Did you make 2020 your finest hour?

“Our finest hour” never describes a bright sunny morning with the birds singing, however fine such an hour. I associate the phrase with the movie Apollo 13. The flight director said the astronauts' perilous state after an explosion in space on the way to the moon “could be the worst disaster NASA's ever experienced.” His peer responded, “With all due respect, sir, I believe this is going to be our finest hour.” He helped make it so. Winston Churchill said of the Battle of Britain, "if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we…

Continue ReadingDid you make 2020 your finest hour?

A leadership lesson from Ronald Reagan I’ve taken to heart

  • Post category:Leadership

While I can't shake that my foremost memory of Ronald Reagan was the Iran-Contra affair---one of my earliest political memories---lately some words of his have given me great leadership direction. I believe they explain a lot of why most attempts to promote sustainability haven't worked. His quote: If you're explaining, you're losing. As I'm writing my book on sustainability leadership, this quote is guiding me. Any time I find myself explaining something---the science, how systems work, etc---I have to work through that section until I find a story, parable, or other way to illustrate or communicate besides explaining. The other…

Continue ReadingA leadership lesson from Ronald Reagan I’ve taken to heart

Don’t Mess With Texas: a celebrity-packed anti-littering campaign

Did you know the phrase "Don't mess with Texas" arose from a campaign to stop litter? Neither did I. Check out these videos showing celebrities acting against litter, even picking it up. Now you can join us in picking up litter, even daily, as I've done for years, making it TV for it twice and counting. Note, however, that picking up litter only moves it around. It doesn't reduce the amount of waste. Not buying it in the first place reduces. Many waste producers like to suggest managing waste after manufacture can resolve our waste problems. Not even close. Only…

Continue ReadingDon’t Mess With Texas: a celebrity-packed anti-littering campaign

What can you do?

This graphic tempts you to think having fewer children is the best you can do, dwarfing not flying or going vegetarian, but I'll describe below how you can do a lot more. More than personal actions Everyone gets that one person's actions round to zero on a global scale. I agree. I act consistent with my values as a matter of integrity. Making a difference on a global scale comes from leading others. Leading people You can't reduce your number of children below how many you have now, but you can influence others to smaller families. Learning and practicing leadership…

Continue ReadingWhat can you do?

As I predicted, sadly, Trump: “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!”

  • Post category:Leadership

When Trump won the 2016 election, many near me in lower Manhattan chanted "Not my president." I criticized them then and I criticize people who don't accept Trump losing now. I was open to their claims of fraud and waited for them to show evidence. They haven't, so, while I'm open to new evidence, I conclude they made up their claims. I repeat to them the sentiment I wrote in my November 17, 2016 post If you voted for Hillary Clinton, face it, you lost, which began: I’m sympathetic to people who wanted Hillary Clinton to win. I didn’t want…

Continue ReadingAs I predicted, sadly, Trump: “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!”

Working on Purpose radio with Dr. Alise Cortez hosted me

Dr. Alise Cortez hosted me for a wonderful conversation on leadership, education, sustainability, career, and more. It's radio, but we recorded video. https://youtu.be/j77zcwgqN3A?t=40 Episode notes Where have all the entrepreneurs gone? We seem to be producing less and less each year. Josh Spodek says this is due in part our educational system that teaches compliance at the expense of pursuing interests and passions in learning. He’s out to teach people to take initiative and pursue their passions all over their lives – and that entrepreneurship is available to virtually everyone. About Alise See Alise's about page for more: Dr. Alise…

Continue ReadingWorking on Purpose radio with Dr. Alise Cortez hosted me

If we led other areas as we do sustainability

Here is how what we call leadership in the area of sustainability would look in another area. Imagine you attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. One person stands up in front and says, “I've read all about what alcohol does to the liver. I'm an expert. Here's what you should do.” This person continues lecturing on the science of alcohol and the liver and what everyone should do. This person also has a bottle of gin in hand, regularly taking a swig saying, “Don't be distracted by what I do. What one person does doesn't matter. We have to get governments…

Continue ReadingIf we led other areas as we do sustainability

Management Versus Leadership

While leadership overlaps with management, let's clarify some differences to see what the environmental movement is missing. By no means am I suggesting one is better, only that transforming culture requires both and I see a lot of sustainability management but virtually no sustainability leadership. Managers use skills like analysis, planning, record-keeping, and organization on readily measurable things, facts, figures, observable deliverables, and timelines. A successful manager creates compliance. Well-managed teams get the job done. Leaders use skills like listening, vision, support, charisma, and credibility on intangibles, emotions, beliefs, stories, images, and symbols. A successful leader inspires. Well-led teams love…

Continue ReadingManagement Versus Leadership

“The Mandela of the Environment”—profiled in Wildpreneurs

Longtime podcast listeners have heard my struggle that began with seeing leadership as the main missing element on sustainability nobody is acting on, distinguishing leadership from management. In short, I saw no Mandela of the Environment and felt my best option would be to fill in the role---not to act like Mandela exactly, since the situations differ, but to take on a comparable role. Adopting the mantle seemed a no-win proposition. Failing would lead people to say, "Who did you think you were, anyway? Who tries to become a historical figure like him?" Success would mean likely attack from the…

Continue Reading“The Mandela of the Environment”—profiled in Wildpreneurs

Speak Like a Leader podcast features me today

When TEDxNYU invited me to give a TEDx talk with less than two weeks to prepare, I knew a coach would help. I researched and hired John Bates. The result? Three TEDx talks and counting, plus one invited me back to lead a work group for TED Countdown. Plus I count him as a friend. John hosts the Speak Like a Leader podcast. I'm his guest today. We talk about leadership today, what happened to civic duty, how do we restore it, how to we handle lockdown, and more. Looking to improve your or your company's public speaking? I recommend…

Continue ReadingSpeak Like a Leader podcast features me today

Special invitation to sneak preview I Am Greta

As a proud member of Flight Free USA, where I've pledged another joyful year of not flying, I'm extending to you the invitation they extended to me. I just watched it. It's touching and honest as a documentary and she is honest, genuine, and authentic as a leader and person. After years of people asking me, confused, why I would act in service of the environment, asking me why I'm "so extreme" about not polluting, I feel one person who understands me and acts. She acts differently than I do, but we can all learn from her. I urge you…

Continue ReadingSpecial invitation to sneak preview I Am Greta

Lower Manhattan Off the Hook

I was here when Obama replaced George W. Bush. People were dancing in the street. This time is bigger. Lower Manhattan hasn't been this happy for years. Friends and colleagues from around the world are emailing congratulations. For me personally, since I love my sustainability work, I look forward to losing the government pushing to sell public lands to fossil fuel interests, disregarding pollution, and such---not having to swim upstream as much. America has some of the most beautiful natural land in the world and a long history of stewardship, however little nearly everyone today has strayed from it. For…

Continue ReadingLower Manhattan Off the Hook

The Story of Plastic panel video

Here is the wonderful panel discussion we hosted on The Story of Plastic, October 22. https://youtu.be/FWV-Opm5LNg The Panelists Each panelist has appeared on my podcast. I’ll embed their conversations below so you can learn more about them in the context of sustainability leadership (J. B.’s episode is still being edited, but I’ll post a couple videos I recorded of personal reflections on his book). Eric Adams, elected the 19th Borough President of Brooklyn in November 2013, he previously served as New York State Senator for the 20th District. https://player.acast.com/leadership-and-the-environment/episodes/339-brooklyn-borough-president-eric-adams-food-matters#?secret=TvuhrZv3bF J. B. MacKinnon, author of The Once and Future World—a bestseller…

Continue ReadingThe Story of Plastic panel video

The Story of Plastic panelists

I can't wait for Thursday's Story of Plastic panel. I wish we didn't live in a world that merited it, but we do and I consider the movie and expert panel one of the best things we can do about it. Everyone who has watched tells me they learned more than expected and are glad they watched. I've spoken to several people about the movie, but not yet hundreds so I look forward to seeing you all. We're at triple the registrants we expected with more registering all the time. The Story of Plastic people are happy to accommodate. If…

Continue ReadingThe Story of Plastic panelists

My keynote and panel at Swedish Food Tech’s Big Meet

Speaking at last years 9th annual Sustainology hosted by the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce led to speaking and participating in a panel at this year's Swedish Food Tech Big Meet. We originally planned for me to speak and lead a demonstration at the event planned for the spring. We had nearly locked down the sailing plans when the pandemic struck. I loved participating by internet, but would have loved more to sail there in person, cook my famous no-packaging vegan stew for the crowd, and tasted the food from the renowned chefs participating. Soon! I spoke to Johan, whom…

Continue ReadingMy keynote and panel at Swedish Food Tech’s Big Meet

Beth Comstock on The Story of Plastic

The Story of Plastic may be challenging to watch in the gritty reality of what plastic waste is doing to our world. But it also offers hope by showing us people acting and making change in surprising and effective ways around the world. It invites us all to join them.Beth Comstock, Former CMO and Vice Chair of GE, Director at Nike, Trustee of The National Geographic Society EDIT: after reflecting on the movie, in a later email Beth added: The more I think about it, the more that movie makes me mad---mad at how we've ignored the issue, it's impossible to ignore…

Continue ReadingBeth Comstock on The Story of Plastic

On pledges to lower emissions by 2030 and 2050

Corporations and governments are pledging to lower emissions, maybe to net zero (What “net zero” and “closed loop” mean.), by 2030 or 2050. Nearly everyone recognizes goals past the pledgers' retirement close to meaningless. What will give them meaning is not hope or appreciation, but accountability, especially imposed from without. Even with accountability, these pledges could set earlier targets. We all know they can. The tragic message from everyone except, as far as I know, me, is that these changes are a burden, chore, obligation, distraction, and sacrifice. I say they're opportunities and sources of joy. Anyone who understood my…

Continue ReadingOn pledges to lower emissions by 2030 and 2050

Sustainability Leadership Slogans

  • Post category: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…

Continue ReadingSustainability Leadership Slogans

My Washington Square Park drug dealer dream

I want to write a headline one day saying, "How I Led the Washington Square Park Drug Dealers to Clean the Park," or something like it for a story in the paper. Likely? No. Possible? Yes. For longer than the twenty years I've lived in Greenwich Village, drug dealers have operated wantonly in the northwest corner of Washington Square Park. "Smoke smoke . . . weed weed," they say as you walk past. Since the pandemic, they've increased in number and brazenness. I haven't seen the police walk through in months. They claim to lack manpower and that they have…

Continue ReadingMy Washington Square Park drug dealer dream

Mutual Aid During the Pandemic

  • Post category:Leadership

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.…

Continue ReadingMutual Aid During the Pandemic

I’m not leading by example. If you think I am, you’re probably promoting pollution.

  • Post category:Leadership

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…

Continue ReadingI’m not leading by example. If you think I am, you’re probably promoting pollution.

In a world calling for leadership, where are the leadership authors and gurus?

Read any editorial page or media on any major topic---the pandemic, the environment, race, police, the election, . . . anything---and people are calling for leadership. In the United States, they often refer to missing leadership from the government, especially the executive branch from local to federal, but I see leadership vacuums in business, education, sports, arts, culture, military, religion, media, . . . everywhere. As a leadership writer, professor, speaker, podcast, coach, entrepreneur, and practitioner, I know and work with a few leadership peers, including globally renowned authors, speakers, etc. Here's an article on top leadership and management experts,…

Continue ReadingIn a world calling for leadership, where are the leadership authors and gurus?

A reader asks: “What makes a leader effective during a crisis? E.g. Covid19”

I remember helping General Austin co-lead some leadership workshops at West Point. He described a crisis West Point was experiencing that they all knew about---a recent graduate spoke poorly of the institution and community in a way that the media amplified. Then a former teacher---a Colonel---piled on the criticism, prompting questioning from alumni. He asked cadets how they would handle the situation. I read their expressions as caring and determined, but they couldn't figure out what to do. Graduate students in more advanced classes responded with similar uncertainty. What struck me was not that they didn't know what to do---there…

Continue ReadingA reader asks: “What makes a leader effective during a crisis? E.g. Covid19”

75 years since Hiroshima

Growing up I thought the strategy of mutually assured destruction, while tragic, kept the peace. Speaking to Nobel Peace Prize honoree ICAN member Seth Shelden, I learned that we've advanced from that line of thinking and our world changed to where it doesn't apply any more. As much as I'd like to hold on to something that made me feel comfortable or at least content, I have to drop believing that maintaining nuclear weapons keeps peace. Too many people can start wars. ICAN---the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons---led the UN to adopt the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear…

Continue Reading75 years since Hiroshima

“One-Third of New York’s Small Businesses May Be Gone Forever” Another problem with efficiency

  • Post category:Leadership

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…

Continue Reading“One-Third of New York’s Small Businesses May Be Gone Forever” Another problem with efficiency