Leadership

The longer I work in sustainability leadership, the more I think of simple ways to say otherwise complex things. I forget easily, so I'm going to keep a post here of them. I can only remember four now, so I'll start with them and add more when I remember them or come up with new ones. I'm writing them out of context, so sorry if they don't make sense. I believe that when used appropriately, they'll help convey meaning. I don't have to steward. I get to.That's the addiction speaking.Apples taste better than Twinkies but not when you're knee-deep in them.Doof EDIT: Adding more Systemic change begins with personal transformation.Question is not what notes to play but how to learn to play them.Stepping on the…

On my podcast I've been sharing how I'm trying to find ways to work with my community to keep it safe. You may have seen the article former podcast guest James Altucher wrote, NYC Is Dead Forever. Here's Why: Jerry Seinfeld responded with a proud "up yours" in a piece the New York Times published, So You Think New York Is 'Dead': Seinfeld remarks that the city is resilient, always has been, and always will be. I see their feud applying to many places during the pandemic, not just New York City, but let's treat the place they're talking about. I agree on the city's resilience, but I don't think it will do well if we just believe it will and wait for it to…

Yet again someone told me how he loved that I'm leading by example with producing less trash and not flying. I'm not leading by example by eating fresh fruits and vegetables or connecting with my community and spending more time with family any more than I'm leading by example by eating and breathing. If someone thinks these things take effort or deserve praise, they are stuck in an old system that thinks avoiding pollution is a burden, chore, or obligation. I don't care that most of 7.8 billion people subscribe to that system, I call it old. I can't live that way any more, to believe that avoiding polluting detracts from life. It adds. If you believe not polluting is hard, you'll communicate it with…

People are finding many new ways to be more efficient---recycling, crickets for food, and seaweed for food for example. I've written many times how efficiency can be a good tactic within the strategy of reducing consumption, but doesn't stand on its own. The New York Times headline, One-Third of New York's Small Businesses May Be Gone Forever illustrates what happens when we value efficiency so highly in the market. The opposite of efficiency doesn't have to be inefficient. It can be resilience. The article begins Small-business owners said they have exhausted federal and local assistance and see no end in sight after months of sharp revenue drops. Now, many are closing their shops and restaurants for good. A pandemic is only one force that can…

Frances Hesselbein's Leadership Forum at the University of Pittsburgh quoted me for today's Tip of the Day. Yes, I'm shamelessly showing off ;), but I can't put into words how honored I feel to contribute to Frances's community. To serve is to live. The source The quote comes from my Kosmos Quarterly article, Our Finest Hour, If We Choose: The unedited quote Frances's Leadership Forum edited the quote from the original. Here's the original context, though I recommend reading the whole piece. Businesspeople who lead can transform markets from 'serving growth' to serving people and communities, like Patagonia's Yvon Chouinard. Educators who lead can go beyond 'teaching to the test' to teaching life skills and resilience, such as Philadelphia's Science Leadership Academy. Community organizers who…

From the CDC, so far: United States before Covid-19 With institutions like the CDC, Harvard, and Mayo, the United States had the world's most knowledgeable medical researchers. With institutions like our hospitals, National Guard, and military, the United States had the most ability to respond to health crises. Our entrepreneurs and business people can produce goods and services as effectively as any in the world, arguably the best. The American people want to live as long and healthily as anyone. The world has known how to respond to pandemics. Am I missing something about the people and institutions the US had as team members to face a pandemic? Did the US not have the best potential to handle a pandemic? President Trump's quotes below imply…