to market that much. That launch wasn’t that big, though it took me[…] Keep reading →

I understand that many people reduce their pollution just from knowing how much they pollute. Planes How about having every airplane ticket show how much pollution and greenhouse gas emissions each flight causes—designed, prominent, and easy to read, like an Energy Star label or cigarette warning? I’d add a relevant comparison number, like IPCC recommendations. Like this, from MyClimate.org, Cars How about gas pumps show that information as you fill[…] Keep reading →

Following up my first post on this topic, and while the options below don’t have to be exclusive, people usually choose as if they are. Do you prefer . . . Eating a lot Or feeling satisfied? Spending time in planes Or going on an adventure? Briefly visiting many Or spending time with some? Fitness Or explaining why you aren’t? Sampling food made for tourists Or learning to prepare what[…] Keep reading →